Injector and thermal jacket for use with same

• US 20080300540A1
• Filed: 05/28/2008
• Published: 12/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Van L. Lewis
• Original Assignee: Van L. Lewis
• Inventors: Lewis, Van L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,096,975 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/114
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8836 for heating, cooling or curing of bone cement or fluid fillers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0054 with a closed fluid circuit, e.g. hot water
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/44 having means for cooling or heating the devices or media

Abstract

An apparatus for injecting a material comprising an injector barrel in communication with a delivery needle and a plunger, wherein at least a portion of the plunger is slidably disposed within a proximal portion of the injector barrel, and a proximal end of the delivery needle is in communication with a distal end of the injector barrel, and a thermal jacket surrounding at least a portion of the length of the injector barrel is disclosed. The thermal jacket may be used to regulate the temperature of the material to be delivered.

Claims

1. An apparatus for injecting a material comprising:

an injector barrel in communication with a delivery needle and a plunger,

wherein at least a portion of the plunger is slidably disposed within a proximal portion of the injector barrel, and a proximal end of the delivery needle is in communication with a distal end of the injector barrel, and

a thermal jacket surrounding at least a portion of the length of the injector barrel.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, comprising an introducer cannula.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the injector barrel incorporates a flexible distal segment near the distal end of the injector barrel.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a distal portion of the plunger is flexible.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, comprising an advancement mechanism in communication with the plunger.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the thermal jacket comprises an interior wall, an exterior wall, and first and second end walls connected to the interior and exterior walls creating a closed tubular system enclosing a thermal space.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a heating element disposed on the injector barrel.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the thermal jacket comprises a port disposed on the exterior wall and in communication with the thermal space.

9. An apparatus for injecting a material, comprising:

an injector barrel with a proximal and a distal end, wherein, the distal end is in communication with a delivery needle;

a plunger with a proximal end and a distal end, wherein a portion of the distal end is in communication with the proximal end of the injector barrel, wherein at least a portion of the plunger is slidably disposed within the injector barrel; and

a thermal jacket surrounding at least a portion of the length of the injector barrel, wherein the thermal jacket comprises an interior wall and exterior wall joined by a first end wall and a second end wall.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the thermal jacket comprises a port disposed on the exterior wall and in communication with a thermal space created by the exterior wall, interior wall, and first and second end walls.

11. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the thermal jacket comprises at least two chambers with a partition to isolate the two chambers from one another.

12. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein a heater element is disposed on the thermal jacket.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the heater element is disposed at the distal end of the thermal jacket.

14. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the thermal jacket has an opening along its length.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the thermal jacket has a hinge disposed on the external wall opposite the opening.

16. An apparatus for injecting a material comprising:

an injector barrel;

a plunger;

a thermal jacket, wherein the thermal jacket contains both a cooling portion and a heating portion.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the cooling portion is cooled by the circulation of a cold liquid in the thermal jacket.

18. The apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the heating portion is an electric coil.