Sealed Fluid Delivery System for High-Viscosity Bone Cement Mixing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid delivery systems for bone cement are inadequate for mixing highly viscous cements, as they often require separate storage and handling of liquid and powder components, which can lead to inefficiencies and exposure to foul odors, and are not suited for mixing materials with increased viscosity during polymerization reactions.
Innovation Solution
A fluid delivery system that allows for direct dispensing of a liquid from a sealed container into a closed mixing chamber using an open loop operation, enabling manual control of the dispensing amount and rate, with a self-rupturing mechanism for the seal and telescopic mounting, suitable for highly viscous materials like bone cement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate storage and handling of liquid and powder components are used, then components can be kept separate until mixing, but exposure to foul odors and handling inefficiencies occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the sealed container for liquid monomer and the powder component into a single integrated mixing cartridge. This merging eliminates the need for separate handling of liquid and powder components, preventing exposure to foul odors while maintaining component separation until mixing occurs. The cartridge design integrates the seal, mixing chamber, and powder reservoir into one unit that can be directly inserted into the mixing device.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealed container acts as an intermediary device that holds both liquid monomer and powder component in a closed system. This intermediary cartridge allows components to be transported and stored together without exposure to the environment, and only opens at the point of use within the mixing device, thereby preventing odor exposure while maintaining component integrity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If known mixing apparatuses are used for liquid polymerization mixture, then liquid mixing is achieved, but they are not suitable for highly viscous cements with substantially no liquid phase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the mixing apparatus parameters by incorporating a sealed container design specifically adapted for highly viscous materials. The mixing chamber geometry, seal configuration, and powder-to-liquid ratio control are adjusted to accommodate cements with substantially no liquid phase, enabling reliable mixing of high viscosity bone cements that conventional liquid-focused apparatuses cannot handle.
3Ease of operation
If manual insertion of sealed container is used, then direct control of dispensing amount and rate is achieved, but the system requires open loop operation
Solution Approach 1:
The sealed container is designed to be self-contained with pre-measured powder and liquid monomer in specific ratios. The container itself serves the function of dosing and dispensing control through its mechanical design - as it is inserted and compressed, the predetermined amounts are automatically released without requiring external automation systems, achieving manual control while maintaining simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
A fluid delivery system for dispensing a liquid from a sealed container directly into a closed chamber comprises a container containing a liquid component of bone cement and plugged with a plug, and a closed chamber comprising a receiving port for receiving the sealed container, wherein the receiving port is configured to receive the liquid component in direct response to manual insertion of the sealed container through the receiving port using an open loop system.