Bone Cement Applicator with Segmented Holes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current bone cement applicators face challenges in efficiently applying bone cement during total knee arthroplasty procedures, as the less viscous cement is difficult to apply uniformly and quickly before it hardens, requiring an improved method to enhance application efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A bone cement applicator design featuring a cavity system with varying hole sizes and zones on the contact surface, allowing bone cement to fill and spread evenly, reducing the risk of undesired flow and facilitating uniform application.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If less viscous bone cement is used to enable deeper penetration and better fixation, then the fixation depth is improved, but the application difficulty increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The applicator divides the contact surface into multiple zones with different hole sizes (first zone with smaller holes, second zone with larger holes). This segmentation allows different regions to receive bone cement at different rates, enabling controlled application of less viscous cement while maintaining ease of operation through automated delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
Different zones on the contact surface are designed with different hole characteristics to match local requirements. The first zone with smaller holes provides controlled delivery for precise penetration, while the second zone with larger holes provides faster filling. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by allowing less viscous cement to penetrate deeply where needed while maintaining overall application control.
2Manufacturing precision
If less viscous bone cement is applied to achieve deeper bone penetration, then the penetration depth is improved, but the application time window is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The applicator is pre-configured with multiple zones of different hole sizes before the bone cement application begins. This preliminary design allows the system to automatically control the delivery pattern, extending the effective application time window by enabling methodical progression through different zones rather than requiring rapid manual application.
Solution Approach 2:
The multi-zone design enables continuous and systematic bone cement delivery across different areas of the contact surface. By sequentially filling the first zone with smaller holes and then the second zone with larger holes, the system maintains continuous useful action throughout the application process, maximizing the utilization of the limited time window while ensuring deep penetration.
3Productivity
If bone cement is applied quickly to respect the short setting time, then the productivity is improved, but the uniformity of application deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The contact surface is segmented into multiple zones with different hole sizes, allowing the system to apply bone cement to different regions at different rates. This segmentation enables the overall application to be both fast (through parallel delivery to multiple zones) and uniform (through controlled rate differentiation within each zone).
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the delivery parameters by using holes of different sizes in different zones. The first zone with smaller holes provides slower, more controlled delivery, while the second zone with larger holes provides faster delivery. This parameter variation allows the system to maintain both high productivity and high precision by matching delivery rate to local requirements.
4Ease of manufacture
If a simple applicator design is used to reduce device complexity, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the application control capability worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The applicator incorporates multiple zones with different hole sizes in a segmented pattern on the contact surface. This segmentation provides inherent application control through the differential hole sizes without requiring complex active control mechanisms, thereby maintaining ease of manufacture while improving application control capability.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the applicator are designed with different local qualities (different hole sizes) to provide inherent control over bone cement delivery. The first zone with smaller holes and the second zone with larger holes provide automatic rate differentiation based on location, eliminating the need for complex active control systems while maintaining high application control capability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design promotes a more even and controlled application of bone cement, ensuring deeper penetration and reducing the risk of cement flowing to unintended areas, thereby improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the application process.
Implementation Method 1
The holes are located on the contact surface and in fluid communication with the cavity, in which the bone cement reaches the bone surface after sequentially flowing through the first opening, the cavity, and the holes
Data Source
AI summary
A bone cement applicator for applying a bone cement to a bone surface is provided. The bone cement applicator includes a bone cement receiver, a first housing and a second housing. The bone cement receiver has a first opening to be connected with a bone cement supplier supplying the bone cement. The first housing is connected with the bone cement receiver. The second housing is connected with the first housing. A cavity is formed between the first housing and the second housing. The cavity is in fluid communication with the first opening. The second housing includes a contact surface and a plurality of holes. The contact surface is in contact with the bone surface. The holes are located on the contact surface, in which the bone cement reaches the bone surface after sequentially flowing through the first opening, the cavity, and the holes.