Patent ID: 8132959
Filing Date: 2012-03-13
Classification: A61B,A61F,B01F

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for storing and discharging bone cement monomer, said apparatus comprising: a cartridge having opposed top and bottom ends and a void space between said ends; a coupling member located below the bottom end of said cartridge, said coupling member configured to attach said cartridge to a bone cement mixer and allow fluid to flow into the bone cement mixer; a cracking assembly mounted to said bottom end of said cartridge, said cracking assembly shaped to allow said bone cement monomer to flow past said cracking assembly into said coupling member; an ampoule containing the bone cement monomer disposed within said cartridge above said shattering assembly, said ampoule having a surface that faces said cracking assembly; a plunger reciprocally mounted to said cartridge adjacent said top end of said cartridge, said plunger dimensioned to, when depressed in said cartridge, press said ampoule against said cracking assembly so that the surface of said ampoule facing said cracking assembly shatters; a first pressure-actuated valve attached to said cartridge that is normally closed and that is configured to open when a pressure within the cartridge void space is below an ambient air pressure so as to allow air into the cartridge void space; and a second pressure-actuated valve located adjacent the bottom end of said cartridge that is normally closed and that is configured to open when said pressure within the cartridge void space is above the ambient air pressure so as to allow the bone cement monomer to exit said cartridge through said second valve and said coupling member.