Mixer Relies on DuPont™ Delrin® for Bone Cement Injection

Wilmington, Delaware - A patented new mixing dispenser for orthopedic bone cement works smoothly and reliably thanks to five key parts molded from DuPont™ Delrin® acetal. The mixer, called the Bocemix, allows faster, easier and more consistent injection of acrylic bone cement, according to the manufacturer, Bidoia SAS.

“The parts in Delrin® would not have been feasible, or would have been more costly, if designed in metals or other materials,” said Dr. Roberta Bidoia of Bidoia SAS.

Delrin® makes it possible to mold a leaf spring as an integral part of the trigger lever, thus eliminating the need for a metal return spring and related assembly operations. The device also uses a C-shaped anti-screw pull tab held in place with a snap-fit, made possible by the acetal’s combination of toughness and stiffness. The ribbed driving shaft relies on the inherent lubricity of Delrin® together with its high modulus and strength, which the ribbing requires; the mixing blades perform their task, thanks to the material’s flex modulus. The rotary piston also is made of Delrin®.

The Bocemix offers many attractive features, including: faster cement preparation time; improved mixing quality; almost complete elimination of air and gas bubbles from the mixed cement; and operation under permanent vacuum.