Cartridge for storage and delivery of a two-phase compound

• US 8,690,419 B2
• Filed: 01/27/2006
• Issued: 04/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tecres S.P.A.
• Original Assignee: Tecres S.P.A.
• Inventors: Faccioli, Giovanni, Soffiatti, Renzo
• Primary Examiner(s): Soohoo, Tony G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bhatia, Anshu
• Application Number:
  US11/920,638
• Publication Number:
  US 20080312588A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,993 Days
• Field of Search: 206/219, 206/222, 366/189, 366/139, 366/130, 604/87, 604/88, 222/137
• US Class Current: 366/139
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8833 Osteosynthesis tools specially adapted for handling bone cement or fluid fillers; Means for supplying bone cement or fluid fillers to introducing tools, e.g. cartridge handling means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4611 of spinal prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/5011 portable during use, e.g. hand-held
• 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

Abstract

This invention finds application in the field of the devices and methods for physical or chemical mixing of products and particularly relates to a cartridge for storage and sterile delivery of a two-phase compound. The cartridge comprises a first tubular member (2) which defines a first chamber (3) for storage of a solid phase, having a bottom wall (6) with an opening (7) for the passage of the compound, a second tubular member (9) which defines a second hermetically sealed chamber (12) for storage of a liquid phase, and a piston which sealably slides within the first tubular member (2), means (8) for occluding said opening (7) which comprise at least one rupturable membrane (15) associated to the bottom wall (6).

Claims

1. A cartridge for storage and sterile delivery of a two-phase compound, composed of a liquid phase and a solid phase which are mixed together in said cartridge immediately before delivery of said compound, comprising:

a first tubular member which defines a first chamber for storage of said solid phase, with a first side wall having an open end and a bottom wall, said first tubular member defining a longitudinal axis;

a second tubular member with a second side wall, a first and a second end walls, defining a second hermetically sealed chamber for storage of said liquid phase, said second hermetically sealed chamber forming with said first chamber a hermetically sealed space in said cartridge for the storing and mixing of said liquid and solid phases, said second tubular member defining a piston which sealably slides within said first tubular member for extrusion of said compound,

the bottom wall of said first tubular member having an opening for the passage of the compound to be delivered from said cartridge; and

occlusion means for occluding said opening;

wherein said occlusion means comprise a non-return valve to permit flow of the compound in one direction and at least one rupturable membrane which is coupled to said bottom wall, wherein said first tubular means is configured to receive an external delivery means at said occlusion means, whereby the membrane may be ruptured without the compound contacting an outside environment, for delivery from said cartridge and direct implantation of said compound in absolutely sterile conditions.

2. The cartridge as claimed in claim 1, wherein said membrane is ruptured by a rupturing means provided in said external delivery means.

3. The cartridge as claimed in claim 1, wherein said occlusion means comprise a cylindrical conduit coaxial to said first member, said cylindrical conduit being engageable with the non-return valve associated to said first end wall of said second tubular member.

4. The cartridge as claimed in claim 3, wherein said cylindrical conduit has an inlet and an outlet for the compound, said inlet being situated at said bottom wall, said at least one rupturable membrane being placed downstream from said inlet.

5. The cartridge as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second side wall of said piston has a seal coaxial to said second member, said seal being situated at said first end wall of said second member.

6. The cartridge as claimed in claim 1, including a liquid phase container, said second tubular member comprising means for rupturing said container in said second chamber.

7. The cartridge as claimed in claim 6, wherein said rupturing means include a pointed element at said first end wall of said second tubular member.

8. The cartridge as claimed in claim 7, wherein said rupturing means include a cylindrical member, which slides in a through hole formed in said second end wall of said second tubular member, said cylindrical member having an end that is operable from the outside whereas the opposite end is adapted to interact with said container to push it against said pointed element.

9. The cartridge as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first end wall of said second tubular member has at least one through recess to put said first and second chambers in fluid communication.

10. The cartridge as claimed in claim 9, wherein said at least one through recess is at least partly occluded by a filter.

11. The cartridge as claimed in claim 1, including means for selective attachment of said first and second tubular members, in such a manner as to make said piston susceptible of sliding in said first chamber thereby defining a negative pressure therein, so as to facilitate the ingress of the liquid phase into said first chamber.

12. The cartridge as claimed in claim 11, wherein said attachment means comprise a selective abutment element which is removably engageable onto said second tubular member.

13. The cartridge as claimed in claim 11, wherein said attachment means comprise a flange for integral connection to said piston, said flange having at least one substantially longitudinal projection.

14. The cartridge as claimed in claim 13, wherein said attachment means comprise a cylindrical ring coaxial to said first member, said cylindrical ring having at least one recess therein for snap engagement with said at least one projection of said connection flange.

15. The cartridge as claimed in claim 1, including means for removable connection to said external delivery means.

16. The cartridge as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first chamber has at least one seat for the passage of the compound delivered from said cartridge when connected to the external delivery means.

17. The cartridge as claimed in claim 1, wherein said external delivery means are connected to means for delivering the compound at high pressure.

18. The cartridge as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one rupturable membrane consists of an aluminum disc which is heat sealed to the bottom wall of the first tubular member.

19. A cartridge for storage and sterile delivery of a two-phase compound, composed of a liquid phase and a solid phase which are mixed together in said cartridge immediately before delivery of said compound, comprising:

a first tubular member which defines a first chamber for storage of said solid phase, with a first side wall having an open end and a bottom wall, said first tubular member defining a longitudinal axis;

a second tubular member with a second side wall, a first and a second end walls, defining a second hermetically sealed chamber for storage of said liquid phase, said second hermetically sealed chamber forming with said first chamber a hermetically sealed space in said cartridge for the storing and mixing of said liquid and solid phases, said second tubular member defining a piston which sealably slides within said first tubular member for extrusion of said compound,

the bottom wall of said first tubular member having an opening for the passage of the compound to be delivered from said cartridge; and

occlusion means for occluding said opening;

wherein said occlusion means comprise at least one rupturable membrane which is coupled to said bottom wall, wherein said first tubular means is suitable to be coupled at said occlusion means with external delivery means, whereby the membrane may be ruptured without the compound contacting an outside environment, for delivery from said cartridge and direct implantation of said compound in absolutely sterile conditions.