Apparatus and process for mixing and filling

• US 5,015,101 A
• Filed: 06/25/1990
• Issued: 05/14/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Thurgauer Kantonalbank
• Original Assignee: Klaus Draenert
• Inventors: Draenert, Klaus
• Primary Examiner(s): JENKINS, ROBERT
• Application Number:
  US07/542,634
• Time in Patent Office: 323 Days
• Field of Search: 366/129, 366/255, 366/190, 366/256, 366/332-335, 366/197, 366/348, 366/349, 366/130, 366/203, 222/137, 222/145
• US Class Current: 366/349
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8825 characterised by syringe details A61B17/8822, A61B17/8827 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8827 with filtering, degassing, venting or pressure relief means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/8838 for mixing bone cement or fluid fillers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2050/0063 Bayonet coupling
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30561 breakable or frangible
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4685 by means of vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0071 breakable or frangible
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 2101/20 Mixing of ingredients for bone cement
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 31/441 performing a rectilinear reciprocating movement
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/5011 portable during use, e.g. hand-held
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/50112 of the syringe or cartridge type
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/70 Mixers specially adapted for working at sub- or super-atmospheric pressure, e.g. combined with de-foaming
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/3202 Hand driven
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/713 comprising breaking packages or parts thereof, e.g. piercing or opening sealing elements between compartments or cartridges containers or packages per se B65D
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/7137 Piercing, perforating or melting membranes or closures which seal the compartments
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/7162 A container being placed inside the other before contacting the contents
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/7163 the containers being connected in a mouth-to-mouth, end-to-end disposition, i.e. the openings are juxtaposed before contacting the contents
• CPC Class Codes: B05C 17/015 with pneumatically or hydraulically actuated piston or the like B05C17/00543 takes precedence

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus and a process for mixing a compound comprising at least two components and especially to an apparatus and a process for mixing bone cement and filling it into an applicator (130). The apparatus comprises a mixing bowl (100) and a sealing means (140) which can be connected to the applicator (130). The applicator (130) can be moved within the mixing bowl (100) relative thereto. Due to the relative motion of the applicator (130) and the mixing bowl (100), the bone cement is mixed and filled into the applicator (130).

Claims

1. An apparatus for mixing a compound containing at least two components, comprising:

a first vessel closed at one end thereof;

a second vessel, the cross-section of which is smaller than that of the first vessel, the second vessel having an opening at one end thereof and being movable within the first vessel relative thereto; and

a sealing means at the outer circumference of the second vessel at its open end which seals off the space between the inner circumference of the first vessel and the outer circumference of the second vessel for the compound and its components so that the components are mixed and the compound is extruded into the second vessel when the two vessels are moved relative to each other, by pushing the second vessel with its open end into the first vessel.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a plunger which is movable within the second vessel.

14. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least the foremost lamella which faces the bottom of the mixing bowl is concave.

3. A process for mixing a compound containing at least two components wherein the compound is introduced into a first vessel and is then repeatedly pushed through an opening into a second vessel and back again into said first vessel by means of an opposite motion of said vessels, both vessels being made of a rigid material.

4. An apparatus for mixing bone cement and filling it into an applicator, said apparatus comprising:

an applicator;

a mixing bowl, the cross-section of which is larger than that of the applicator and in which the applicator is insertable with one of its ends and can be moved relative to the mixing bowl; and

a sealing means which can be connected to the applicator and seals off the outer surface of the applicator and the inner surface of the mixing bowl in a cement-tight manner so that the bone cement cannot flow between the outer surface of the applicator and the inner surface of the mixing bowl.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a lid for sealing the mixing bowl in a vacuum-tight manner, the lid having a plug for connecting a vacuum lead.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the lid has a firm rim and an inner portion made of flexible material and comprising a feed-through for the introduction of a round rod.

7. The apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a plunger which is movable within the applicator, in a cement-tight manner so that the bone cement cannot flow between the outer surface of the plunger and the inner surface of the applicator.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a manipulation means which can be connected to the plunger.

9. The apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a membrane for sealing off the end of the applicator which is insertable into the mixing bowl.

10. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the mixing bowl is cylindrical and has a bottom, the interior of which is concave.

11. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the mixing bowl is cylindrical and has a bottom, the interior of which is rounded.

12. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the sealing means comprises at least one valve to let out gas.

13. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the sealing means comprises a cylindrical member having several flexible lamellae on its outer circumference which contact the inner circumference of the mixing bowl.

15. The apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a third vessel which receives the monomer and is connectable to the mixing bowl, the monomer vessel comprising a needle and the bottom of the mixing bowl comprising a reclosable plug which can be pierced by the needle.

16. The apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a mouthpiece which is connectable to one end of the applicator.

17. The apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a means for evacuating the mixing bowl.

18. The apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a means for evacuating the applicator.

19. A process for mixing bone cement consisting of liquid monomer and polymer powder and filling it into an applicator, the process comprising the steps of introducing the liquid monomer and the polymer powder into a mixing bowl, mixing said liquid monomer and said polymer powder to form a mixture and then extruding said mixture through an opening of said mixing bowl into said applicator, by means of compression applied to said mixture.