PMMA Bone Cement Mixing With Self-Sealing Puncture Transfer

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fully prepackaged mixing systems for PMMA bone cement face challenges in safely and reproducibly transferring monomer liquid without conduit blockage and uncontrolled mixing during storage and transport, which can lead to air inclusions affecting mechanical properties.

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 piston and a hollow mandrel to pump monomer liquid into the cartridge through a self-sealing septum, ensuring controlled mixing and preventing conduit blockage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If monomer liquid is transferred through a conduit in fully prepackaged mixing systems, then mixing can be performed, but the conduit may become blocked by swollen and sticky bone cement particles

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemixing capabilityVSAvoidconduit blockage risk
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the harmful interaction between monomer liquid and cement powder by eliminating the conduit that connects them during storage. The monomer liquid is transferred directly into the cartridge containing the powder through a puncture connection, removing the conduit blockage risk while maintaining mixing capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The puncture connection acts as an intermediary mechanism that allows monomer liquid transfer without requiring a permanent conduit. The liquid passes through the puncture point directly into the powder, mediating the mixing process while avoiding conduit blockage issues.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Stability of the object's composition

If monomer liquid and powder are packaged separately in fully prepackaged systems, then storage stability is improved, but uncontrolled mixing may occur during transport

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage stabilityVSAvoiduncontrolled mixing risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses a nested structure where the inner tube containing monomer liquid is inserted into the outer cartridge containing powder. The puncture connection allows controlled access while maintaining separation during storage, preventing uncontrolled mixing while ensuring stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The components are pre-packaged in a nested configuration with the puncture connection already in place, but the actual mixing is controlled to occur only when needed. The system is prepared in advance for mixing while maintaining separation during storage and transport.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If cement powder penetrates the monomer liquid transfer conduit during transport, then the conduit becomes blocked, but preventing penetration requires additional protective structures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconduit functionalityVSAvoidprotective structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention removes the conduit entirely from the storage configuration, extracting the source of blockage problems. Without a conduit, there is no structure for powder to penetrate and block, eliminating the need for protective structures while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of protecting the conduit from powder penetration, the invention inverts the approach by eliminating the conduit and allowing direct transfer. The protective function is achieved by removal rather than protection, simplifying the overall structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

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 simple, reliable, and safe mixing of monomer liquid with powder components, preventing air inclusions and conduit blockage, resulting in a ready-to-use PMMA bone cement dough.

Implementation Method 1

the hollow mandrel is configured to pierce the septum, so that a fluid-conducting connection is formed between the collection area and the cartridge

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPuncture connection:

Implementation Method 2

the septum is configured to seal the puncture site in the septum in a liquid-tight manner after removal of the hollow mandrel

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSelf-sealing:

Implementation Method 3

to pump a monomer liquid released from the vessel from the collection area through the hollow mandrel into the cartridge by moving the piston

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPumping: Pump

Implementation Method 4

When the powder component is mixed with the monomer component, swelling of the polymers of the powder component in the methyl methacrylate can produce a plastically deformable dough

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSwelling:

Implementation Method 5

the activator N,N-dimethyl-p-toluidine reacts with dibenzoyl peroxide to form radicals. The resulting radicals can initiate the radical polymerization of the methyl methacrylate

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRadical polymerization: Photopolymerisation

Data Source

PatentEP4616937A1Bone cement mixing system with a puncture connection and multifunctional operation
Publication Date: 2025.09.17 HERAEUS MEDICAL GMBH
  • EP4616937A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4616937A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4616937A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a device for producing bone cement, comprising a base part (100) which has a container (101) with a carrier (118) for receiving a vessel containing monomer liquid, a bottom part (103) with a collection area (104), a hollow mandrel (105) with a tip (106), and a piston (107) with a passage (108) for receiving the hollow mandrel (105), and a cartridge (200) for receiving a PMMA bone cement powder (201), wherein the cartridge has a septum (202) which delimits the cartridge to the outside; wherein the device further comprises an operating element (124), and wherein the operating element (124) is configured to open a vessel containing monomer liquid and subsequently to pump a monomer liquid released from the vessel from the collection area through the hollow mandrel into the cartridge by moving the piston.