Method and apparatus for delivering bone cement

Abstract

A bone cement system according to the present disclosure includes a housing, a dispenser housing, a plunger, and a pressure release system. The housing has a proximal end, a distal end, and a throughbore that extends from the proximal end to the distal end. The dispenser housing is received in the throughbore and is adapted to receive bone cement. The plunger is releasably coupled to the proximal end of the housing and received into the dispenser housing so that movement of the plunger relative to the dispenser housing dispenses bone cement from the distal end of the housing. The pressure release system is coupled to the housing and includes a body that is movable within a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the housing, without translating the body along the longitudinal axis of the housing, to reduce the pressure of bone cement exiting the distal end of the housing.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A bone cement system comprising:
 a housing that defines at least a throughbore that extends from a proximal end of the housing to a distal end of the housing;   a dispenser housing received in the throughbore of the housing that is adapted to receive a bone cement;   a plunger releasably coupled to the proximal end of the housing and   received into the dispenser housing so that movement of the plunger relative to the dispenser housing dispenses the bone cement from the distal end of the housing; and   a pressure release system coupled to the housing that is movable to release pressure within the dispenser housing without moving the plunger.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plunger has a proximal end and a distal end, with a throughbore defined from the proximal end to the distal end, and a cross bore formed at the distal end. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the pressure release system further comprises:
 a body received within the throughbore of the plunger, the body having a proximal end and a distal end, and at least one slot defined in the distal end.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the body is rotatable via the proximal end relative to the plunger so that the at least one slot is aligned with the cross bore. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the alignment of the at least one slot with the cross bore enables bone cement to flow from a distalmost end of the plunger into the slot and out the cross bore so that at least a portion of the bone cement enters an area in the dispenser housing behind the distalmost end of the plunger. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one slot includes two slots each formed on opposite sides of the body. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the cross bore is formed about perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the plunger. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the housing has a distal end that includes a slot, and the pressure release system further comprises:
 a member received in the slot, the member sized so that a portion of the member extends from the housing to enable the member to be moved relative to the housing; and   a pivot that couples the member to the distal end so that the member is pivotable within the slot.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the distal end includes a nozzle, and the member is pivotable between a first, opened position to enable the bone cement to flow through the nozzle and a second, closed position to prevent the flow of bone cement through the nozzle. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a cannulated access needle that is insertable into an anatomy to a desired site; and   a tubing member coupled to the cannulated access needle and to the distal end of the housing to enable the bone cement to flow from the distal end of the housing into the anatomy.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the dispenser housing defines a slot near a distal end, and the pressure release system further comprises:
 a trigger coupled to the housing at a first end and movable between a first position and a second position relative to the housing, the trigger having a second end that defines a coupling post;   a spring coupled to the coupling post of the trigger at a first end and including a second end that is positioned adjacent to the dispenser housing; and   a blade coupled to the coupling post of the trigger and received within at least a portion of the slot so that the movement of the trigger from the first position to the second position causes the blade to block the flow of bone cement through the dispenser housing.   
     
     
         12 . A bone cement system comprising:
 a housing that defines at least a throughbore that extends from a proximal end of the housing to a distal end of the housing;   a dispenser housing received in the throughbore of the housing that is adapted to receive a bone cement;   a plunger releasably coupled to the proximal end of the housing and received into the dispenser housing so that a distal most end of the plunger is adjacent to the bone cement to enable the plunger to push the bone cement out of the distal end of the housing, the plunger having a proximal end, a distal end and a throughbore defined from the proximal end to the distal end; and   a pressure release system received within the throughbore of the plunger and rotatable relative to the plunger to allow bone cement to flow behind the distalmost end of the plunger to release pressure within the dispenser housing.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the plunger is releasably coupled to the housing by a cap that defines a throughbore, the throughbore defining a plurality of threads that engage a plurality of threads formed about a body of the plunger to enable the plunger to be rotatably advanced into the dispenser housing. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the bone cement flows into an area defined between the plunger and the dispenser housing. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the plunger includes a cross bore formed in the distal end, and the pressure release system further comprises:
 a body received within the throughbore of the plunger, the body having a proximal end that includes a graspable portion and a distal end, and at least one slot defined in the distal end, which can be aligned with the cross bore to enable the bone cement to flow behind the distalmost end of the plunger.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the cross bore is formed about perpendicular to the throughbore of the plunger. 
     
     
         17 . A method of using the system of  claim 1 , comprising:
 inserting the bone cement into the dispenser housing;   positioning a cannulated access needle into a desired position in an anatomy;   coupling a tubing member between the cannulated access needle and the distal end of the housing;   advancing the plunger within the dispenser housing to push the bone cement out of the distal end of the housing, through the tubing member and into the cannulated access member; and   moving the pressure release system relative to the housing to release the pressure acting on the dispenser housing without moving the plunger.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein moving the pressure release system further comprises:
 rotating a body positioned within a throughbore defined in the plunger relative to the plunger.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein moving the pressure release system further comprises:
 rotating a member relative to the housing to block the flow of bone cement to the distal end of the housing.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein moving the pressure release system further comprises:
 depressing a trigger coupled to the housing to block the flow of bone cement to the distal end of the housing.