Bone Cement Mixing System With Septum-Piercing Transfer
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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 preventing line blockage due to cement powder swelling and clumping, which can disrupt the mixing process.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising a base part with a container for monomer liquid and a cartridge for PMMA bone cement powder, featuring a hollow mandrel that pierces a self-sealing septum to establish a fluid connection, allowing controlled mixing while preventing leakage and contamination, with components that can be easily connected and disconnected, and incorporating a filter to prevent particle entry.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fully prepacked mixing system is used to ensure safe and reproducible transfer of monomer liquid to powder component, then mixing reliability is improved, but the risk of line blockage due to cement powder swelling and clumping increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into separate compartments: a cartridge containing powder component and a syringe containing monomer liquid. The powder is contained in a cartridge with a closed distal end, preventing it from entering the transfer line during monomer liquid transfer, thus eliminating line blockage while maintaining reproducible mixing through controlled connection and transfer mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
A filter element is introduced as an intermediary component in the transfer line. This filter prevents cement powder particles from entering and blocking the line during monomer liquid transfer, while still allowing the liquid to pass through. The filter acts as a protective barrier that resolves the contradiction between reliable transfer and blockage prevention
2Ease of operation
If the monomer liquid is transferred by applying external vacuum to the cartridge, then transfer control is improved, but the complexity of the system increases due to vacuum connection requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The cartridge is designed with multi-functionality: it serves as both a container for the powder component and a vacuum chamber. The cartridge's closed distal end and connection to the syringe allow it to function as a vacuum chamber when vacuum is applied to the syringe, enabling controlled transfer without requiring separate vacuum connection mechanisms, thus reducing overall system complexity
3Ease of operation
If the cartridge and syringe are designed to be easily connected and disconnected, then ease of handling is improved, but the risk of contamination or leakage during connection increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system is designed with pre-assembled units: the cartridge is pre-filled with powder and sealed, and the syringe is pre-filled with monomer liquid and equipped with a filter. This preliminary preparation ensures that when connection is made, the components are already in their correct positions and sealed properly, minimizing the risk of contamination or leakage during the connection process while maintaining ease of handling
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
Ensures reliable and safe mixing of monomer liquid with powder, preventing clogging and ensuring the correct mixing ratio, while allowing easy handling and storage of components.
Implementation Method 1
a hollow mandrel with a tip (105, 106) and a cartridge (200) for receiving a PMMA bone cement powder (201). The cartridge (200) comprises a self-sealing septum (202) which delimits the cartridge (200) toward the outside
Data Source
AI summary
A device for producing bone cement, comprising a base part which has a container for receiving a monomer liquid, a bottom part with a collection region, and a hollow mandrel with a tip, and a cartridge for receiving a PMMA bone cement powder, wherein the cartridge has a septum which delimits the cartridge toward the outside, wherein the device is designed and configured to form a fluid-conducting connection between the base part and the cartridge by the hollow mandrel piercing the septum so as to transfer a monomer liquid from the collection region into the cartridge.