Bone Cement Injection System Viscosity Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current bone cement injection systems for treating vertebral compression fractures face challenges with uncontrolled viscosity, leading to cement extravasation and complications such as leakage, pulmonary embolism, and incomplete vertebral height restoration, due to high pressure injections and lack of controlled augmentation of vertebral body height.

Innovation Solution

A bone cement injection system with a computer-controlled thermal energy emitter that modulates cement viscosity by selectively accelerating polymerization based on sensed pressure, maintaining a substantially constant viscosity to prevent extravasation and allow controlled vertebral height restoration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Force

If high pressure injection is used to treat vertebral compression fractures, then cement can be forced into the vertebral body, but cement viscosity becomes uncontrolled leading to extravasation and leakage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinjection pressureVSAvoidcement viscosity control

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the physical-chemical parameters of the bone cement by applying thermal energy to accelerate polymerization. This transforms the cement from a low-viscosity liquid to a higher-viscosity state in a controlled manner, resolving the contradiction between injection pressure and viscosity control

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces purely mechanical injection control with a combined thermal-chemical-mechanical system. Thermal energy emission accelerates polymerization, and the controller integrates thermal and mechanical parameters to maintain constant viscosity despite high injection pressures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If thermal energy is applied to accelerate polymerization, then cement viscosity increases, but excessive heat may cause tissue damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecement viscosity controlVSAvoidthermal damage to tissue

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The controller receives feedback from temperature sensors and adjusts thermal energy emission accordingly. This feedback loop ensures that thermal energy is applied only to the cement, not the surrounding tissue, while achieving the desired viscosity increase

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The bone cement acts as an intermediary that absorbs thermal energy and undergoes polymerization. The thermal energy is transferred to the cement rather than directly to the tissue, and the controller modulates this transfer to prevent thermal damage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If conventional injection systems are used, then the procedure is simple, but cement extravasation occurs due to uncontrolled viscosity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinjection procedure simplicityVSAvoidcement extravasation

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces simple mechanical injection with an integrated thermal-energy-mechanical system. The controller automatically manages the thermal polymerization process, eliminating the need for manual viscosity adjustment and preventing extravasation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The bone cement self-regulates its viscosity through thermally-induced polymerization. The system provides the thermal energy and the cement automatically adjusts its rheological properties, eliminating the need for complex manual control

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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 system effectively prevents cement extravasation and allows for controlled vertebral height restoration by maintaining a consistent cement viscosity, reducing complications and improving treatment efficacy in vertebral compression fracture procedures.

Implementation Method 1

a thermal energy emitter for delivering energy to a flow of bone fill material through the injector system

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal energy: Heating

Implementation Method 2

selectively accelerating polymerization based on sensed pressure

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPolymerization: Photopolymerisation

Data Source

PatentUS11672579B2Bone treatment systems and methods

Publication Date: 2023.06.13 DFINE INC

AI summary

Systems and methods for treating vertebral compression fractures are discussed. In an embodiment, a method includes mixing bone cement precursors thereby causing a first chemical curing reaction characterized by a first time-viscosity profile, controllably applying energy to the bone cement from an external source to modify the first time-viscosity profile to a second time-viscosity profile, and injecting the cement into bone at a substantially constant viscosity greater than about 1000 Pa·s to greater than about 5000 Pa·s over an extended working time. In another embodiment, a bone cement injector system is provided that includes a first handle component that is detachably coupled to a second sleeve component having a distal end for positioning in bone and a flow channel extending through the first and second components. The system includes first and second thermal energy emitters for delivering energy to bone cement flows in a flow channel portion in the first and second components, respectively.