Bone Cement Mixing With Puncture Transfer and Septum Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fully prepacked mixing systems for PMMA bone cement face challenges in ensuring safe, reproducible transfer of monomer liquid to the powder component without uncontrolled mixing and line blockage due to swelling, particularly during storage and transport.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising a base part with a container for monomer liquid and a cartridge for PMMA bone cement powder, featuring a movable operating element to open and pump the liquid into the cartridge through a hollow mandrel, using a self-sealing septum to prevent leakage and contamination, allowing controlled mixing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If monomer liquid is transferred through line means during storage and transport, then the system allows flexible delivery, but the line means may become blocked by swelling and adhesion of bone cement particles
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into separate functional modules: a cartridge for storing powder, a reservoir for storing monomer liquid, and a mixing chamber. The line means connects these separate modules, allowing the monomer liquid to be transferred without coming into contact with the powder during storage and transport, thus preventing blockage while maintaining flexible delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The powder is extracted from the line means and stored separately in the cartridge. The monomer liquid is transferred through the line means from the reservoir to the mixing chamber without passing through the powder storage compartment, eliminating the risk of line blockage while preserving system versatility.
2Stability of the object's composition
If powder and monomer liquid are pre-packed in separate compartments, then uncontrolled mixing is prevented, but safe and reproducible transfer of monomer liquid to powder becomes challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The monomer liquid is pre-filled in the reservoir and the powder is pre-packed in the cartridge before use. The system is designed so that when the user activates the pump, the monomer liquid is automatically and reproducibly transferred through the line means to the mixing chamber where it mixes with the powder in the correct ratio, ensuring both stability and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates a pump mechanism that controls the transfer of monomer liquid with precise metering. The pump delivers a predetermined volume of monomer liquid to the mixing chamber, ensuring reproducible mixing ratios. The design provides visual or mechanical feedback to confirm complete transfer and proper mixing.
3Device complexity
If manual mixing with spatulas is used, then simple equipment is required, but air bubbles are incorporated which negatively influence mechanical properties
Solution Approach 1:
The manual spatula mixing method is replaced with an automated pump-driven fluid delivery system. The monomer liquid is pumped under controlled pressure through the line means into the mixing chamber, creating a laminar flow that minimizes air bubble incorporation. The system substitutes simple manual mechanical mixing with a more sophisticated but controlled fluid delivery mechanism.
4Extent of automation
If vacuum transfer is used to move monomer liquid, then transfer is automated, but the system requires external vacuum sources and complex connections
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using vacuum to pull the monomer liquid through the line means, the system uses a positive pressure pump to push the monomer liquid from the reservoir through the line means to the mixing chamber. This inversion of the transfer mechanism eliminates the need for external vacuum sources and complex vacuum connections, reducing system complexity while maintaining automation.
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
Enables easy, reliable, and safe mixing of monomer liquid with powder, preventing line blockage and ensuring a predetermined mixing ratio, while maintaining sterility and ease of handling.
Implementation Method 1
a self-sealing septum to prevent leakage and contamination
Implementation Method 2
a movable operating element to open and pump the liquid into the cartridge through a hollow mandrel
Data Source
AI summary
A device for producing bone cement, comprising a base part, which comprises a container having a carrier for receiving a vessel containing monomer liquid, a bottom part having a collection region, a hollow mandrel having a tip, and a piston having a passage for receiving the hollow mandrel, and a cartridge for receiving a PMMA bone cement powder, wherein the cartridge comprises a septum which delimits the cartridge toward the outside. The device further comprises an operating element, and wherein the operating element is configured to open a vessel containing monomer liquid and subsequently to pump a monomer liquid released from the vessel from the collection region, through the hollow mandrel and into the cartridge by moving the piston.