CPC A61B 17/8836 (2013.01) [A61B 17/8816 (2013.01); A61B 17/8822 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00022 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00411 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00955 (2013.01); A61B 2017/8844 (2013.01); A61B 2090/064 (2016.02)] | 16 Claims |
1. A bone treatment system comprising:
a bone fill material injector system comprising an injector configured to be at least partially introduced into a bone;
a source of a bone fill material comprising a bone cement;
a handle having a thermal energy emitter operatively coupled to the injector system and configured for delivering energy to a flow of the bone fill material through the injector system, wherein the handle includes:
the thermal energy emitter disposed therein;
a first coupling mechanism configured to selectively couple to the source of the bone fill material;
an electrical connector at least proximate to the first coupling mechanism;
one or more electrical leads extending between the electrical connector and the thermal energy emitter;
a second coupling mechanism configured to selectively couple to the bone fill material injector system, the second coupling mechanism being angled relative to the first coupling mechanism; and
a nonlinear flow passageway providing fluid communication between the first coupling mechanism and the second coupling mechanism, the nonlinear flow passageway including a first passageway portion having an opening proximate to the first coupling mechanism and a second passageway portion nonlinear relative to the first passageway portion and proximate to the second coupling mechanism, the thermal energy emitter at least partially encompassing the second passageway portion and being spaced from the opening of the first passageway portion proximate to the first coupling mechanism, wherein the thermal energy emitter comprises a polymeric positive temperature coefficient of resistance (PTCR) material; and
an electronic controller operably coupled to the electrical connector of the handle and configured to modulate the delivery of energy from the thermal energy emitter to the flow of the bone fill material to achieve a desired bone fill material viscosity.
|