Rotatable Valve Cartridge Lock for Medical Cement Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cartridge closure systems for medical cements are inefficient, prone to user errors, and can contaminate the cement mixture due to complex operation and potential evaporation of volatile components like methyl methacrylate, which requires secure and cost-effective sealing to prevent premature reactions and ensure accurate mixing ratios.
Innovation Solution
A rotatable valve system with a cylindrical design, integrated into a holder with yoke-shaped bearings, allows for easy and secure opening and closing of cartridges, preventing piston movement during vacuum and ensuring synchronized dispensing of components through a static mixer, reducing the risk of contamination and user errors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a rotating cap closure system is used, then the cartridge can be securely sealed, but the user must perform two turning movements and there is risk of evaporation between opening and dispensing tube attachment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the closure cap and dispensing tube into a single integrated component. The dispensing tube is permanently attached to the closure cap, so that when the user removes the cap, the dispensing tube is already in position. This eliminates the need for separate attachment steps and prevents evaporation losses during the intermediate period.
Solution Approach 2:
The dispensing tube is pre-positioned by being permanently attached to the closure cap during manufacturing. This preliminary action ensures that when the cartridge is opened, the dispensing tube is already correctly positioned and ready for immediate use, eliminating delays and preventing evaporation.
2Ease of operation
If the cartridge wall material at the cartridge head is made very thin to enable easy puncturing, then insertion is easier, but particles can break off and enter the pasty material causing contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the puncturing function entirely from the system. Instead of puncturing the cartridge head, the closure cap is simply unscrewed from an external thread. This extracts the harmful puncturing action that causes particle breakoff, while maintaining easy opening through the external threading mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of making the cartridge head thin and puncturable, the patent inverts the approach by providing a thick, robust cartridge head with an external thread for the closure cap. The opening mechanism is moved from internal puncturing to external cap removal, achieving ease of operation without compromising structural integrity.
3Reliability
If complex closure systems are used to prevent user errors, then sealing is more reliable, but the system becomes more complex and prone to user errors
Solution Approach 1:
The closure cap serves multiple functions: it seals the cartridge opening, provides the dispensing tube attachment point, and guides the dispensing tube into correct position. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components and complex mechanisms while maintaining reliable sealing and accurate dispensing.
Data Source
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AI summary
Cartridge system for applying a material, in particular a medical cement, comprising at least one cartridge, wherein the at least one cartridge comprises cartridge walls and each a cartridge head with at least one opening in the cartridge head, and a holder is arranged on the cartridge head or cartridge heads, wherein a valve is rotatably mounted in the holder, the valve comprising at least one passage through the valve connected to an outlet opening, the valve in a closed position tightly closing at least one opening of at least one cartridge, in particular all openings of each cartridge, and in an open position of the valve the passage or passages being connected to the opening or openings, so that the cartridge contents can be squeezed out of the cartridge or cartridges through the outlet opening.and wherein the valve can be moved from the closed position to the open position by rotating the valve.