Uniform Cross-Section Delivery Apparatus for Granular Bone Growth Stimulants
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current delivery devices for bone growth stimulants are inefficient and lack control, particularly when dealing with thick or granular materials, often resulting in clogging and uneven distribution during minimally invasive procedures.
Innovation Solution
A delivery apparatus featuring a plurality of containers with a uniform cross-sectional area, eliminating the need for tapering and allowing for improved flow and control, with automatic indexing to ensure continuous delivery without the need for frequent reloading.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a tapered delivery nozzle is used to deliver granular bone growth stimulant, then the material can be forced through a narrower outlet, but the granules separate from the paste causing diluted delivery or complete flow prevention
Solution Approach 1:
The delivery system is segmented into multiple separate channels (first channel for granular material, second channel for paste) rather than mixing them in a single tapered nozzle. This segmentation prevents granule-paste separation while enabling controlled delivery of both materials to the application site.
2Productivity
If conventional syringe or funnel methods are used to deliver granular bone growth stimulant, then the material can be applied to the site, but the process is messy and time-consuming with insufficient control
Solution Approach 1:
A specialized delivery apparatus acts as an intermediary between the bone growth stimulant and the application site. This apparatus includes controlled delivery mechanisms (plunger, pump, or pressure system) that precisely regulate material flow, eliminating the mess and time-wasting associated with manual funnel and spatula methods.
3Quantity of substance
If a single large container is used to hold bone growth stimulant, then the total volume of material can be delivered, but the transition to narrower outlet causes granule separation
Solution Approach 1:
The single large container is segmented into multiple separate channels, each maintaining uniform cross-section throughout its length. The granular material travels through the first channel while paste travels through the second channel, both reaching the application site without mixing in a tapered transition zone, thus preserving material composition uniformity.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of reducing the outlet diameter (one-dimensional reduction), the system uses multiple parallel channels of uniform cross-section. This multi-dimensional approach delivers the same total volume of material while avoiding the problematic tapered transition that causes granule separation.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If minimally invasive procedures are used with thin delivery nozzles, then patient trauma is reduced, but delivering thick paste or granular materials becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The delivery system uses multiple thin channels instead of a single large tapered nozzle. Each channel maintains uniform cross-section and is sized appropriately for minimally invasive access, while collectively delivering both granular and paste materials effectively to the target site.
Data Source
AI summary
A delivery apparatus for delivering material to a medical treatment site which comprises a plurality of containers for containing the material, a dispensing outlet and means for bringing each container into communication with the outlet and means for transferring material from the containers and through the outlet. The plurality of containers may be removably mounted within a removable cartridge. The apparatus is arranged so that the cartridge is biased to sequentially move each of the containers into communication with the outlet. The outlet may be provided at the end of a dispensing nozzle where the dispensing nozzle has an inner cross-sectional area that is uniform and the same as the containers so that no taper is provided as the material is dispensed from the containers and out of the outlet.