Optivac - Biomet

Optivac
15 years of
successful mixing

Congratulations Optivac!
Aseptic loosening due to porosity in bone
cement has been a major problem since the
start of cemented hip arthroplasty. The first
experiments to reduce porosity in bone cement
took place almost 25 years ago. This later led to
the patented invention of bone cement collection
under vacuum, which has been proven to
eliminate macropores. In 1993, Optivac was
introduced on the market and now celebrates
15 years of successful mixing.
Optivac is the world-leading vacuum mixing
system and is a result of many years of
continuous improvement.
Optivac is unmatched in documentation
among vacuum mixing systems. 1,2,3,4,5
2 | O P T I V A C

The Optivac system is used in
more than 45 countries worldwide
Cement mixed under vacuum 7 Cement mixed at atmospheric pressure 7
Improvement of bone cement quality
Minimized porosity and improved
mechanical strength
Cement porosity directly affects the fatigue
behavior of the bone cement. Reducing the
number of pores can lead to remarkable
improvements in cement strength and fatigue life.
Several methods have been introduced in the
interest of reducing cement porosity, the most
efficient of which is applying vacuum throughout
the mixing and collection of the cement. The
fatigue life improves 10 times with vacuum mixing
at 4º C compared to hand mixing. 6
Improvement of bone cement quality by using a
vacuum mixing system is one of the key pillars in
Modern Cementing Technique.
O P T I V A C | 3

Improvement of bone cement quality
Mixing and collection under
vacuum minimizes both
macropores and micropores
Comparison of vacuum mixing with
or without collection 7
Two types of pores are classified in fully
polymerized bone cement:
1) macropores, with a pore diameter of more
than 1.0 mm.
2) micropores, with a pore diameter of
0.1–1 mm. 1,8
Mixing under vacuum reduces the cement’s
microporosity, but has less effect on macroporosity.
Continuous vacuum – from mixing to
collection – prevents macropore entrapment in
high viscosity cement.
With its patented design for collection
under vacuum, Optivac reduces both
microporosity and macroporosity. 1,5,4,2,9
By dramatically reducing macroporosity,
Optivac helps to prolong cement fatigue life.
4 | O P T I V A C ®
Bone cement
mixed with a
vacuum mixing
system without
collection under
vacuum. High
occurrence of
macropores.
Bone cement
mixed with a
vacuum mixing
system with
collection under
vacuum.

Safe working environment
Optivac meets modern safety standards and the
high demands on mixing bone cement. Bone
cement in Optivac is mixed and delivered in the
same cartridge, precluding direct contact with the
bone cement.
The packing is PVC free and the blister pack
also serves as a working tray, which minimizes
the waste.
Optivac contains no latex.
By drawing monomer fumes through special
filters, Optivac minimizes MMA exposures in
the OR to barely detectable levels.
Retrograde filling
Optigun and Optigun Ratchet are used to deliver
bone cement from the Optivac vacuum mixing
system in a retrograde fashion. The guns are
identical except for the feeding mechanism and
rod. With the Optigun and Optigun Ratchet
you will get adequate cement filling and the
application under pressure will increase the
cement’s interface strength and prevent air and
blood inclusions in the cement mantle. 3,11
The Swedish Arthroplasty Register has shown
that retrograde cement filling of the femur
reduces risk of revision and is an important step
in Modern Cementing Technique. 10
O P T I V A C | 5

Standardized procedure and a flexible system
The Optivac standardized mixing procedure
produces homogeneous cement with the lowest
possible porosity.
All types of bone cements can be mixed with the
Optivac system. Optivac is adaptable to various
application areas, such as hip, knee or shoulder
arthroplasty. Suitable nozzles can be found in
our assortment to be used for different types of
application areas.
Depending on the amount of the bone cement
required, choose the suitable Optivac cartridge.
Three sizes of Optivac cartridges are available,
small, medium and large.
Mixing is easy, requiring only a few simple steps.
Illustrated step-by step instructions can be found
on every product.
Optivac was introduced in
1993 and celebrates 15 years
of successful mixing
All sets include cartridge, nozzle, a vacuum line with sterile
charcoal filter, a funnel, ampoule breakers and a working
tray. The Optivac Hip and Optivac M sets also include
a femoral pressurizer for optimal pressurization of the
femoral canal.
6 | O P T I V A C

Ordering information
Optivac sets
REF
For low volume cements
Optivac Hip Set ...................................... 4150
Optivac S ............................................... 4161
Optivac M .............................................. 4160
Optivac L ............................................... 4152
For high volume cements
Optivac + Hip Set ................................... 4250
Instrumentation
REF
Optigun .................................... 4193
Optigun Ratchet...................................... 4195
Vacuum pump ........................................ 4232
Accessories
REF
Nozzle angled......................................... 4149
Optivac Nozzle Knee............................... 4146
Nozzle slim ............................................. 4154
Nozzle revision ....................................... 4155
Knee cementation nozzle ........................... 4312
Nozzle cutter .......................................... 4159
O P T I V A C | 7

References
1 Wang J-S, Franzén H, Jonsson E, Lidgren L. Porosity of bone
cement reduced by mixing and collecting under vacuum. Acta
Orthop Scand 1993, 64 (2): 143-146.
2 Wang J-S, Kjellson F. Bone Cement Porosity in Vacuum Mixing
Systems, Bone Cements and Cementing Technique 2001,
Walenkamp, Murray (Eds). Springer Verlag.
3 Malchau H, Herberts P, Garellick G, Söderman P, Eisler T.
Prognosis of Total Hip Replacement. Scientific Exhibition
presented at the 69 the Annual meeting of the American Academy
of Orthopaedic Surgeons. February 13-17, 2002, Dallas.
4 Dunne N-J, Orr J.F. Influence of the mixing techniques on the
physical properties of acrylic bone cement. Biomaterials 2001; 22:
1819-1826.
5 Wilkinson J.M., Stockely I, et al. Effect of mixing techniques on the
Properties of Acrylic Bone-Cement, The Journal of Arthroplasty,
2000; 15:663-667.
6 Wang J-S, Toksvig-Larsen S, Muller-Wille P, Franzen H. Is there
any difference between vacuum mixing systems in reducing bone
cement porosity? Journal of Biomedical Materials Research. 1996;
33: (2):115-8.
7 Lidgren L, Bodelind B, Möller J. Bone cement improved by vacuum
mixing and chilling, Acta Orthop Scand 1987; 57: 27-32.
8 Lewis G. Properties of Acrylic Bone Cement: State of Art Review, J
Biomed Mater Res. 1997; 38 (2): 155-82
9 Breusch S, Cementing Techniques in Total Hip Replacement:
Factors Influencing Survival of Femoral Components, In Bone
cements and Cementing technique ed by Walenkamp G, Murray
D, Springer Verlag 2001.
10 Oates KM; Barrera DL; Tucker WN; Chau CC, Bugbee WK,
Convery FR In vivo effect or pressurization of polymethyl
methacrylate bone cement. Biomechanical and histologic analyis.
J Arthroplasty 1995; 10(3), pp. 373-381
11 McCaskie AW, Barnes MR, Lin E, Harper WM, Gregg PJ. Cement
pressurisation during hip replacement. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 1997;
May:79(3):379-84.
Optivac is a trademark of Biomet Cementing Technologies AB.
©2011 Biomet. All rights reserved.
Patents U.S. 5 328 262, U.S. 5 501 520.
For further inquires please contact: Biomet Cementing Technologies
Box 306, 201 23 Malmö, Sweden · Phone + 46 40 669 7000
www.bonecement.com · se.bonecement@biomet.com
Responsible manufacturer: Biomet France Sarl
58 Avenue de LAUTAGNE, BP75, 26903 Valence Cedex 9, FRANCE
Ref: BR4150-02 · CO 10-0223