Motorized Bone Cement Mixer with Feedback Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bone cement mixing and delivery systems lack sufficient control over the mixing and delivery process, leading to issues with the viscosity of the bone cement, which can result in either overflow or inadequate filling of bone interstices.
Innovation Solution
A bone cement mixing and dispensing system that includes a mixing container with a movable mixing element and plunger, where the mixing element can be driven by a motor along the axial length of the mixing container with or without the plunger, and a method that involves mixing, priming to remove air, and expelling the bone cement mixture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the bone cement is mixed and administered before the degree of polymerization has proceeded to a suitable extent, then the bone cement is too fluid and easy to inject, but it causes overflow problems and is difficult to handle
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates a motorized mixer with a controller that monitors and controls the mixing time and polymerization progress. The controller provides feedback on the mixing state and automatically adjusts the mixing duration to achieve the optimal polymerization extent, preventing both overflow (from under-polymerization) and excessive viscosity (from over-polymerization). This automated feedback control ensures reliable bone cement placement while maintaining ease of injection.
2Reliability
If the bone cement is mixed and administered after the degree of polymerization is too advanced, then the bone cement is easy to handle, but it is too viscous and will not flow into all the interstitial areas and porous recesses of the bone
Solution Approach 1:
The motorized mixing system with automated controller monitors the polymerization progress in real-time and provides feedback control. The system automatically terminates mixing at the optimal point where the bone cement achieves the desired balance between handleability and flow properties, ensuring it can properly fill bone interstices without being too viscous.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts mixing parameters (speed, time, intensity) based on the polymerization progress. By changing these parameters in response to the chemical state of the bone cement, the system maintains optimal viscosity for bone penetration while ensuring adequate handling characteristics.
3Device complexity
If manual mixing and transfer methods are used, then the system is simple, but it lacks sufficient control over the mixing and delivery process
Solution Approach 1:
The motorized mixing system is designed to be self-regulating, automatically controlling the mixing time, speed, and termination based on pre-programmed parameters. The system performs the mixing function autonomously without requiring constant manual intervention, providing reliable control while maintaining operational simplicity through automated self-service functionality.
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 provides improved control over the mixing and delivery of bone cement, ensuring the right viscosity for effective filling of bone interstices and reducing the risk of overflow or incomplete filling.
Implementation Method 1
a mixing element movably disposed within the mixing container... the mixing element moves by assistance of a motor along the axial length of the mixing container to mix the bone cement
Implementation Method 2
a plunger comprising a piston movably disposed within the mixing container... the mixing element and plunger are driven together along the axial length of the mixing container
Data Source
AI summary
A bone cement mixing and dispensing system and method for mixing and delivering bone cement therefrom. The system has a mixing container for holding a bone cement mixture, the mixing container extending along an axial length and having opposed first and second ends, the first end comprising a downstream opening for dispensing the bone cement downstream from the mixing container; a mixing element movably disposed within the mixing container; and a plunger comprising a piston movably disposed within the mixing container. In this system, with a first coupling, the mixing element moves by assistance of a motor along the axial length of the mixing container without translation of the plunger to mix the bone cement. In this system, with a second coupling, the mixing element and plunger are driven together along the axial length of the mixing container.