A device for storing and mixing bone cement components. The device includes a housing, a safety device, and a vacuum indicator. The housing defines a mixing chamber configured to store a first bone cement component therein. In a first safety position, the safety device prevents contact between the first bone cement component and a second bone cement component in the mixing chamber. In a second safety position, the safety device permits contact between the first and second bone cement components in the mixing chamber. The vacuum indicator restricts movement of the safety device from the first safety position to the second safety position when in a first vacuum indicator position. The vacuum indicator permits movement of the safety device from the first safety position to the second safety position when in a second vacuum indicator position.

A mixing system is disclosed in which the system comprises a source of bone-graft or bone-graft-substitute material, a liquid source, and a vacuum source, at least one of the source of bone-graft or bone-graft-substitute material and the liquid source being in communication with the vacuum source. A valve assembly also forms part of the system, the valve assembly having a valve movable between a first position in which a first fluid passageway is created between the source of bone-graft or bone-graft-substitute material and the vacuum, and a second position in which a second fluid passageway is created between the source of bone-graft or bone-graft-substitute material and the liquid source, wherein, in the second position, the valve seals off the first fluid passageway, the vacuum source being adapted to generate a negative-pressure environment, relative to atmospheric pressure, within the valve assembly while the valve is in the first position. Methods of utilizing the aforementioned system are also disclosed.

A device for storing and mixing bone cement components. The device includes a housing, a safety device, and a vacuum indicator. The housing defines a mixing chamber configured to store a first bone cement component therein. In a first safety position, the safety device prevents contact between the first bone cement component and a second bone cement component in the mixing chamber. In a second safety position, the safety device permits contact between the first and second bone cement components in the mixing chamber. The vacuum indicator restricts movement of the safety device from the first safety position to the second safety position when in a first vacuum indicator position. The vacuum indicator permits movement of the safety device from the first safety position to the second safety position when in a second vacuum indicator position.

A microfluidic device includes a substrate, first and second capillary inlets, a microfluidic channel unit, an outlet disposed downstream of the microfluidic channel unit, and a suction member disposed downstream of the outlet. A first liquid is drawn into a first sub-channel and a main channel of the microfluidic channel unit through the first capillary inlet. A second liquid is drawn into a second sub-channel of the microfluidic channel unit through the second capillary inlet. The suction member provides a predetermined suction force to permit the second liquid to penetrate into the first liquid and to break up into droplets in the first liquid, thereby generating monodisperse emulsions.

A vacuum mixing device for mixing PMMA bone cement from a monomer liquid and a cement powder, the vacuum mixing device comprising at least one cartridge comprising an evacuable interior for mixing of the bone cement, a mixing device for mixing the content in the interior of the at least one cartridge, which is arranged movably in the interior, a receptacle for receiving a separate container containing the monomer liquid or comprising an integrated container containing the monomer liquid, an opening device, which is arranged in the region of the receptacle in a manner movable relative to the receptacle so that, by moving the opening device, a separate container arranged in the receptacle is openable by means of the opening device, or the opening device is arranged in the region of the integrated container in a manner movable relative to the integrated container so that, by moving the opening device, the integrated container is openable by means of the opening device, a pump, in which a movable plunger for generating a negative pressure is arranged and delimits a pump chamber of the pump, and a connection line, which connects the interior of the at least one cartridge to the pump chamber of the pump, wherein the vacuum mixing system comprises an operating element that is operatable from outside, wherein the plunger in the pump is movable manually by means of the operating element, and wherein the opening device is movable relative to the receptacle or relative to the integrated container by means of the same operating element, and the mixing device in the interior of the cartridge is movable by means of the same operating element in order to mix the content in the interior of the cartridge.

A vacuum mixing device or system mixes polymethylmethacrylate bone cement from a monomer liquid and a cement powder. The device or system comprising at least one cartridge comprising an evacuable interior for mixing of the bone cement, a mixing device for mixing the content in the interior of the at least one cartridge, a receptacle for receiving a separate container containing the monomer liquid or comprising an integrated container containing the monomer liquid, an opening device, which is arranged in the region of the receptacle in a manner movable relative to the receptacle so that, by moving the opening device, a separate container arranged in the receptacle is openable by means of the opening device, or the opening device is arranged in the region of the integrated container in a manner movable relative to the integrated container so that, by moving the opening device, the integrated container is openable by means of the opening device, a vacuum pump, in which a movable vacuum plunger for generating a negative pressure is arranged and delimits a vacuum pump chamber of the vacuum pump, a pressure pump, in which a movable pump plunger for conveying a liquid is arranged and delimits a pressure pump chamber of the pressure pump, a connection line, and a fluid connection. The device or system further comprises an operating element that is operatable from outside, wherein, by means of the operating element, the vacuum plunger in the vacuum pump is movable manually, the pump plunger in the pressure pump is movable manually, the opening device is movable manually relative to the receptacle or relative to the integrated container, and the mixing device is movable manually in the interior of the cartridge.

A mixing system is disclosed in which the system comprises a source of bone-graft or bone-graft-substitute material, a liquid source, and a vacuum source, at least one of the source of bone-graft or bone-graft-substitute material and the liquid source being in communication with the vacuum source. A valve assembly also forms part of the system, the valve assembly having a valve movable between a first position in which a first fluid passageway is created between the source of bone-graft or bone-graft-substitute material and the vacuum, and a second position in which a second fluid passageway is created between the source of bone-graft or bone-graft-substitute material and the liquid source, wherein, in the second position, the valve seals off the first fluid passageway, the vacuum source being adapted to generate a negative-pressure environment, relative to atmospheric pressure, within the valve assembly while the valve is in the first position. Methods of utilizing the aforementioned system are also disclosed.

An apparatus and method for hydrating a particulate biomaterial with a liquid biomaterial includes a vacuum device and a valve for withdrawing a gas from the particulate biomaterial and introducing the liquid biomaterial. The valve includes a hub, a valve body, a particulate port, a vacuum port, and a liquid port. The valve body selectively moves between first and second positions. The valve body at least partially defines a first passage and a second passage. The particulate port, the vacuum port, and the liquid port are each configured to fluidly connect to a particulate container, the vacuum device, and the liquid container, respectively. In the first position, the first passage fluidly connects the vacuum port to the particulate port for withdrawing the gas from the particulate container. In the second position, the second passage fluidly connects the liquid port to the particulate port for hydrating the particulate biomaterial.

A valve for a plumbing system has a housing with an inlet and an outlet and a valve body movable in the housing between a throttle position with a decreased a flow cross section and reduced flow between the inlet and outlet and an open position with a large flow cross section and free flow between the inlet and outlet. Structure in the valve body applies hydraulic pressure from the inlet or outlet to the valve body to shift same into the throttle position when a pressure differential between the inlet and the outlet exceeds a specified value and into the open position in the absence of a pressure differential between the inlet and the outlet.

A bathwater circulating system has a pump operable to draw fluid in at an intake port and expel it under pressure at an output port. Water- and air-supply conduits feed water and air to the intake port at a rate determined by a flow-restricting air-intake valve so that the pump mixes the water and the air, pressurizes the mixture and thereby dissolves the air in the water, and expels the air/water mixture at the output port. A pressure-reducing valve is connected by an output conduit that extends from the output port to the pressure relief valve and conducts the water/air-bubble mixture from the pump to the pressure-reducing valve without separation of the air from the water and such that the mixture is at least partially depressurized at the pressure-reducing valve such that the air forms microbubbles in the water.