MIXING DEVICE, IN PARTICULAR DESIGNED FOR MIXING BONE CEMENT

Abstract

A mixing device, in particular for bone cement, in which at least two ampoules provided with a septum are pushed onto needles, in parallel to each other, for discharging the liquid.

Claims

1. A mixing device for bone cement, comprising: at least two ampoules filled with a liquid, wherein the ampoules can be perforated by a respective needle and the liquid is dischargeable from the ampoules through the needles, wherein the mixing device comprises an ampoule holder which is adapted to push the ampoules simultaneously onto the needles.

2. The mixing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ampoule holder is arranged in a cap which can be slideably inserted into a housing that comprises the needles.

3. The mixing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mixing device comprises a manifold in which the liquid from the ampoules can be mixed before being discharged.

4. A mixing device for bone cement, comprising: at least one ampoule filled with a liquid, which is opened by pushing the ampoule onto an opening means into an engaged position thereon, wherein an unlocking means has to be pressed for being able to push the ampoule, and wherein in its engaged position the ampoule is latched non-detachably.

5. The mixing device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the at least one ampoule is arranged in a cap which is slideably accommodated in a housing and which projects beyond the housing, at least in the non-engaged position.

6. A mixing device for bone cement, comprising: at least one ampoule which is filled with a liquid and can be opened by pushing the ampoule onto a needle, for discharging the liquid, wherein the needle is made of plastics.

7. The mixing device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the needle is part of an insert connected to a housing of the mixing device.

8. The mixing device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the insert is provided in the form of a manifold comprising at least two needles.

9. A mixing device for bone cement, comprising: at least one ampoule which is filled with a liquid and can be opened by pushing the ampoule onto an opening means for discharging the liquid, wherein the ampoule is accommodated in an ampoule holder which is arranged in a cap that is slideably accommodated in a housing.

10. The mixing device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the ampoule holder is latched in the cap.

11. The mixing device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the cap is latched in the housing.

12. The mixing device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the ampoule holder has at least one retaining member holding the ampoule at a collar thereof.

13. The mixing device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the opening means is a needle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0057] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mixing device.

[0058] FIG. 2 illustrates the essential components of the mixing device of FIG. 1 in an exploded view.

[0059] FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of a mixing device in the pre-assembled but not yet actuated state.

[0060] FIG. 4 shows a perspective sectional view in which the housing, the housing cap, and one ampoule are omitted.

[0061] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the cap.

[0062] FIG. 6 shows a further perspective view of the housing.

[0063] FIG. 7 shows a perspective sectional view of the housing.

[0064] FIG. 8 shows the mixing device in its pre-assembled but not yet actuated state.

[0065] FIG. 9 shows a sectional view in the actuated state.

[0066] FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the mixing device in the actuated state.

[0067] FIG. 11 shows a perspective view of the ampoule holder.

[0068] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the manifold.

[0069] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the needle unit.

[0070] FIG. 14 is a perspective bottom view of the manifold.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0071] The subject matter of the invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to an exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 14.

[0072] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mixing device 1.

[0073] Mixing device 1 comprises a housing 2 which in this exemplary embodiment is elongated and has a cross section that is substantially rectangular with rounded corners, or oval.

[0074] The shape of the housing different from a circular cylindrical shape allows to safely grip the housing, in particular when using the housing which accommodates the ampoules.

[0075] For actuating a mixer, the necessary push and pull movements with simultaneous rotation of the mixing paddle can be performed more easily.

[0076] A cap 3 is slideably accommodated in the housing 2, which is depressed to discharge the liquid.

[0077] The housing 2 has a profiled surface area 4 which is intended to provide an even better grip. Such a profiled surface may be particularly advantageous when the housing illustrated herein is used for driving a paddle for mixing bone cement in a mixing chamber (not shown).

[0078] A unlocking means 7 in the form of a button or pushbutton can be seen, which is provided in mirror-symmetrical manner in this embodiment of the invention, that is to say also on the opposite side.

[0079] Furthermore, a first opening 5 and a second opening 6 can be seen in housing 2.

[0080] In an actuated state, a snap projection of cap 3 is latched in opening 5 and prevents cap 3 from being retracted rearwards.

[0081] When the user now actuates the unlocking means 7 on both sides by depressing them, he or she can push the cap 3 further forward or press it deeper into the housing 2, and a snap projection on cap 3 will then become latched in the opening 6 in an actuated state.

[0082] The liquid from the ampoules accommodated in housing 2 will then exit via tube 8.

[0083] When used as a bone cement mixing device, tube 8 is connected to a mixing chamber (not illustrated) to which a vacuum is applied and in which a solid component is mixed with the liquid from the ampoules.

[0084] In this case, the housing 2 may be used to drive a mixing paddle. Subsequently, housing 2 can be severed at a predetermined breaking point (not illustrated) of tube 8, for pressing out the bone cement. Moreover, the housing 2 illustrated herein, which is designed for accommodating the monomer ampoule, may furthermore be used as a handle to actuate a plunger to press out the bone cement (not illustrated).

[0085] FIG. 2 illustrates the essential components of the mixing device of FIG. 1 in an exploded view.

[0086] Housing 2 can be seen, on which the tube 8 for discharging the liquid is mounted on an extension 9 which has a circular cylindrical shape in this case.

[0087] In this exemplary embodiment, the mixing device furthermore comprises two monomer vials 10 which are closed by a septum.

[0088] The ampoules 10 containing the monomer are first inserted into an ampoule holder 11.

[0089] Then, the ampoule holder 11 is slideably inserted into cap 3 where it becomes latched.

[0090] Furthermore, a needle unit 12 can be seen which comprises two needles.

[0091] In the assembled state, needle unit 12 is coupled with a manifold 13 which itself is inserted in the housing 2 together with needle unit 12 and is in particular connected thereto by being welded or glued thereto.

[0092] If now the cap 3 is pressed down, as already described with reference to FIG. 1, the ampoules 10 will simultaneously be pushed onto the needle unit 12.

[0093] The liquid will then flow through the needles of needle unit 12 and through manifold 13 into the tube 8, for example by virtue of a vacuum applied to tube 8 in conjunction with a gas volume in ampoules 10, and will exit into a mixing chamber, for example.

[0094] FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of a mixing device in the pre-assembled but not yet actuated state.

[0095] The two ampoules 10 can be seen, which are arranged in parallel and held on a collar 15 in a defined position.

[0096] Needles 14 of needle unit 12 can also be seen. Needle unit 12 is connected to manifold 13 which includes passages where the liquid from the two ampoules 10 is combined.

[0097] The system according to the invention may therefore also be used to mix two liquids with each other.

[0098] FIG. 4 shows a perspective sectional view in which the housing, the housing cap and one ampoule are omitted.

[0099] It can be seen that the ampoule 10 has a collar 15 that is seated in a retaining member 16 of an ampoule holder.

[0100] Thus, the septum 17 is arranged directly opposite to the needle of needle unit 12.

[0101] In addition to the better defined position of the ampoule 10, the use of an ampoule holder provides for improved assembly.

[0102] Preferably, the ampoule 10 is snapped into retaining member 16.

[0103] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the cap.

[0104] The cap is formed for being slideably inserted into the housing (2 in FIG. 1).

[0105] The cap has latching tabs 18 which protrude from an adjacent housing wall 19.

[0106] Latching tabs 18 can be urged inwards by actuating the unlocking means (7 in FIG. 1) in order to release the cap and hence the ampoules accommodated in the cap to be able to slideably displace them.

[0107] Furthermore, the cap has a latching projection 21 which in the pre-assembled but not yet actuated state is latched in the upper opening of the housing (5 in FIG. 1) and which is latched in the lower opening (6 in FIG. 1) in the actuated state.

[0108] A further opening 20 in the cap serves to latch the cap and the ampoule holder (11 in FIG. 2) to each other.

[0109] FIG. 6 shows a further perspective view of housing 2. In particular the upper opening 5 for latching the cap illustrated in FIG. 5 in the pre-assembled state and the opening 6 for latching in the actuated state can be seen.

[0110] The latching of the cap ensures that the cap can neither be remove nor retracted rearwards by the user in the actuated state without using a tool.

[0111] Furthermore, the unlocking means 7 in the form of pushbuttons can be seen, which are formed as an integral component of the housing 2. For this purpose, the housing 2 has slots along the edges of unlocking means 7, so that the profiled unlocking means 7 can be depressed like a button.

[0112] FIG. 7 shows a perspective sectional view of the housing. In particular the underside of unlocking means 7 can be seen, where a projection 22 is provided which in the assembled state actuates the latching tabs (18 in FIG. 5) when unlocking means 7 are depressed.

[0113] The housing furthermore has lateral openings 28 through which the content of the ampoules is visible for the user, for example.

[0114] Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9 which are sectional views, the function of the various latching and locking means will be explained.

[0115] FIG. 8 shows the mixing device in its pre-assembled but not yet actuated state.

[0116] The ampoules 10 are seated in cap 3.

[0117] The cap has latching projections which are locked in an upper opening 5 of the housing and prevent the cap from being retracted.

[0118] The front position of cap 3 and hence of the ampoule 10 is delimited by latching tabs 18 which are spread forwardly resting on a collar 23 of the housing.

[0119] When the user now actuates the unlocking means 7 by depressing them, the latching tabs 18 will be pressed inwards and can be pushed forward past the collar when the cap is pressed.

[0120] The ampoule with the septum is then pressed onto the needle.

[0121] FIG. 9 shows a sectional view in the actuated state.

[0122] Latching projections 21 are now locked in the lower opening 6 of the housing so that, again, the cap 3 can not be retracted.

[0123] The latching tabs 18 have moved past the collar 23. The front end position may be defined, for example, by abutment of the ampoule against the needle unit.

[0124] FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the mixing device in the actuated state.

[0125] The ampoules 10 with their septum have been pushed onto the needle unit 12. From the needles of needle unit 12, the liquids from the ampoules 10 are flowing into the manifold 13 where they are combined to be discharged via tube 8.

[0126] FIG. 11 shows a perspective view of ampoule holder 11.

[0127] In particular, the retaining members 16 can be seen, which extend laterally away from the elongated support and are in the form of ring segments into which the ampoules can be snapped.

[0128] The holder furthermore has a latching projection 24 which is slideably inserted into the cap, with the holder together with the ampoules.

[0129] The latching projection will then lock the holder together with the ampoules in an opening of the cap (20 in FIG. 5).

[0130] FIGS. 12 and 13 are perspective views of manifold 13 and needle unit 12, respectively.

[0131] In the present exemplary embodiment, manifold 13 and needle unit 12 are both made of plastics.

[0132] Manifold 13 has a well 26 into which the needle unit 12 is inserted. Needle unit 12 has a profiled surface 25 on its underside, for example in the form of circumferential webs adapted for bonding by ultrasonic welding.

[0133] Needles 14 together with the rest of needle unit 12 are formed as a one-piece injection molded component.

[0134] In the present exemplary embodiment, needles 14 have a tip and lateral slots extending rearwards of the tip. In this manner, a high flow rate is ensured despite of the use of a plastic component.

[0135] FIG. 14 is a perspective bottom view of manifold 13. The underside of manifold 13 also has a profiled surface 27 adapted for welding manifold 13 to the housing of the mixing device.

[0136] It will be understood that the subject matter of the invention is not limited to a combination of the features described above, but that a person skilled in the art will in particular combine the features described in conjunction with the drawings as far as technically appropriate.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0137] 1 Mixing device [0138] 2 Housing [0139] 3 Cap [0140] 4 Profiled surface [0141] 5 Opening [0142] 6 Opening [0143] 7 Unlocking means [0144] 8 Tube [0145] 9 Extension [0146] 10 Ampoule [0147] 11 Ampoule holder [0148] 12 Needle unit [0149] 13 Manifold [0150] 14 Needle [0151] 15 Collar [0152] 16 Retaining member [0153] 17 Septum [0154] 18 Latching tab [0155] 19 Housing wall [0156] 20 Opening [0157] 21 Latching projection [0158] 22 Projection [0159] 23 Collar [0160] 24 Latching projection [0161] 25 Pattern [0162] 26 Well [0163] 27 Profiled surface [0164] 28 Opening