DEVICE FOR MIXING BONE CEMENT

Abstract

A device for mixing bone cement comprises a first hollow body which encloses a first cavity for receiving a powder and has a first opening, and a second hollow body which encloses a second cavity for receiving an ampoule and has a second opening. The first hollow body and the second hollow body are connectable to one another in such a way that the first opening and the second opening are fluidically connected to one another. The first hollow body is elastic so that a content of the first hollow body can be mixed from the outside by kneading.

Claims

1. A device for mixing bone cement, comprising a first hollow body which encloses a first cavity for receiving a powder and has a first opening, and a second hollow body which encloses a second cavity for receiving an ampoule and has a second opening, wherein the first hollow body and the second hollow body are connectable to one another in such a way that the first opening and the second opening are fluidically connected to one another, wherein the first hollow body is elastic, such that the content of the first hollow body can be mixed from the outside by kneading.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the second hollow body further comprises a third opening through which a gas can flow out of the second hollow body.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the second hollow body is elastic at least in regions, such that the second hollow body can be bent from the outside in order to break open an ampoule present in the second cavity.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the second hollow body has a filter element, the filter element being arranged such that a flow flowing through the second opening is filtered.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device comprises an ampoule received in the second cavity.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device comprises a powder received in the first cavity.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first cavity has a volume which corresponds at least to the sum of a volume of the powder and a volume of a liquid receivable in the ampoule.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the second cavity has a body region for receiving a body of the ampoule and a head region for receiving a head of an ampoule, at least one first fluidic connection existing between an end of the body region facing the head region and the second opening.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein a second fluidic connection exists between an end of the head region facing away from the body region and the second opening.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein the second hollow body encloses two second cavities, each second cavity being configured to receive an ampoule.

11. The device according to claim 3, wherein a common snap line is provided for the two second cavities, so that the two ampoules present in the second hollow body can be broken open from the outside by a single snap action.

12. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first hollow body has a first connecting element and the second hollow body has a second connecting element, the first connecting element and the second connecting element being configured such that the first hollow body and the second hollow body are connectable to one another manually and releasably.

13. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device further comprises an adapter which is connectable to the first connecting element and is configured such that a mixture for producing bone cement is held back in the first hollow body.

14. The device according to claim 12, wherein the device further comprises a discharge element having a third connecting element which can be connected to the first connecting element of the first hollow body.

15. The device according to claim 14, wherein the first hollow body is made of a material having a Shore A hardness between 30 and 80.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

[0060] In the drawings:

[0061] FIG. 1: shows a perspective view of a device according to the invention,

[0062] FIG. 2: shows a sectional view of a device according to the invention,

[0063] FIG. 3: shows a further sectional view of a device according to the invention,

[0064] FIG. 4: shows a further sectional view of a device according to the invention,

[0065] FIG. 5 shows a further sectional view of a device according to the invention,

[0066] FIG. 6: shows a further sectional view of a device according to the invention,

[0067] FIG. 7 shows a sectional perspective view of a device according to the invention,

[0068] FIG. 8: shows a perspective view of a device according to the invention,

[0069] FIG. 9: shows a perspective view of a device according to the invention, and

[0070] FIG. 10 shows a sectional detail drawing of a device according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0071] FIG. 1 shows a device 10 for mixing bone cement. The device 10 comprises a first hollow body 11, a second hollow body 21 and an optional discharge element 58. In particular, each of the hollow bodies 11, 21 is made of rubber and/or plastic. The first hollow body 11 comprises a first opening 15. A first connecting element 61 in the form of an external thread is arranged in the region of the first opening 15. The second hollow body 21 comprises a second opening 25 and a third opening 28. The third opening 28 is closed with a gas-permeable cap 29. The cap 21 can be designed to be removable in order to allow an ampoule to be inserted into the second hollow body 21. The two openings 25, 28 are arranged in particular centrally at opposite ends of the second hollow body 21.

[0072] A second connecting element 62 in the form of an internal thread is located in the region of the second opening 25. The first hollow body 11 and the second hollow body 21 can be mechanically connected to one another by means of the connecting elements 61, 62. In the connected state of the two hollow bodies 11, 21, the first opening 15 and the second opening 25 are fluidically connected to one another.

[0073] The discharge element 58 comprises a nozzle 59 for discharging bone cement and a third connecting element 63 in the form of an internal thread, which in particular corresponds to the internal thread of the second connecting element 62. In this way, the discharge element 58 can be mechanically connected to the first connecting element 61 of the first hollow body 11 instead of the second hollow body 21.

[0074] FIG. 2 shows the device 10, which can correspond to the device of FIG. 1, in a sectional view. As described above, the first hollow body 11 and the second hollow body 21 are mechanically connected to one another by means of the connecting elements 61, 62. The first hollow body 11 encloses a first cavity 12, which is partially filled with powder 14 and partially with a gas 30, for example air. The second hollow body 21 encloses a second cavity 22, in which an ampoule 24 is present. The ampoule 24 is partially filled with a liquid 32 and partially filled with a gas 30 or completely filled with the liquid 32.

[0075] The ampoule 24 is composed of an essentially circular-cylindrical body 42 and a head 46 adjoining the same. In FIG. 2, the head 46 points downward. At the transition between the body 42 and the head 46 there is a predetermined breaking point in order to separate the head 46 from the body and in this way release the liquid 32. The second cavity 22 of the second hollow body 21 is accordingly divided into an essentially circular-cylindrical body region 40 for receiving the body 42 and a head region 44 adjoining the same for receiving the head 46. The second hollow body 21 is elastic at least in the region of the predetermined breaking point, so that the ampoule 24 can be opened as described by snapping from the outside along the snap line 54.

[0076] A second fluidic connection 52 in the form of a straight flow duct is located between the lower end of the head region 44 facing away from the body region 40 and the second opening 25. At the lower end of the flow duct in the region of the second opening 25, there is a filter element 38 with which a flow flowing through the second opening 25 can be filtered. In this way, for example, glass shards which are created when the ampoule 24 is opened can be held back when the liquid 32 is flowing through the second opening 25.

[0077] FIGS. 3 to 5 show successive steps of a method for producing a powder cement. The device 10 used for this purpose corresponds in particular to the device from FIG. 2. In FIGS. 3 and 5, the device 10 is shown rotated by 90? along its longitudinal axis. It is shown here that, in addition to the second fluidic connection 52, two first fluidic connections 51 also exist between the second cavity 22 and the second opening 25. Two, for example curved, flow ducts run between the lower end of the body region 40 facing the head region 44 and the straight flow duct of the second fluidic connection 52. The first fluidic connections 51 are therefore located above or at least at the same height as the predetermined breaking point. In this way, the liquid 32 can flow through the second opening 25 even if the head region 44 is clogged by the broken-off head 46 of the ampoule 24 or by glass shards.

[0078] FIG. 3 shows that a manual force is being applied from the outside to the first hollow body 11. The first hollow body 11 is pressed together. Gas present above the powder 14 in this way flows through the second opening 25 and the fluidic connections 51, 52 into the second cavity 22, past the ampoule 24 and out of the second hollow body 21 through the third opening 28. The filter element 38 can prevent powder 14 from getting into the second hollow body 21.

[0079] FIG. 4 shows the snapping of the second hollow body 21 along the snap line 54 by the application of manual force from the outside. As a result, the head 46 of the ampoule 24 is separated from the body 42 and the liquid 32 is released. The liquid 32 begins to flow downwards. The manual force applied to the first hollow body 11 is now removed. Due to the restoring force exerted by the wall of the first hollow body 11, a negative pressure is formed in the first hollow body 11 and sucks the liquid 32 downwards in addition to the action of gravity. FIG. 5 shows the state after a large part of the liquid 32 has already flowed into the first hollow body 11. As soon as the first hollow body 11 has assumed its original shape again and/or the required amount of liquid 32 has flowed into the first hollow body 11, the elastic first hollow body 11 can be kneaded from the outside in order in this way to mix the powder 14 with the liquid 32 as homogeneously as possible. The filter element 38 here prevents the mixture from flowing into the second hollow body 21. In this way, a processed bone cement is produced in the first cavity 12.

[0080] FIG. 6 shows the dispensing of the bone cement that has been produced. Instead of the second hollow body, the discharge element 58 is now fastened to the first connecting element 61 of the first hollow body 11. By applying a manual pressure force from the outside to the flexible first hollow body 11, the produced bone cement 34 is pressed out through the nozzle 59.

[0081] FIGS. 7 and 8 show another embodiment of the device 10 according to the invention. Deviating from the previously described devices, the second hollow body 21 here surrounds two second cavities 22. An ampoule 24 is present in each second cavity 22. Each of the second cavities 22 is connected to the second opening 25 by means of one or more fluidic connections. FIG. 8 shows that a common snap line 54 for the two second cavities 22 is provided. The liquid from the two ampoules 24 can thus be released from the outside by a single snapping movement.

[0082] FIGS. 9 and 10 show another embodiment of the device 10 according to the invention. In addition to what has already been described, the device 10 shown here comprises an adapter 56. This comprises a fourth connecting element 64 in the form of an internal thread which corresponds essentially to the second connecting element 62. The adapter 56 further comprises a fifth connecting element 65 in the form of an external thread which corresponds essentially to the first connecting element 61. The adapter 56 can thus be screwed onto the first connecting element 61 and onto the second connecting element 62 and can be arranged accordingly between the first hollow body 11 and the second hollow body 21, as shown in FIG. 10. The liquid from the ampoule can thus flow through the adapter 56 into the first cavity 12.

[0083] The adapter 56 further comprises a second filter element 39. This is designed in particular like the first filter element 38. The second filter element 39 is located in particular at the end of the flow duct, extending through the adapter 56, which is facing the first hollow body 11 during intended use. In this way, the second filter element 39 prevents the mixture for producing bone cement from coming out of the first hollow body 11 when the latter is being kneaded. It is thus possible to carry out the kneading from the outside for mixing the bone cement, while the second hollow body 21 is separated from the first hollow body 11 and only the adapter 56 is arranged on the first hollow body 11. In this way, the device is more manageable, which facilitates mixing. Overall, the first hollow body 11 and the second hollow body can thus be connected directly or indirectly with an interposed adapter.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0084] Device 10 [0085] First hollow body 11 [0086] First cavity 12 [0087] Powder 14 [0088] First opening 15 [0089] Second hollow body 21 [0090] Second cavity 22 [0091] Ampoule 24 [0092] Second opening 25 [0093] Third opening 28 [0094] Cap 29 [0095] Gas 30 [0096] Liquid 32 [0097] Bone cement 34 [0098] Filter element 38 [0099] Second filter element 39 [0100] Body region 40 [0101] Body 42 [0102] Head region 44 [0103] Head 46 [0104] First fluidic connection 51 [0105] Second fluidic connection 52 [0106] Snap line 54 [0107] Adapter 56 [0108] Discharge element 58 [0109] Nozzle 59 [0110] First connecting element 61 [0111] Second connecting element 62 [0112] Third connecting element 63 [0113] Fourth connecting element 64 [0114] Fifth connecting element 65