Autonomous vacuum pump

An apparatus includes a pump body, two or more arms extending from the pump body configured to hold a cement mixing container, a vacuum port exposed on an exterior surface of the pump body and positioned to engage a port on the cement mixing container, a venturi positioned proximate the vacuum port; a perforator within the pump body, the perforator configured to puncture a gas container to release gas to the venturi to create a vacuum at the vacuum port; and an actuator configured to puncture the gas container with the perforator.

FIELD

The present subject matter relates generally to orthopedic surgical devices, and more specifically to vacuum pump for mixing bone cement.

BACKGROUND

Bone cement can be prepared by mixing two or more substances. Before the cement hardens, the mixture has a soft composition which can be placed in the bone where a prosthesis is to be inserted.

While mixing the substances, considerable volumes of air can be incorporated within the mixture, and the more air the mixture contains, the more the solidity of the finished product deteriorates. To increase the solidity of the finished product, mixing of the substances is carried out in vacuum, whereby the supply of air to the mixture is minimized.

OVERVIEW

Example 1 can include subject matter that can include an apparatus including a pump body; two or more arms extending from the pump body configured to hold a cement mixing container; a vacuum port exposed on an exterior surface of the pump body and positioned to engage a port on the cement mixing container; a venturi positioned proximate the vacuum port; a perforator within the pump body, the perforator configured to puncture a gas container to release gas to the venturi to create a vacuum at the vacuum port; and an actuator configured to puncture the gas container with the perforator.

In Example 2, the subject matter of Example 1 can optionally include the two or more arms being curved so as to grip the sides of the cement mixing container.

In Example 3, the subject matter of any of Examples 1-2 can optionally include the vacuum port directly engaging the port on the cement mixing container without intervening hoses.

In Example 4, the subject matter of any of Examples 1-3 can optionally include the perforator including a body having a cavity on one end to receive a neck of the gas container.

In Example 5, the subject matter of Example 4 can optionally include the perforator including a needle located with the cavity to puncture the gas container, the perforator further including an arm extending from the body and having a passage so as to release gas out of a hole proximate the top of the arm.

In Example 6, the subject matter of Example 5 can optionally include a regulator inserted with the cavity of the perforator.

In Example 7, the subject matter of any of Examples 1-6 can optionally include the actuator including a lever rotatably coupled to the pump body.

In Example 8, the subject matter of Example 7 can optionally include the lever including a cam positioned such that when the lever is rotated the cam engages a bottom of the gas container and pushes the gas container up to the perforator.

In Example 9, the subject matter of any of Examples 1-8 can optionally include a seal member to receive a neck of the gas container, the seal member including an external O-ring to seal against an inner wall of a cavity of the perforator.

Example 10 can include subject matter that can include a system including a cement mixing container; a pump body; a gas container located within the pump body; two or more arms extending from the pump body configured to hold the cement mixing container; a vacuum port exposed on an exterior surface of the pump body and positioned to engage a port on the cement mixing container; a venturi positioned proximate the vacuum port; a perforator within the pump body, the perforator configured to puncture the gas container to release gas to the venturi to create a vacuum at the vacuum port; and an actuator configured to puncture the gas container with the perforator.

In Example 11, the subject matter of Example 10 can optionally include the vacuum port directly engaging the port on the cement mixing container without intervening hoses.

In Example 12, the subject matter of any of Examples 10-11 can optionally include the perforator including a body having a cavity on one end to receive a neck of the gas container.

In Example 13, the subject matter of Example 12 can optionally include the perforator including a needle located with the cavity to puncture the gas container, the perforator further including an arm extending from the body and having a passage so as to release gas out of a hole proximate the top of the arm.

In Example 14, the subject matter of Example 13 can optionally include a regulator inserted with the cavity of the perforator.

In Example 15, the subject matter of any of Examples 10-14 can optionally include the actuator including a lever rotatably coupled to the pump body.

In Example 16, the subject matter of Example 15 can optionally include the lever including a cam positioned such that when the lever is rotated the cam engages a bottom of the gas container and pushes the gas container up to the perforator.

In Example 17, the subject matter of any of Examples 10-16 can optionally include a seal member to receive a neck of the gas container, the seal member including an external O-ring to seal against an inner wall of a cavity of the perforator.

Example 18 can include subject matter that can include a method including attaching a vacuum pump directly to a cement mixing container such that a port on the cement mixing container directly engages a vacuum port on the vacuum pump; actuating the vacuum pump; and mixing a cement mixture with the cement mixing container.

In Example 19, the subject matter of Examples 18 can optionally include the vacuum pump including a gas container and a venturi.

In Example 20, the subject matter of Example 19 can optionally include a perforator within a pump body of the vacuum pump, the perforator configured to puncture the gas container to release gas to the venturi to create a vacuum at the vacuum port; and an actuator configured to puncture the gas container with the perforator.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG.1shows an isometric view of a cement mixing system100, in accordance with one embodiment. System100includes a cement mixing container104and a vacuum pump102including a pump body124. The vacuum pump102can be coupled to the cement mixing container by using two or more arms120,122.

The cement mixing container104includes a mixing cartridge110and a stand112, a threaded cap116, and a handle114which activates a mixing plate118, In use, the cement materials to be mixed are put into the mixing cartridge110and the handle and threaded cap116are put into place. A vacuum is created within the mixing container104by actuating an actuator126on the vacuum pump102and the user actuates handle114to mix the cement materials with mixing plate118to the proper viscosity.

FIG.2shows a schematic representation of the connection between the vacuum pump102and the cement mixing container104, in accordance with one embodiment. In this example, a port220at an exterior surface of the cap116directly engages a vacuum port230located at the exterior surface of the vacuum pump102. This ease of connection between the vacuum source and the cement mixing container104provides that no hoses or external vacuum devices are needed. All that is needed to form a sufficient vacuum for mixing within cement mixing container104is provided by the vacuum pump102alone.

This design is helpful because if external vacuum pumps are used, the vacuum pumps are expensive and need to be cleaned after use. Moreover, vacuum hoses for connecting the vacuum pumps to the vacuum mixing systems are required. Prior to the mixing using such a vacuum mixing system, the vacuum pump first needs to be set-up and must be connected to an energy source, such as compressed air or electrical power. Then, the vacuum pump is connected to the vacuum mixing system by means of a vacuum hose. Said installation steps take up costly time and are potentially error-prone. The vacuum pump and connecting conduits to the vacuum mixing system and to external energy sources and supply conduits take up space and are potential tripping hazards and stumbling blocks. Moreover, the hoses may extend between sterile and non-sterile areas. Accordingly, the direct connection of the present design and self-contained vacuum source can help solve these issues.

FIG.3shows an exploded view of the components of vacuum pump102, in accordance with one embodiment.FIGS.4and5shows a cross-section view of the vacuum pump102as assembled.FIG.6shows a close-up view of a portion of the vacuum pump102in operation.

In one embodiment, the vacuum pump102includes the pump body124, and a gas container314located within the pump body by being inserted in an open bottom end of the pump body124. In one example, the gas container314can contain CO2. The vacuum pump102further includes the two or more arms120,122arms extending from the pump body124configured to hold the cement mixing container (FIG.1). In an example, the two or more arms120,122can be curved so as conform to and grip the curved sides of the cement mixing container104.

The vacuum port230, which is the port of a non-return valve231is exposed on an exterior surface of the pump body124and positioned to engage the port220on the cement mixing container104(FIG.2).

A venturi324is positioned adjacent the non-return valve231with the vacuum port230to create the vacuum at the vacuum port230when gas flows through the venturi324. The non-return valve231conserves the vacuum within the cement mixing container104after the gas container314is empty. This design helps limit or eliminate user-error when using the system. The venturi324includes a main body326which holds the venturi tubes327. An input port325on the body326receives gas from a perforator320to create a vacuum at vacuum port230.

The perforator320is also located within the pump body104and is configured to puncture the gas container314to release gas to the venturi324to create a vacuum at the vacuum port230. As noted above, with the present design the vacuum port230directly engages the port220on the cement mixing container104(FIG.2) without intervening hoses.

FIGS.7and8show further details of the perforator320.FIG.7shows an isometric view of a bottom of the perforator320andFIG.8shows an isometric view an upper portion of the perforator320, in accordance with one embodiment. In one example, the perforator320includes a body321having a cavity420on one end to receive a neck of the gas container314(FIG.5). The perforator320can include a needle404located within and extending from a bottom surface of the cavity420to puncture the gas container314. The perforator320can further include an arm323extending from the body321and having an internal passage410(FIGS.4and5) extending up to a hole450proximate the top of the arm323so as to release gas out of the hole450. The needle404includes a groove704longitudinally extending along the needle404to allow gas to flow into the cavity420from the gas container when the needle404punctures the gas container.

Referring again also toFIGS.3-6, a regulator322can be inserted with the cavity420of the perforator320at the location of the start of the passage410. The regulator322can control the amount of gas released through passage410to the venturi324. An O-ring328can be located to seal the coupling between the hole450and the input hole325of the venturi324.

The actuator126can include a lever127which is configured to puncture the gas container with the perforator320. For example, the lever127can be rotatably coupled to the pump body124using a pin310which fits into holes312of the pump body124. In an example, the lever127can include a cam402positioned such that when the lever127is rotated the cam402engages a bottom of the gas container314and pushes the gas container314up to the perforator320so as to puncture the gas container314with the needle404. Accordingly, as shown inFIG.5, when the lever127is rotated up to the pump body124, the gas container314is pushed upward within the cavity420of perforator320until the needle404penetrates the closed top of the gas container314. This releases the gas from the gas container314into the cavity420and then through the regulator322, up the passage410and out to the venturi324, where the gas flows through e venturi324forming a vacuum at vacuum port230.

A seal member316is configured to receive a neck of the gas container314. The seal member includes an external O-ring318to seal against an inner wall of the cavity420of the perforator320.

FIG.9shows a kit900for making a cement mixture, in accordance with one embodiment. For example, the kit900can include a sterile container901holding the cement mixing container104, the vacuum pump102and a gas container314. The kit can further include one or more cement materials902,904which will be mixed together. For example, the cements materials can include a liquid including a methyl-metacrylate and a powder including a polymethyl-metacrylate. The kit900can be supplied to users and includes everything to make a cement mixture without having the need to have an external vacuum source, power sources, or any hoses.

In some example, the system described herein can be a single use or multi-use system. For example, a new gas container can be placed with the vacuum pump102and the pump can be used multiple times. It can be simple to replace the gas container since it slips into the open bottom of the pump body124.

In using the system described above, a user can attach the vacuum pump102directly to the cement mixing container104such that the port220on the cement mixing container104directly engages the vacuum port230on the vacuum pump102. The user then actuates the vacuum pump102using lever127to release gas to the venturi324and create a suitable vacuum at the vacuum port230. When a suitable vacuum is reached within the cement mixing container104, the user mixes the cement mixture with the cement mixing container104by using the handle114and the mixing plate118.

Due to the self-contained gas container for creating a vacuum, the lack of any connection hoses, the simple lever action control, and the non-return valve230conserving the vacuum, the present system present design provides simple operation while limiting any user-error.

Additional Notes