Foil monomer container and dispenser

Abstract

A metallic container for storing the liquid monomer component of bone cement and a method of packaging same are disclosed. The container is preferably aluminum and has an interior wall, a dispensing end, a reservoir for housing the liquid monomer, and a filling end for receiving the liquid monomer. The container is sealed by a welded seam near the filling end of the container, which secures a section of the top portion and lower portion of the interior wall of the container together.

1 . A container for storing a liquid monomer of a two-part polymeric bone cement system comprising: 
 a dispensing end;    a reservoir having a surface for contacting said liquid monomer, said reservoir connected to said dispensing end;    a filling end for receiving said liquid monomer, said filling end connected to said reservoir; and    a welded seam on said filling end for sealing said container, wherein said welded seam is a metal-to-metal weld.    
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein two welded seams are used to seal the container, said two welded seams overlapping one another.  
     
     
         3 . The container according to  claim 2 , wherein said two welded seams are angled.  
     
     
         4 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein said dispensing end comprises an integrally formed nozzle with an integrally formed seal.  
     
     
         5 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein said container is in the shape of a tube.  
     
     
         6 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein said container is a flexible pouch having a plurality of sides.  
     
     
         7 . The container according to  claim 6 , wherein said flexible pouch has two separate compartments.  
     
     
         8 . The container according to  claim 6 , wherein said flexible pouch is in the shape of a square.  
     
     
         9 . The container according to  claim 6 , wherein said flexible pouch is in the shape of a triangle.  
     
     
         10 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein said container is comprised of aluminum.  
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein said welded seam is an ultrasonically welded seam.  
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein said welded seam is a laser welded seam.  
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein said welded seam is an electron beam welded seam.  
     
     
         14 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein said container is constructed and arranged to attach to a bone cement mixer.  
     
     
         15 . The container of  claim 14 , wherein said inlet of said container is threaded, and said inlet of said bone cement mixer has complementary threading so that said container is capable of being connected to said bone cement mixer.  
     
     
         16 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein said interior wall is uncoated.  
     
     
         17 . A container for storing a liquid monomer of a two-part bone-cement system comprising: 
 a dispensing portion;    a reservoir having an inner surface that contacts said liquid monomer, said reservoir forming a wall for engaging said dispensing portion;    a filling portion for receiving said monomer, said filling portion connected to said reservoir; and    at least one welded seam for sealing said filling portion,    at least a portion of said inner surface of said reservoir being non-reactive with said liquid monomer, and said at least one welded seam being located adjacent said inner surface of said reservoir.    
     
     
         18 . The container of  claim 17 , wherein said inner surface is uncoated.  
     
     
         19 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein two welded seams are used to seal the container, said two welded seams overlapping one another.  
     
     
         20 . The container according to  claim 19 , wherein said two welded seams are angled.  
     
     
         21 . The container according to  claim 17 , wherein said dispensing portion comprises an integrally formed nozzle with an integrally formed seal.  
     
     
         22 . The container of  claim 17 , wherein said welded seam is selected from the group consisting of an ultrasonically welded seam, a laser welded seam, and an electron beam seam.  
     
     
         23 . The container of  claim 17 , wherein said container is comprised of aluminum.  
     
     
         24 . A method for packaging a liquid monomer of a two-part bone cement system in a container, comprising: 
 forming an aluminum sheet having a surface for contacting said liquid monomer into a container having a filling portion end and a dispensing portion end;    filling said container with said liquid monomer through said filling portion; and    welding a seam on said filling portion of said container to seal said container with said liquid monomer therein.    
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein said welding includes providing two weld seams on said filling portion.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein said welding of two weld seams further includes overlapping said two welded seams.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein said welding is performed by a method selected from the group consisting of ultrasonic welding, electron beam welding, and laser welding.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein said welding is a metal-to-metal weld.