Automated bone cement mixing apparatus
OwnerMichael L. Earleinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A motorized mixer for mixing bone cement for use in attachment of prosthetics and method for using the mixer. The mixer comprises a mixing chamber, a liner in the mixing chamber, an impeller within the liner, a motor for driving the impeller and programmable means for regulating the operations of the motor. An impeller for use in a mixer for mixing bone cement having a mixing chamber and means for mixing cement within the chamber that allows the simultaneous exposure of the mixing chamber and the post-cement delivery area to a vacuum source to prevent to prevent air from being folded into the cement during mixing and post-mixing transfer as well as aiding in the ease of cement transfer from the mixing chamber to the post-mixing cement collection area.
Claims18
A motorized mixer for mixing bone cement for use in attachment of prosthetics, the mixer comprising:
- a mixing chamber;
- a liner in the mixing chamber;
- an impeller within the liner wherein the impeller comprises:
- blades for mixing;
- a hollow shaft;
- a motor for driving the impeller;
- and
- means for regulating the operations of the motor.
A method for preparing bone cement comprising the steps of:
- placing components of the bone cement in a mixer;
- sealing the components of the cement within the mixer;
- attaching a cement collection device to the bottom of the mixer where the attachment is air tight;
- applying a vacuum to the interior of the mixer;
- mixing the cement components under a vacuum for a selected time period;
- and
- applying a vacuum to the cement collection device before the mixed cement is transferred from the mixer to the cement collection device.
In an impeller used in a mixer for mixing bone cement having a mixing chamber, a liner in the mixing chamber, and a means for mixing cement within the chamber wherein the improvement comprises a hollow shaft with an interior, the hollow shaft having a first open end exposing the mixing chamber to the interior of the hollow shaft, the hollow shaft having a second open end aligned with a liner opening in the liner, and the second opening and the liner opening exposing the interior of the hollow shaft to a post-mixing cement collection area so that air in the mixing chamber is exposed to air in the post-mixing cement collection area.
In an impeller used in a mixer for mixing bone cement having a mixing chamber and means for mixing cement within the chamber wherein the improvement comprises a hollow shaft having an interior, the hollow shaft having a first open end exposing the mixing chamber to the interior of the hollow shaft, and the hollow shaft having a second open end exposing the interior of the shaft to a post-mixing cement collection area.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.