Bone Cement Needle with Rotating Collapsible Tips
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current bone cement delivery systems, such as vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty, face challenges in containing bone cement within the damaged vertebra area, leading to cement leakage and increased procedural costs due to the use of mesh bags or containers, which can cause compaction and leakage.
Innovation Solution
A needle assembly with a cannula and moveable tips that expand and collapse to cut the bone cement mixture, preventing leakage by severing the cement at the fracture site when rotated, thereby ensuring containment within the desired area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mesh bags or containers are used to contain bone cement within the vertebra, then cement containment is improved, but device complexity and procedural cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the containment function from separate mesh bags or containers and integrates it directly into the cannula structure. The cutting edges are built into the cannula outlet, eliminating the need for additional containment devices while maintaining cement containment reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the cement delivery function and cement containment function into a single integrated cannula structure. The cutting edges are incorporated directly into the cannula outlet, combining multiple functions (delivery, containment, and cutting) into one device, thereby reducing overall system complexity
2Reliability
If mesh bags or containers are used to contain bone cement, then cement containment is improved, but procedural cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the need for separate containment devices (mesh bags, containers) by integrating containment functionality directly into the cannula, thereby eliminating additional material costs and simplifying the procedural workflow
Solution Approach 2:
The cannula is designed to perform multiple functions: delivering bone cement, containing the cement within the vertebra, and cutting excess cement. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for multiple separate devices, reducing both material costs and procedural complexity
3Strength
If bone cement has high coherence to stabilize the vertebra, then stabilization is improved, but cement leakage beyond the vertebra increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies cutting edges at the cannula outlet that actively cut and sever the bone cement as it exits, preventing the cohesive cement from extending beyond the vertebra before it can set and cause leakage problems
Solution Approach 2:
The invention converts the harmful effect of high cement coherence (which causes trailing and leakage) into a beneficial effect by using the cement's own coherence against it - the cutting edges exploit the cohesive nature of the cement to create clean cuts, and the cement's coherence then helps contain it within the cut boundaries
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 solution effectively reduces the likelihood of bone cement application in unintended areas, enhancing containment and stability while maintaining procedural affordability by eliminating the need for additional containment devices like mesh bags.
Implementation Method 1
The plurality of tips is configured to cut the bone cement mixture in the collapsed position when the cannula is rotated
Data Source
AI summary
A needle assembly for dispensing a bone cement mixture is provided. The needle assembly includes a cannula defining an inner lumen, the cannula having an outlet end for dispensing the bone cement mixture from the assembly. The outlet end has at least one tip moveable between an expanded position and a collapsed position. The tip is configured to cut the bone cement mixture in the collapsed position when the cannula is rotated. The needle assembly also has an inner member disposed within the inner lumen of the cannula, which is movable between an extended position and a retracted position. The inner member is operable to hold the tip in the expanded position when the inner member is in the extended position. The tip automatically collapses into the collapsed position when the inner member is in the retracted position. A method of introducing a bone cement mixture into a damaged bone of a patient is also disclosed.