# US 8,540,723 B2 · Medical system and method of use > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,540,723 B2 - Document ID: US8540723B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/759,573 - Filed: 2010-04-13 - Published: 2010-10-14 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2009-04-14 - Assignees: DFine, Inc. - Applicants: John H. Shadduck; Andrew Kohm - Inventors: John H. Shadduck; Andrew Kohm - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8540723B2 ## CPC - A61L 24/043: {Mixtures of macromolecular materials} - 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} - A61B 17/8827: {with filtering, degassing, venting or pressure relief means} - 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} - A61B 17/8836: {for heating, cooling or curing of bone cement or fluid fillers} - A61B 17/3472: {for bones, e.g. intraosseus injections} - A61B 2017/8838: {for mixing bone cement or fluid fillers} - A61F 2002/3009: {Transparent or translucent} - A61F 2002/465: {using heating means} - A61F 2002/4653: {using cooling means} - A61F 2002/4685: {by means of vacuum} - A61F 2250/0091: transparent or translucent - A61L: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES (preservation of bodies or disinfecting characterised by the agents employed A01N; preserving, e.g. sterilising, food or foodstuffs A23; preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes A61K) - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) ## Abstract A medical system and method can used to treat a bone. The system and method can include the preparation of bone cement to be used in the treatment. A non-liquid component and a liquid component can be combined to form a bone cement. A vacuum system can be used to saturate the non-liquid component with the liquid component. The bone cement and/or components can be heated and/or cooled. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for preparing bone cement, comprising: a base configured to couple to one or more elongate members, at least one of the elongate members configured to hold a non-liquid polymer component in a lumen thereof and configured to receive a liquid monomer component therein for saturation of the non-liquid polymer component by the liquid monomer component to form a curable bone cement; and a negative pressure source configured for detachable communication with the base to draw the liquid monomer component into the non-liquid powder component; one or more valves for selectively coupling the negative pressure source to particular elongate members of the plurality of elongate members; a computer controller configured to control the plurality of valves, such that the valves can be opened or closed substantially simultaneously or a selected time intervals; wherein the computer controller comprises a signal system to indicate to a user when to use a particular elongate member in a particular medical treatment or when to add liquid monomer component to a particular elongate member, and wherein the base comprises one or more pathways that communicate with the lumen of the one or more elongate members and the negative pressure source. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a pressure regulator for regulating the pressure of the negative pressure source applied to draw the liquid polymer into the elongate member. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a funnel member for coupling to an end of the elongate members. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a cement ejection mechanism configured to couple to one of the elongate members and to eject bone cement from the elongated member into bone. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the computer controller is operatively coupled to the negative pressure source for controlling a negative pressure level applied to each elongate member. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one of a heating and cooling mechanism for respectively heating or cooling the plurality of elongate members and the component or bone cement contained therein. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein the computer controller is configured to control either or both of the heating and cooling mechanisms. ### Claim 8 A system for preparing bone cement, comprising: a structure for receiving a plurality of bone cement preparation members, wherein the plurality of bone cement preparation members are configured to receive a liquid monomer component and a non-liquid polymer component, the combination of which forms a curable bone cement within the plurality of bone cement preparation members, the structure comprising: a plurality of channels configured to connect an end of each of the plurality of bone cement preparation members to a negative pressure source; and a plurality of temperature regulating assemblies, each assembly configured for heating or cooling one of the plurality of bone cement preparation members; and a computer controller for controlling the amount of heat or cooling provided to the plurality of bone cement preparation members to heat or cool one of the components or the curable bone cement therein. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein each of the temperature regulating assemblies comprises a sleeve configured to receive and surround one of the plurality of bone cement preparation members. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein each of the temperature regulating assemblies is configured such that there is an air flow passage between an interior surface of the temperature regulating assembly and an exterior surface of the bone cement preparation member. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein each of the temperature regulating assemblies further comprises an input and an output port in fluid communication with the air flow passage and the system further comprises a heating or cooling source configured to generate a hot or cold flow of gas to enter the input port and exit the output port. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein each of the temperature regulating assemblies further comprises an inductive coil. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein each of the temperature regulating assemblies further comprises a seal configured to seal an access opening of the temperature regulating assembly once a bone cement preparation member has been placed inside the temperature regulating assembly. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, further comprising a source of heat energy. ### Claim 15 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, further comprising a liquid monomer heating assembly, configured for receiving, surrounding and heating a container of liquid monomer prior to combination with the polymer component. ### Claim 16 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the structure further comprises a plurality of valves for selectively coupling the negative pressure source to particular bone cement preparation members. ### Claim 17 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, further comprising the negative pressure source. ### Claim 18 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, further comprising the plurality of bone cement preparation members. ### Claim 19 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, further comprising a hydraulic computer control mechanism for injecting bone cement and first and second hydraulic drivers controlled by the computer control mechanism, wherein at least one bone cement preparation member is detachably coupleable to a hydraulic driver.