Biological sealant storage and dispensing system
First Claim
1. An apparatus for dispensing a multi-component biological sealant, comprising a plurality of sealant cartridges for containing respective components of the sealant;
- and a dispenser for dispensing the sealant components from the cartridges;
wherein each sealant cartridge comprises;
a substantially tubular body having a first end closed by an openable seal and a second end sealed by an axially-movable piston element; and
wherein the dispenser comprises;
a main body having a plurality of elongated recesses for receiving respective cartridges;
means associated with each recess for establishing fluid connection with said one ends of the cartridges;
ducting means for transporting respective components of the sealant from said cartridges to a dispensing point; and
means for engaging the piston elements to move the piston elements axially towards said one ends of their respective cartridges.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
There is described a dispensing system comprising a dispenser and a plurality of cartridge for delivering a biological sealant to an application site. The sealant is presented as a multi-component liquid sealant, with each component contained in a cartridge comprising a tubular body closed at one end with an openable seal and closed at the other end by a piston element movable axially within the tubular body.
The dispenser comprises a plurality of recesses to receive respective cartridges containing the components of the sealant. Each recess has means to establish fluid connection with the interior of the cartridge. The dispenser further comprises means for engaging the piston elements of the cartridges to move the piston elements axially so as to expel the sealant components. Ducting within the dispenser leads the sealant components to a dispensing point.
There is further described a method of dispensing the sealant wherein in an initial dispensing step a number of the components of the sealant are delivered, and in a second dispensing step the remaining component or components of the sealant are delivered. Alternatively, all of the sealant components may be simultaneously delivered by loading all of the cartridges into the dispenser at one time.
15 Citations
44 Claims
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1. An apparatus for dispensing a multi-component biological sealant, comprising a plurality of sealant cartridges for containing respective components of the sealant;
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a dispenser for dispensing the sealant components from the cartridges;
wherein each sealant cartridge comprises;
a substantially tubular body having a first end closed by an openable seal and a second end sealed by an axially-movable piston element; and
wherein the dispenser comprises;
a main body having a plurality of elongated recesses for receiving respective cartridges;
means associated with each recess for establishing fluid connection with said one ends of the cartridges;
ducting means for transporting respective components of the sealant from said cartridges to a dispensing point; and
means for engaging the piston elements to move the piston elements axially towards said one ends of their respective cartridges. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 36)
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20. A dispenser for use in an apparatus for dispensing a multi-component biological sealant each of whose components is contained in a cartridge having a substantially tubular body with a first end closed by an openable seal and a second end sealed by an axially-movable piston element, wherein the dispenser comprises:
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a main body having a plurality of elongated recesses for receiving respective cartridges and a dispensing point for delivering the sealant components;
means associated with each recess for establishing fluid connection with said one ends of the cartridges;
ducting means for transporting respective components of the sealant from said cartridges to the dispensing point; and
means for engaging the piston elements to move the piston elements axially towards said one ends of their respective cartridges. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 38, 39)
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37. A method of dispensing a multi-component biological sealant from a plurality of sealant cartridges containing respective components of the sealant, each sealant cartridge comprising a substantially tubular body having a first end closed by an openable seal and a second end sealed by an axially-movable piston element, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a dispenser comprising a main body having a plurality of elongated recesses for receiving respective cartridges, means associated with each recess for establishing fluid connection with said one ends of the cartridges, ducting means for transporting respective components of the sealant from said cartridges to a dispensing point, and means for engaging the piston elements to move the piston elements axially towards said one ends of their respective cartridges;
placing a cartridge into a recess of the main body of the dispenser;
establishing fluid connection between said one end of the cartridge and said dispensing point;
engaging the piston element of the cartridge; and
moving the piston element towards said first end of said cartridge. - View Dependent Claims (40)
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41. An apparatus for dispensing a biological sealant substantially as described herein with reference to FIG. 1, FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, FIG. 5, FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, or FIGS. 9 and 10 of the accompanying drawings.
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42. A dispenser for a biological sealant, substantially as herein described with reference to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, FIG. 5, FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, or FIGS. 9 and 10 of the accompanying drawings.
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43. A cartridge substantially as described herein with reference to FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings, and containing a component of a biological sealant.
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44. A method of dispensing a biological sealant substantially as described herein.
Specification