Parallel Tunnel Cement Paste Delivery Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional syringe-type devices for delivering cement paste into bone cavities face challenges due to large pressure requirements and solid-liquid separation issues, leading to inefficient delivery and poor material properties, especially with highly viscous cements like PMMA and calcium-based cements.
Innovation Solution
A filling apparatus with a plurality of parallel tunnels in a longitudinal body, where the cross-sectional area of the exit end is minimized relative to the total cross-sectional area of the tunnels, allowing for simultaneous filling and connection to a surgical tube, reducing pressure needs and preventing liquid-powder separation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a conventional syringe-type device with a large container is used to deliver cement paste through a thin tube, then the cement paste can be stored in sufficient quantity, but large pressure is required to push the paste through the small exit
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the single large container into multiple smaller containers (first container and second container), each with its own exit. This segmentation reduces the cross-sectional area difference between container and exit for each individual container, thereby reducing the pressure required to push cement paste through the thin tube while maintaining sufficient total storage capacity.
2Productivity
If larger pressure is applied to push cement paste through the thin tube, then the paste can be delivered through the small exit, but liquid-powder separation occurs and material properties degrade
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the cement paste delivery system into multiple smaller containers with smaller exits, the pressure gradient within each container is reduced. This prevents the liquid phase from separating from the solid phase under excessive pressure, maintaining uniform liquid-powder ratio and preventing degradation of cement material properties.
3Stress or pressure
If a thin container with diameter similar to the surgical tube is used, then pressure requirements are reduced, but the container becomes extremely long and impractical for surgery
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using one extremely long thin container, the invention uses multiple shorter containers with smaller cross-sectional areas. This segmentation maintains the pressure-reducing benefit of thin containers while avoiding the impracticality of extreme length by distributing the storage capacity across multiple manageable units.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple smaller containers are combined to provide the total cement paste storage capacity needed for surgical procedures. The first container and second container work together as a unified delivery system, achieving both reduced pressure requirements and practical dimensions.
4Quantity of substance
If a conventional syringe with large cross-sectional difference between container and exit is used, then cement paste can be stored in sufficient quantity, but complicated designs and higher costs are required
Solution Approach 1:
The invention simplifies the delivery tool design by segmenting the storage system into multiple smaller containers with smaller exits that match the surgical tube diameter. This eliminates the need for complicated pressure control mechanisms and complex delivery systems required by conventional large-container designs.
Data Source
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AI summary
A filling apparatus comprising: a plurality of parallel tunnels (12, 12'} formed in a longitudinal body {11, 11') and arranged in a longitudinal direction of said body (11, 11'); and a filler reservoir (20) having an exit end (21) adapted to be in fluid communication with said plurality of parallel tunnels {12, 12'), characterized in that a cross-sectional area of said exit end (21) is less than about 5 times, preferably less than about 3 times, and more preferably about 1.5 to about 1.1 times a total cross-sectional area of said plurality of parallel tunnels {12,12'), wherein the apparatus is configured such that a filler contained in said filler reservoir {20) is driven into said plurality of parallel tunnels (12, 12') via said exit end (21), when said exit end (21) is in fluid communication with said plurality of parallel tunnels (12, 12'); and said plurality of parallel tunnels (12, 12') are separable from said filler reservoir (20) after said plurality of parallel tunnels (12, 12') are filled with said filler.