Integrated bone cement mixing and dispensing system

• US 6,033,105 A
• Filed: 08/04/1999
• Issued: 03/07/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Advanced Biomaterial Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Donald Barker, James P. Seaton
• Inventors: Seaton, James P., Barker, Donald
• Primary Examiner(s): SOOHOO, TONY GLEN
• Application Number:
  US09/366,798
• Time in Patent Office: 216 Days
• Field of Search: 366/139, 366/154.1, 366/155.1, 366/182.1, 366/182.3, 366/183.4, 366/189, 366/192, 366/194, 366/242, 366/245, 366/195, 222/236, 222/239, 222/241, 604/93, 604/131
• US Class Current: 366/182.3
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8816 characterised by the conduit, e.g. tube, along which fluid flows into the body or by conduit connections
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8822 characterised by means facilitating expulsion of fluid from the introducer, e.g. a screw pump plunger, hydraulic force transmissions, application of vibrations or a vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/8838 for mixing bone cement or fluid fillers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2050/0064 by screwing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2050/0066 with additional sealing means, e.g. O-ring
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30289 helically-coiled
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30433 using additional screws, bolts, dowels, rivets or washers e.g. connecting screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4685 by means of vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0041 using additional screws, bolts, dowels or rivets, e.g. connecting screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0091 helically-coiled or spirally-coiled, i.e. having a 2-D spiral cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 2101/20 Mixing of ingredients for bone cement
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/565 by introducing liquids in solid material, e.g. to obtain slurries
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 27/1125 with vanes or blades extending parallel or oblique to the stirrer axis
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 27/114 Helically shaped stirrers, i.e. stirrers comprising a helically shaped band or helically shaped band sections
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 27/1144 with a plurality of blades following a helical path on a shaft or a blade support
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 27/1145 ribbon shaped with an open space between the helical ribbon flight and the rotating axis
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/501 Movable mixing devices, i.e. readily shifted or displaced from one place to another, e.g. portable during use
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/5011 portable during use, e.g. hand-held
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/30 Driving arrangements; Transmissions; Couplings; Brakes
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/31 Couplings
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/3202 : Hand driven
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/3214 : at the upper side of the axis, e.g. driving the stirrer from the top of a receptacle
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/33 : Transmissions; Means for modifying the speed or direction of rotation
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/4121 : at the top and at the bottom of the receptacle, e.g. for performing a conical orbital movement about a vertical axis
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/75 : Discharge mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/7511 : the gate carrying a stirrer acting as discharge pump
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/754551 : using helical screws

Abstract

By providing a single housing comprising a mixing chamber integrally combined with a delivery chamber or tube, a unitary, fully integrated, bone cement mixing and dispensing system is attained which eliminates user exposure or handling of the mixed bone cement. In the present invention, the two chambers of the integrated system are movable between two alternate positions, a first position wherein each chamber is sealed from the other, and a second position wherein the two chambers in direct communication with each other. In this way the mixing chamber is operated independently from the chamber for preparing the bone cement and, once prepared, is easily transferred from the mixing chamber through the delivery chamber. A dual drive assembly is provided such that it may an independently rotate a mixing blade in a first speed and direction, and independently drive the speed and rotation of a feed controlling element at a second speed and direction. The rate of speed or rotation of the mixing portion is thereby easily controlled to any desired level, relative to the rotational speed of movement of the controlling portion in the delivery chamber.

Claims

1. An integrated mixing and delivering system for fully intermixing bone cement components and delivering the mixed bone cement to a desired location, said system comprising:

A. a mixing vessel having

a. an enlarged entry portal for receiving the bone cement components, and

b. an exit portal positioned for enabling the mixed bone cement to pass therethrough;

B. cover means removably mountable to the mixing vessel in covering engagement with the entry portal;

C. an elongated hollow delivery tube comprising

a. a proximal end constructed for telescopic sliding engagement with the exit portal of the mixing vessel,

b. a distal end incorporating a cement delivering outlet portal, and

c. an elongated interior delivery zone extending between the proximal end and the outlet portal;

D. at least one mixing blade mounted in the mixing vessel and being rotationally driven therein in a first direction for fully intermixing the components forming the bone cement;

E. movement control means mounted in the delivery tube and constructed for receiving the mixed bone cement at the proximal end of the delivery tube and controllably advancing the mixed cement through the delivery tube to the outlet portal by rotational movement in a second direction; and

F. position control means cooperatively associated with the delivery tube and the mixing vessel to enable the delivery tube to be movable from

a. a first position wherein the interior of the mixing vessel and the interior delivery zone of the delivery tube are sealed from each other, and

b. a second position wherein the interior of the mixing vessel and the interior zone of the delivery tube are in communication with each other;

whereby the bone cement components are fully intermixed in a separate zone completely sealed from the delivery tube and, once the cement is mixed, the mixing vessel and delivery tube are moved into communication with each other, enabling the mixed cement to be controllably advance from the mixing vessel to the outlet portal for direct use.

2. The integrated mixing and delivery system defined in claim 1, wherein said elongated delivery tube is further defined as peripherally surrounding and blocking the movement control means when said delivery tube is in its first position, while revealing a portion of the movement control means when said delivery tube is moved to its second position, thereby assuring exposure of the movement control means to the mixed bone cement in the mixing vessel when desired.

3. The integrated mixing and delivery system defined in claim 2, wherein said position control means are further defined as comprising a pair of radially extending arm members formed on the outer wall of the delivery tube for enabling the controlled movement of the delivery tube between its first and second positions.

4. The integrated mixing and delivery system defined in claim 3, wherein said mixing vessel further comprises a hollow, cylindrically shaped conduit

a. affixed to the base of the mixing vessel in peripheral surrounding cooperating relationship with the exit portal,

b. extending from the base of the mixing vessel in peripheral surrounding and receiving engagement with the elongated delivery tube, and

c. incorporating a pair of longitudinally extending slots formed therein within which the pair of arm members of the delivery tube are slidingly retained.

5. The integrated mixing and delivery system defined in claim 4, wherein the position control means is further defined as comprising a hollow, cylindrically shaped collar

a. peripherally surrounding the hollow, cylindrically shaped conduit of the mixing vessel, and

b. incorporating thread means formed in the inside wall thereof with said thread means controllably engaged with the arm members of the delivery tube for longitudinally moving the arm members and the delivery tube relative to the conduit within said longitudinally extending slots when the collar is rotated.

6. The integrated mixing and delivery system defined in claim 5, wherein said collar further comprises an outer surface constructed for preventing slippage and assisting in the rotation thereof.

7. The integrated mixing and delivery system defined in claim 5, wherein said thread means is further defined as comprising inwardly extending, ramped, helical or spiral shaped thread members extending from the inside surface thereof to assure secure, firm, controlled engagement with the arm members of the delivery tube.

8. The integrated mixing and delivery system defined in claim 5, wherein said system further comprises:

G. a support plate mounted to the terminating the end of the conduit of the mixing vessel and extending therefrom into cooperative relationship with the terminating end of the collar, thereby assuring ease of rotation of the collar, while preventing unwanted removal of the collar therefrom.

9. The integrated mixing and delivery system defined in claim 5, wherein said system further comprises an arcuately flexible finger member formed in each longitudinally extending slot of said conduit of said mixing vessel, said flexible finger member

a. cooperating with the collar to maintain the arm members and the delivery tube in its first position,

b. being arcuately flexed during the longitudinal movement of said arm members through said slots when the collar is rotated for enabling the delivery tube to be moved into its second position, and

c. returning to its original position for blocking any further movement of the arm members of the delivery tube.

10. The integrated mixing and delivery system defined in claim 1, wherein said system further comprises:

G. drive means mounted to the cover means and

a. controllably engageable with the mixing blade for rotating said blade in one direction, and

b. controllably engageable with the movement controlling means for simultaneously rotating the movement controlling means in an opposite direction.

11. The integrated mixing and delivery system defined in claim 1, wherein said mixing blade is further defined as being affixed to an elongated hollow shaft for rotationally driving the mixing blade within the mixing vessel, and said cover means is further defined as comprising a centrally disposed aperture constructed for cooperating, peripheral surrounding engagement with the hollow shaft, enabling the hollow shaft to protrude therethrough into engagement with the drive means for enabling said shaft and blade to be easily rotated in the first direction.

12. The integrated mixing and delivery system defined in claim 11, wherein the movement control means is further defined as comprising an elongated rod member longitudinally extending in co-axial alignment within the hollow shaft of said mixing blade and extending from the terminating end thereof into engagement with the drive means for being controllably rotated thereby in a second direction.

13. The integrated mixing and delivery system defined in claim 12, wherein said drive means is further defined as comprising a drive member incorporating a base and an elongated shaft extending from said base with said base comprising a receiving cavity for peripherally surrounding and drivingly engaging the rod member of the movement controls means whereby said rod member and said movement controls means is rotationally driven by the rotational movement of the drive member.

14. The integrated mixing and delivery system defined in claim 13, wherein said elongated shaft of said drive member is constructed for mating engagement with any desired rotation inducing means.

15. The integrated mixing and delivery system defined in claim 14, wherein the base of said drive member is further defined as comprising gear teeth formed in the outer surface thereof and said drive means is further defined as comprising a plurality of separate and independent gear members peripherally surrounding the drive member, with each of said gear members being in rotationally driven engagement therewith, whereby rotation of said drive member in a first direction causes each of said gear members to separately rotate in the opposite direction.

16. The integrated mixing and delivery system defined in claim 15, wherein said drive means is further defined as comprising a planetary or substantially circular shaped gear plate incorporating a plurality of inwardly facing gear teeth formed in an upstanding wall thereof, with said gear teeth peripherally surrounding and engaging the plurality of independent gear members, whereby said planetary or circular shaped gear plate is rotationally driven by the plurality of the gear members in the same rotational direction thereof.

17. The integrated mixing and delivery system defined in claim 16, wherein said gear plate is further defined as comprising a drive receiving aperture for receiving and drivingly engaging the distal end of the hollow shaft of the mixing blade whereby the mixing blade and hollow shaft are rotated by the rotational movement of the gear plate.

18. The integrated mixing and delivery system defined in claim 17, wherein said mixing blade comprises a helical shape, arcuately curved in a counterclockwise direction about the hollow shaft and said first direction is counterclockwise.

19. The integrated mixing and delivery system defined in claim 18, wherein said helical blade member is arcuately curved through an arc of 165°

.

20. The integrated mixing and delivery system defined in claim 19, wherein said movement controlling member comprises a radially extending auger or screw thread mounted to a support shaft with said screw thread being arcuately curved in a clockwise direction and said second direction is clockwise.