Method and apparatus for delivery of bone cement

Abstract

A method of applying bone cement for an orthopedic procedure of a patient includes coupling a proximal end of a nozzle component to a bone cement applicator and applying bone cement on a surface of an implant or on a bone surface through an elongated distal opening of a distal portion of the nozzle component. The method includes separating the distal portion from an intermediate portion of the nozzle component at a frangible connecting portion and exposing a circular distal end of the intermediate portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of applying bone cement for an orthopedic procedure of a patient comprising:
 coupling a proximal end of a nozzle component to a bone cement applicator;   applying bone cement on a planar surface of an implant through an elongated distal opening of a distal portion of the nozzle component, the distal portion having an elongated cross-section;   separating the distal portion from an intermediate portion of the nozzle component at a frangible connecting portion, the intermediate portion having a circular cross-section; and   exposing a circular distal end of the intermediate portion.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein separating the distal portion comprises breaking off the distal portion at a circular groove formed between the intermediate portion and the connecting portion. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising applying bone cement through the elongated opening to a resected bone of a patient. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising delivering bone cement through the circular distal end of the intermediate portion into a hole in a bone of the patient. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein applying bone cement to the hole in the bone comprises delivering bone cement into a hole for an anchoring member of an implant. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein applying bone cement on a planar surface of an implant comprises applying bone cement to a knee femoral implant component or a tibial knee implant component. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising delivering flat strips of bone cement through the elongated opening without further manipulation of the bone cement after delivery. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the intermediate portion is tapered. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated cross-section has a width greater than the diameter of the circular cross-section. 
     
     
         10 . A method of applying bone cement for an orthopedic procedure of a patient comprising:
 coupling a proximal end of a nozzle component to a bone cement applicator, the nozzle component including an elongated intermediate portion having a linearly variable circular cross-section, a connecting portion extending from the intermediate portion at a frangible location, and a distal portion having an elongated cross-section;   applying flat strips of bone cement on a surface of a first bone through an elongated distal opening of the distal portion of the nozzle component, each flat strip having a predetermined width and thickness;   breaking the distal portion off the intermediate portion of the nozzle component at the frangible location to form a distal end with a circular cross-section; and   delivering bone cement to a hole of a second bone from the circular cross-section.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising applying flat strips of bone cement on a bone-engagement surface of an implant through the elongated distal opening of the distal portion of the nozzle component before breaking off the distal portion. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the implant is a knee implant. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the first bone is the same as the second bone. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the one of the first and second bones is a femoral knee bone and the other is a tibial knee bone. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein applying flat strips of bone cement on a surface comprises delivering flat strips of bone cement without further manipulation of the bone cement after delivery. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising inserting the distal end with the circular cross-section into an intramedullary canal for delivering bone cement into the intramedullary canal. 
     
     
         17 . An apparatus for bone cement delivery comprising:
 a nozzle component having a proximal end configured to be coupled to a bone cement applicator, the nozzle component including an elongated intermediate portion having a circular cross-section, a connecting portion extending from the intermediate portion at a frangible location defined by a circular groove and a distal portion having an elongated cross-section,   wherein the elongated cross-section is configured to deliver strips of bone cement having predetermined width and thickness and the circular groove is configured to define a circular distal end after the distal portion is broken off.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the circular cross-section of the intermediate portion is constant. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the circular cross-section of the intermediate portion is linearly variable. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the connecting portion includes a bulging enclosure configured to pressurize the bone cement.