Angled nozzle with connection assembly system

Abstract

An apparatus for bone cement delivery comprising, a proximal nozzle portion having a proximal end configured to couple to a bone cement source and a first distal delivery end having a circular cross section, a distal nozzle augment having a proximal end configured to slideably couple to the first distal delivery end and a second distal delivery end having an oblong cross section, that can be slanted, and an attachment mechanism configured to slideably retain the distal nozzle augment to the proximal nozzle portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for bone cement delivery comprising:
 a proximal nozzle portion having a proximal end configured to couple to a bone cement source and a first distal delivery end having a circular cross section;   a distal nozzle augment having a proximal end configured to slideably couple to the first distal delivery end and a second distal delivery end having an oblong cross section; and   an attachment mechanism configured to slideably retain the distal nozzle augment to the proximal nozzle portion.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment mechanism includes a tapered portion disposed on the proximal nozzle portion and a tapered portion disposed on the distal nozzle augment. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein distal nozzle augment is selectively rotatable relative to the proximal nozzle portion when the distal nozzle augment is axially slid into a first position on the proximal nozzle portion and wherein the distal nozzle augment is fixedly coupled to the proximal nozzle portion when the distal nozzle augment is axially slid into a second position on the proximal nozzle portion. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment mechanism includes at least one protrusion extending outwardly from the proximal nozzle portion and:
 at least one oblong recess defined near a proximal end of the distal nozzle augment, the oblong recess having a first side and a second side; and   one or more engageable tabs disposed at the proximal end of the distal nozzle augment.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the distal nozzle augment is deformable, by engaging the one or more engageable tabs, to allow the at least one protrusion to pass under the proximal end of the distal nozzle augment and to snap into the at least one oblong recess between the first side and the second side. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment mechanism includes at least one flexible resilient finger disposed at a proximal end of the distal nozzle augment and the proximal nozzle portion includes a groove disposed near the proximal end of the proximal nozzle portion. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the attachment mechanism is configured to couple the distal nozzle augment to the proximal nozzle portion by rotating the distal nozzle augment to a desired orientation and axially sliding the distal nozzle augment onto the proximal nozzle portion until he at least one flexing resilient finger snaps into the groove. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment mechanism includes at least one protrusion that protrudes outward from the proximal nozzle portion and:
 an annular recess that defines a ring around the distal nozzle augment near a proximal end of the distal nozzle augment;   at least one oblong wall that spans the recess, the at least one oblong wall having an arcuate shaped portion facing the recess, the arcuate shaped portion being configured to allow the at least one protrusion to pass beneath the at least one oblong wall; and   at least one engageable tab disposed at a proximal end of the distal nozzle augment.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the attachment mechanism is configured to couple the distal nozzle augment to the proximal nozzle portion by temporarily deforming the ring by flexing the at least one engageable tab, wherein the distal nozzle augment is axially slid onto the proximal nozzle portion such that the at least one protrusion passes beneath the ring and is placed within the recess. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the distal nozzle augment includes a longitudinal axis and the second distal delivery end includes a slanted face disposed at an acute angle between 20° and 35° relative to the longitudinal access to allow the slanted face to make substantially parallel contact with a delivery surface. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the proximal end of the distal nozzle augment includes a clearance portion disposed opposite the slanted surface, the clearance portion being configured to allow the distal nozzle augment to clear a bone surface opposite the second distal delivery end and to allow the slanted face to make substantially parallel contact with the delivery surface. 
     
     
         12 . An apparatus for bone cement delivery comprising:
 a proximal nozzle portion extending along a first longitudinal axis and having a proximal end configured to couple to a bone cement source and a first distal delivery end having a circular cross section perpendicular to the first longitudinal axis;   a distal nozzle augment extending along a second longitudinal axis and having a proximal end configured to slideably couple to the first distal delivery end and a second distal delivery end having an oblong cross section, the second distal delivery end having a slanted face disposed at an acute angle relative to the second longitudinal axis;   a clearance portion disposed on the distal nozzle augment opposite the slanted face, the clearance portion allowing the distal nozzle augment to enter a narrow space; and   an attachment mechanism configured to slideably retain the distal nozzle augment to the proximal nozzle portion.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the attachment mechanism includes one of the group consisting of: a Morse Taper; at least one oblong recess defined near a proximal end of the distal nozzle augment, at least one engageable tab disposed at the proximal end of the distal nozzle augment, and at least one protrusion protruding outward from the proximal nozzle portion; at least one annular recess defining a ring near the proximal end of the distal nozzle augment, at least one engageable tab disposed at the proximal end of the distal nozzle augment, and at least one protrusion protruding outward from the proximal nozzle portion; and at least one flexing resilient finger disposed at the proximal end of the distal nozzle augment and a groove defined on the proximal nozzle portion. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the proximal nozzle portion being configured to couple to a bone cement source includes the proximal nozzle portion being configured to couple to a bone cement cartridge positioned within a bone cement gun. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the clearance portion is configured to allow the distal nozzle augment to clear a bone surface opposite the second distal delivery end and to allow the slanted face to make substantially parallel contact with a delivery surface. 
     
     
         16 . A method of applying bone cement for an orthopedic procedure of a patient comprising:
 coupling a proximal end of a first nozzle portion to a bone cement source;   expelling flat layers of bone cement out an oblong distal opening of a second nozzle portion slideably coupled to the first nozzle portion;   slideably removing the second nozzle portion from the first nozzle portion to expose a circular distal opening of the first nozzle portion; and   expelling bone cement out of the circular distal opening of the first nozzle portion.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising rotatable adjusting an orientation of the second nozzle portion relative to the first nozzle portion. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising axially sliding the second nozzle portion to a first position on the first nozzle portion and rotatably selecting an orientation of the second nozzle portion relative to the first nozzle portion and axially sliding the second nozzle portion to a second position on the first nozzle portion to lock the second nozzle portion in the selected orientation. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising placing the oblong distal opening on a delivery surface of bone such that a portion of bone opposite the delivery surface is cleared by a clearance portion disposed opposite of the oblong distal opening on the second nozzle portion. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 . further comprising selectively slideably reattaching the second nozzle portion to the first nozzle portion.