Bone graft dispensing device with asymmetric guard and ratcheting plunger
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional bone graft dispensing devices are difficult to manipulate during surgery, leading to potential incorrect placement of bone graft material and risk of device impact on sensitive areas, due to the sticky nature of the material and the need for rotating plungers with drills.
Innovation Solution
A bone graft dispensing device with a cylinder and protrusion at the distal end to prevent accidental contact, allowing for easy loading and hydration of the material through a funnel and port system, using a threaded plunger that can be rotated manually or with a drill for controlled dispensing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a conventional plunger device is used to dispense bone graft material, then the material can be delivered through the cylinder, but the device is difficult to manipulate and may unintentionally strike the surgical area
Solution Approach 1:
The device incorporates a guard member with an asymmetric geometry that extends laterally from the cylinder. This asymmetric structure creates inherent directional control, preventing the plunger from being inserted at incorrect angles and eliminating the risk of unintentional contact with the surgical site. The guard member's shape asymmetry ensures proper alignment and safe operation.
2Ease of operation
If bone graft material is loaded into the cylinder, then dispensing is enabled, but the sticky material is difficult to handle during loading and advancement
Solution Approach 1:
The device includes a pre-formed channel structure within the cylinder that guides the bone graft material during loading. This preliminary structural preparation allows the sticky material to be easily inserted and advanced through the predefined pathway, reducing handling difficulty and ensuring proper material placement before dispensing begins.
3Productivity
If the plunger is rotated manually or with a drill to advance bone graft material, then dispensing is achieved, but positioning precision and control are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The device incorporates a ratcheting mechanism that provides tactile feedback during plunger rotation. This feedback system allows the operator to precisely control the advancement of the plunger and bone graft material, ensuring accurate positioning while maintaining efficient dispensing rates. The ratchet mechanism prevents over-rotation and enables controlled, incremental progression.
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 device minimizes the risk of device impact on the surgical area and simplifies the loading process, ensuring accurate placement of bone graft material while hydrating it for easier handling and application.
Implementation Method 1
Liquid injected into the device through the port travels through the channel and hydrates the bone graft material throughout the length of the cylinder
Implementation Method 2
The plunger can be a threaded graft impactor that rotates through the handle to advance the bone graft material
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a device and method for applying a bone graft material to the body. The device includes a cylinder into which bone graft material is loaded. Specifically, the bone graft material is loaded into the cylinder through a funnel at a proximal end of the cylinder and dispensed through a tip at a distal end of the cylinder. After the bone graft material is loaded, a sleeve within the cylinder can be removed in order to create a channel within the bone graft material. Water or other hydrating fluid may be inserted into the channel through a port adjacent the proximal end of the cylinder in order to hydrate the bone graft material.