Mould mat for producing bone cement pellets
Inventors
Laycock, Phillip • Cooper, John • Waters, Russell • Colclough, John • Maale, Gerhard
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-8883063-B2
Publication Date
2014-11-11
Expiration Date
Abstract
A means to prepare bone cement pellets comprising bone cement paste which hardens through hydration a flexible mold mat having pellet cavities on both sides and a scraper for pasting the bone cement paste in to the pellet cavities where the paste is allowed to harden.
Core Innovation
A mould mat is provided for making pellet bone cement. The mould mat contains cavities in a geometric arrangement such that the size and spacing of the cavities ensure that any straight line drawn along the full length of the mould mat parallel to an edge of the mould mat, in at least one direction and within the arrangement of cavities on the mat, always intersects at least one cavity. The mould mat contains pellet cavities on both sides thereof.
The cavities are arranged in arrays of rows and columns with diagonal offsets, so that the cavity pattern continues to be intersected by straight lines along the mould mat length. The pellet cavities can be cylindrical or hemispherical, with cavity geometry selected in relation to cavity size and spacing.
A scraper/spreader device is also disclosed for engaging and cleaning excess cement from non-cavity regions of the flexible polymeric mould mat, thereby reducing bone cement wastage and improving pellet surface finish and extraction. The disclosure includes flexible polymeric materials for the mould mat, including silicone rubber and thermoplastic elastomer.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim defines a mould mat whose cavity size, spacing and geometric arrangement guarantee intersection of at least one cavity for any straight line along the full mould mat length parallel to an edge, and specifies pellet cavities on both sides. Additional claims refine the geometry and dimensions of the mould mat and define a corresponding kit of parts and a filling device having a tapered engaging geometry.
Straight-line cavity intersection along mould mat length
The mould mat contains cavities wherein the size, spacing and geometric arrangement of cavities is such that any straight line drawn along the full length of the mould mat parallel to an edge of the mould mat in at least one direction and within the arrangement of cavities on the mat will always intersect at least one cavity.
Pellet cavities on both sides of the mould mat
The mould mat contains pellet cavities on both sides thereof.
Diagonal offset of cavity rows
Any row of cavities within the arrangement has a diagonal offset of about 30 degrees.
Cylindrical cavity diameter range
The cylindrical cavities in the mould mat are between about 2 mm to about 8 mm in diameter.
Mould mat thickness range
The thickness of the mould mat is between about 6 mm to about 12 mm.
Kit of parts for making pellets with mould mat and filling device
A kit of parts comprising a bone cement powder, a mixing aqueous liquid, a mixing bowl, a mixing instrument, a mould mat according to claim 1, and a device for filling the cavities in the mould mat.
Tapered filling device thickness at the thinner edge
The device tapers down from the one edge to an opposite edge and has a thickness of about 0.5 mm to about 1.5 mm at the thinner opposite edge.
Across the claims, the core coverage centers on a mould mat having both-sides pellet cavities and a cavity geometry that forces straight-line intersection along the mat length parallel to an edge, further refined by diagonal offset, cavity and mat dimensional ranges. Additional claim coverage includes a kit of parts and a corresponding filling device with tapered geometry and a specified thickness range at the thinner edge.
Stated Advantages
Substantially reducing bone cement wastage.
Improving pellet surface finish.
Improving pellet extraction.
Documented Applications
Surgical use for bone defect filling using bone cement pellets formed using the mould mat.
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