Bone cement applicator

Claim 1

A bone cement applicator adapted for the application of a predetermined amount of cement solely to a predetermined surface area of a bone in an arthroplasty procedure to achieve substantially uniform penetration over said predetermined surface area of the bone, which comprises a cylindrical plunger rod having an exposed proximal end adapted to be struck for dispensing said cement, said rod being perpendicular to and terminating in an integral flat substantially rigid applicator plate, said rod being slidably mounted in a tubular sleeve integral with an open-ended reservoir around the applicator plate, the periphery of said reservoir having a configuration conforming to said bone surface area and the capacity of the reservoir when the plunger is fully retracted conforming to the predetermined amount of cement.

Claim 9

A method of applying bone cement in an arthroplasty procedure to achieve substantially uniform cement penetration with sufficient depth to provide a strong bone-cement interface over a predetermined surface-area of a bone by applying bone cement through an applicator comprising a cylindrical plunger rod perpendicular to and terminating in an integral flat substantially rigid applicator plate, said rod being slidably mounted in a tubular sleeve integral with an open-ended reservoir around the applicator plate, the periphery of said reservoir having a configuration conforming to said bone surface area and the capacity of the reservoir when the plunger is fully retracted conforming to a predetermined amount of cement to achieve the desired penetration, which method comprises retracting said applicator plate, charging said reservoir with said predetermined amount of cement, placing the open end of said reservoir in intimate contact with the bone surface and depressing said plunger by striking the proximal end thereof until the substantially full charge of cement is injected into the selected part of the bone, whereupon said applicator is removed by sliding it from said interface at the completion of cement injection.

Claim 10

A method of applying bone cement in an arthroplasty procedure to achieve substantially uniform cement penetration with sufficient depth to provide a strong bone-cement interface over a predetermined surface-area of a bone by applying bone cement through an applicator comprising a cylindrical plunger rod perpendicular to and terminating in an integral flat substantially rigid applicator plate, said rod being slidably mounted in a tubular sleeve integral with an open-ended reservoir around the applicator plate, the periphery of said reservoir having a configuration conforming to said bone surface area and the capacity of the reservoir when the plunger is fully retracted conforming to a predetermined amount of cement to achieve the desired penetration, which method comprises retracting said applicator plate, charging said reservoir with said predetermined amount of cement, placing the open end of said reservoir in intimate contact with the bone surface and depressing said plunger by striking the proximal end thereof until the substantially full charge of cement is injected into the selected part of the bone, whereupon said applicator is removed by sliding it from said interface at the completion of cement injection.