Apparatus for Mixing and Dispensing Components

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for mixing and dispensing components. The methods and apparatus of the invention are particularly advantageous to manually mix the components of radiopaque bone cement and inject the resulting radiopaque bone cement into skeletal structures. The manually actuated apparatus of the invention comprises: (1) a sealed mixing chamber for mixing components; (2) a dispensing chamber isolated from the sealed mixing chamber; (3) a controllable portal to open a flow path between the sealed mixing chamber and the dispensing chamber so that the dispensing chamber can receive the mixed components after they are mixed; and (4) a drive mechanism associated with the dispensing chamber to force the mixed contents from the dispensing chamber.

1 . An apparatus for manually mixing and dispensing components comprising:
 (a) a sealed mixing chamber having an access portal and a vacuum portal;   (b) a mixing unit in the mixing chamber to mix the components;   (c) a first manually actuable drive mechanism associated with the mixing unit to actuate mixing;   (d) a dispensing chamber connected to the sealed mixing chamber, wherein the dispensing chamber is isolated from the mixing chamber;   (e) a controllable portal for opening a flow path between the sealed mixing chamber and the dispensing chamber after the components are mixed; and   (f) a second manually actuable drive mechanism associated with the dispensing chamber to drive the mixture from the dispensing chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the mixing chamber contains bone cement powder. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the first drive mechanism comprises a rotationally movable handle or knob. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the second drive mechanism comprises a rotationally movable handle or knob. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the first and second drive mechanisms both comprise a common rotationally movable handle or knob. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  further comprising a mechanical switch whereby the handle or knob actuating the first drive mechanism can be disengaged from the first drive after mixing and engaged to the second drive mechanism. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the mixing unit comprises a mixing paddle. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the second drive mechanism comprises a plunger shaft. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the mixing chamber comprises a powder component to be mixed with a liquid component and further comprising a transfer housing to facilitate transfer of the liquid component into the mixing chamber.