Rotatable Valve for Bone Cement Spacer Casting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for producing spacers for joint replacement surgeries face challenges in preventing high-viscosity bone cement paste from flowing out during the curing process, especially when using non-high-viscosity bone cement, which can lead to incomplete filling and post-operative complications.
Innovation Solution
A device featuring a casting mold with a rotatable valve system that includes a valve seat and valve body, allowing for the injection of bone cement paste under high pressure while ensuring the paste remains within the mold until cured, using a valve that can be manually operated to prevent leakage and facilitate easy removal of the cured spacer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a simple filling opening is used in the casting mold, then the device complexity is reduced, but bone cement paste flows out during curing process
Solution Approach 1:
The valve body is designed to be rotatable relative to the valve seat, allowing the filling opening to dynamically switch between open and closed positions. This dynamic mechanism enables the system to prevent bone cement paste leakage during curing while maintaining operational simplicity for filling and removal processes.
2Reliability
If the valve remains closed during filling, then bone cement paste leakage is prevented, but the filling opening cannot be accessed for filling
Solution Approach 1:
The rotatable valve body allows the filling opening to switch between closed (preventing leakage) and open (allowing filling) positions. This dynamic design resolves the contradiction by providing both leakage prevention during curing and accessibility during filling operations.
3Device complexity
If the valve body is fixed, then the structure is simpler, but the spacer cannot be easily removed after curing
Solution Approach 1:
The rotatable valve body serves dual purposes: it prevents leakage during curing and facilitates spacer removal. After curing, rotating the valve body opens the filling opening, allowing easy access for spacer removal. This dynamic mechanism adds minimal complexity while significantly improving ease of operation.
4Manufacturing precision
If high-viscosity bone cement paste is used, then complete filling is achieved, but the paste flows out under pressure during curing
Solution Approach 1:
The rotatable valve body allows the system to maintain high-viscosity bone cement paste for complete filling while preventing its flow-out during curing. The valve dynamically closes the filling opening during curing, containing the high-viscosity paste that would otherwise leak under pressure.
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 effectively prevents bone cement paste from flowing out during the curing process, allowing for complete filling and easy removal of the spacer, reducing operational complexity and time, and ensuring the spacer is securely formed without the need for complex valves or openings.
Implementation Method 1
a valve body (6; 166) which is mounted so as to be rotatable relative to the valve seat (3; 63; 163)
Implementation Method 2
the valve body (6; 166) has a sealing face (7; 67; 167), wherein the sealing face (7; 67; 167) is oriented in the direction of the in places or regionally closed head side (4; 64; 164) of the valve seat (3; 63; 163)
Implementation Method 3
spacers are cast from this bone cement paste which then cure by polymerization with the assistance of the monomer liquid added to the cement powder
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a device for producing a spacer having a casting mold with at least one filling opening, a valve seat, which is connected to the casting mold, wherein the valve seat has an regionally closed head side with at least one first feed-through, a valve body which is mounted so as to be rotatable relative to the valve seat and which has a sealing face, wherein at least one second feed-through is arranged in the sealing face, wherein the valve seat and the valve body together form a valve, wherein the valve is reversibly transferable into an open position and a closed position by rotation of the valve body relative to the valve seat, wherein, in the open position of the valve, the at least one first feed-through of the valve seat and the at least one second feed-through of the valve body are located above one another at least in places and provide a permeable connection through the valve into the casting mold, wherein, in the closed position of the valve, the at least one first feed-through of the valve seat is covered by the sealing face of the valve body, wherein, in the closed position of the valve, the at least one filling opening of the casting mold is covered and wherein the valve is connected on the side remote from the casting mold to a port for liquid-tight connection of a bone cement cartridge or the valve has such a port. The invention also relates to a method for producing spacers using such a device.