Device for applying a flowable medium, notably a tissue adhesive

• US 6,565,539 B1
• Filed: 02/12/2002
• Issued: 05/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omrix Biopharmaceuticals Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Omrix Biopharmaceuticals Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Kutal, Benny, Zinger, Freddy, Denenburg, Igor
• Primary Examiner(s): KENNEDY, SHARON E
• Application Number:
  US09/936,201
• Time in Patent Office: 462 Days
• Field of Search: 604/82, 604/191, 604/225, 604/272, 604/218, 604/35, 604/83-85, 604/236, 604/238, 604/249, 604/208, 604/131, 604/266, 604/209, 604/210, 604/211, 222/136, 222/137, 222/145.6
• US Class Current: 604/191
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00491 Surgical glue applicators surgical adhesives A61L24/00; two-component delivery syringes A61M5/19
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00495 for two-component glue
• CPC Class Codes: B05C 17/0136 comprising an energy storing element, e.g. a spring, for exerting, e.g. when released, pressure on the material B05C17/015 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05C 17/015 with pneumatically or hydraulically actuated piston or the like B05C17/00543 takes precedence

Abstract

The device for applying a flowable medium, in particular a tissue adhesive is provided with at least one reservoir (16) for the medium, wherein said reservoir (16) comprises an outlet (22) from which the medium exits when pressure is applied to the medium and/or said reservoir (16). A pressure-generating element (20) acts upon the medium and/or said reservoir (16) and is biased by a biasing means (34). Said biasing means (34) can be locked with the aid of a controllable locking means (58), wherein said locking means (58) comprises a movable fixing element (54) which, in at least one fixing position, locks the biasing element (34) against movements caused by the biasing process, and is movable out of the at least one fixing position to release said biasing element (34). Further, a release means (81) for selected release of said locking means (58) is provided, wherein said release means (81) comprises a release element (82) for temporary movement of the fixing element (56) out of its at least one fixing position.

Claims

1. A device for applying a flowable medium, in particular a tissue adhesive, the device comprising:

at least one reservoir (16) for the medium, the reservoir (16) comprising an outlet (22) from which the medium exits when pressure is applied to the medium and/or the reservoir (16),

pressure-generating element (20) for applying pressure to the medium and/or the reservoir (16),

biasing means (34) for biasing the pressure-generating element (20), said biasing means (34) comprising a movable biasing element (36) which is pneumatically and/or hydraulically biased towards said pressure-generating element (20) and coupled with the latter,

controllable locking means (58) for locking the biasing element (36), said locking means (58) comprising a movable fixing element (56) which, in at least in one fixing position, locks said biasing element (36) against movements caused by the biasing process and is movable out of the at least one fixing position to release said biasing element (36), and

release means (81) for selectively releasing the locking means (58), said release means (81) comprising a release element (82) for temporarily moving the fixing element (56) out of its at least one fixing position,

wherein the biasing means (34) comprises a first and a second toothed rack (62,64) coupled with the biasing element (36), and the fixing element (56) comprises a first fixing projection (66) for meshing with the first toothed rack (62) and a second fixing projection (68) for meshing with the second toothed rack (63), and

wherein the two toothed racks (62,64) avert each other and the two fixing projections (66,68) face each other, and the fixing element (56) is reciprocal by the release element (82) between two fixing positions in which one of the fixing projections (66,68) meshes with one of the toothed racks (62,64).

2. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein the biasing means (34) comprises a fluid pressure cylinder (38) with a piston (44) which are arranged between a fixed point (46) and the biasing element (36) and/or in said biasing element (36), and that said fluid pressure cylinder (38) comprises a connection (48) for a fluid pressure line (50) to which a fluid pressure source can be connected or with which a fluid pressure source can be coupled.

3. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein the biasing element (36) is directly connected and/or connectable with the pressure-generating element (20).

4. The device as defined in claim 2 wherein the biasing element (36) is directly connected and/or connectable with the pressure-generating element (20).

5. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein the biasing element (36) is coupled with the pressure-generating element (20) via an actuating element (32) for manually moving the pressure-generating element (20), wherein said actuating element (32) is guided along the biasing element (36), in a displaceable manner and protected against unintentional displacement, and connectable with said pressure-generating element (20).

6. The device as defined in claim 2 wherein the biasing element (36) is coupled with the pressure-generating element (20) via an actuating element (32) for manually moving the pressure-generating element (20), wherein said actuating element (32) is guided along the biasing element (36), in a displaceable manner and protected against unintentional displacement, and connectable with said pressure-generating element (20).

7. The device as defined in claim 3 wherein the biasing element (36) is coupled with the pressure-generating element (20) via an actuating element (32) for manually moving the pressure-generating element (20), wherein said actuating element (32) is guided along the biasing element (36), in a displaceable manner and protected against unintentional displacement, and connectable with said pressure-generating element (20).

8. The device as defined in claim 5 wherein the actuating element (32) comprises a spindle (70) which is in threaded engagement with the biasing element (36), which spindle (70) is at its one end rotatably connected with a connecting element (72) for the pressure-generating element (20) and comprises at its other end a handwheel (78) for manually rotating said spindle (70).

9. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein the release means (81) comprises a manually movable actuating element (84) for moving the release element (82), wherein said release element (82) moves at an angle to the direction of movement of the fixing element (56), and a movement deflection means (110) is arranged between the two elements.

10. The device as defined in claim 2 wherein the release means (81) comprises a manually movable actuating element (84) for moving the release element (82), wherein said release element (82) moves at an angle to the direction of movement of the fixing element (56), and a movement deflection means (110) is arranged between the two elements.

11. The device as defined in claim 3 wherein the release means (81) comprises a manually movable actuating element (84) for moving the release element (82), wherein said release element (82) moves at an angle to the direction of movement of the fixing element (56), and a movement deflection means (110) is arranged between the two elements.

12. The device as defined in claim 4 wherein the release means (81) comprises a manually movable actuating element (84) for moving the release element (82), wherein said release element (82) moves at an angle to the direction of movement of the fixing element (56), and a movement deflection means (110) is arranged between the two elements.

13. The device as defined in claim 5 wherein the release means (81) comprises a manually movable actuating element (84) for moving the release element (82), wherein said release element (82) moves at an angle to the direction of movement of the fixing element (56), and a movement deflection means (110) is arranged between the two elements.

14. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein the movement means of release element (82) extends at right angles to the direction of movement of the fixing element (56).

15. The device as defined in claim 9 as defined in the movement deflection means (110) comprises a swivelling element (92) swivelling about a swivelling axis (94) extending transversely to the directions of movement of the release element (82) and the fixing element (56), and being movably coupled with the fixing element (56), and comprising at least one swivelling arm (96,98) upon which acts the release element (82) for rotating said swivelling element (92) and thus displacing said fixing element (56) when the actuating element (84) is actuated.

16. The device as defined in claim 14 as defined in the movement deflection means (110) comprises a swivelling element (92) swivelling about a swivelling axis (94) extending transversely to the directions of movement of the release element (82) and the fixing element (56), and being movably coupled with the fixing element (56), and comprising at least one swivelling arm (96,98) upon which acts the release element (82) for rotating said swivelling element (92) and thus displacing said fixing element (56) when the actuating element (84) is actuated.

17. The device as defined in claim 15 wherein the swivelling element (92) comprises two opposite swivelling arms (96,98) upon which alternately acts the release element (82) when the actuating element (84) is repeatedly actuated, wherein the relative position of the release element (82) to the swivelling element (92) alternately changes between a first position for acting upon one swivelling arm (96) and a second position for acting upon the other swivelling arm (98) when the actuating element (84) is repeatedly actuated.

18. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein a gas discharge valve (116) for discharging gas synchronously with the medium discharge is provided, that said gas discharge valve (116) comprises a first and a second chamber (124,126) which are connected with each other, wherein

said first chamber (124) has a larger cross-section that said second chamber (126),

between the two chambers (124,126) a shoulder area is provided,

the two chambers (124,126) comprise inlets (118,129) for the in-flow of pressurized gas from a common compressed-gas source,

said first chamber (124) is additionally provided with a vent hole (130) which is adapted to be closed by a closing element (132) biased into the closed position, which closing element (132) is movable against the bias into an open position when the release element (82) is actuated,

said second chamber (126) comprises a gas outlet (114), and

in the two chambers (124,126) a displaceable control piston (122) is arranged which, in its position as bearing upon the shoulder area, closes the gas outlet (114) of said second chamber (126), and, when removed from the shoulder area, clears the gas outlet (114) of said second chamber (126).

19. The device as defined in claim 2 wherein a gas discharge valve (116) for discharging gas synchronously with the medium discharge is provided, that said gas discharge valve (116) comprises a first and a second chamber (124,126) which are connected with each other, wherein

said first chamber (124) has a larger cross-section that said second chamber (126),

between the two chambers (124,126) a shoulder area is provided,

the two chambers (124,126) comprise inlets (118,129) for the in-flow of pressurized gas from a common compressed-gas source,

said first chamber (124) is additionally provided with a vent hole (130) which is adapted to be closed by a closing element (132) biased into the closed position, which closing element (132) is movable against the bias into an open position when the release element (82) is actuated,

said second chamber (126) comprises a gas outlet (114), and

in the two chambers (124,126) a displaceable control piston (122) is arranged which, in its position as bearing upon the shoulder area, closes the gas outlet (114) of said second chamber (126), and, when removed from the shoulder area, clears the gas outlet (114) of said second chamber (126).

20. The device as defined in claim 3 wherein a gas discharge valve (116) for discharging gas synchronously with the medium discharge is provided, that said gas discharge valve (116) comprises a first and a second chamber (124,126) which are connected with each other, wherein

said first chamber (124) has a larger cross-section that said second chamber (126),

between the two chambers (124,126) a shoulder area is provided,

the two chambers (124,126) comprise inlets (118,129) for the in-flow of pressurized gas from a common compressed-gas source,

said first chamber (124) is additionally provided with a vent hole (130) which is adapted to be closed by a closing element (132) biased into the closed position, which closing element (132) is movable against the bias into an open position when the release element (82) is actuated,

said second chamber (126) comprises a gas outlet (114), and

in the two chambers (124,126) a displaceable control piston (122) is arranged which, in its position as bearing upon the shoulder area, closes the gas outlet (114) of said second chamber (126), and, when removed from the shoulder area, clears the gas outlet (114) of said second chamber (126).

21. The device as defined in claim 5 wherein a gas discharge valve (116) for discharging gas synchronously with the medium discharge is provided, that said gas discharge valve (116) comprises a first and a second chamber (124,126) which are connected with each other, wherein

said first chamber (124) has a larger cross-section that said second chamber (126),

between the two chambers (124,126) a shoulder area is provided,

the two chambers (124,126) comprise inlets (118,129) for the in-flow of pressurized gas from a common compressed-gas source,

said first chamber (124) is additionally provided with a vent hole (130) which is adapted to be closed by a closing element (132) biased into the closed position, which closing element (132) is movable against the bias into an open position when the release element (82) is actuated,

said second chamber (126) comprises a gas outlet (114), and

in the two chambers (124,126) a displaceable control piston (122) is arranged which, in its position as bearing upon the shoulder area, closes the gas outlet (114) of said second chamber (126), and, when removed from the shoulder area, clears the gas outlet (114) of said second chamber (126).

22. The device as defined in claim 8 wherein a gas discharge valve (116) for discharging gas synchronously with the medium discharge is provided, that said gas discharge valve (116) comprises a first and a second chamber (124,126) which are connected with each other, wherein

said first chamber (124) has a larger cross-section that said second chamber (126),

between the two chambers (124,126) a shoulder area is provided,

the two chambers (124,126) comprise inlets (118,129) for the in-flow of pressurized gas from a common compressed-gas source,

said first chamber (124) is additionally provided with a vent hole (130) which is adapted to be closed by a closing element (132) biased into the closed position, which closing element (132) is movable against the bias into an open fat position when the release element (82) is actuated,

said second chamber (126) comprises a gas outlet (114), and

in the two chambers (124,126) a displaceable control piston (122) is arranged which, in its position as bearing upon the shoulder area, closes the gas outlet (114) of said second chamber (126), and, when removed from the shoulder area, clears the gas outlet (114) of said second chamber (126).

23. The device as defined in claim 9 wherein a gas discharge valve (116) for discharging gas synchronously with the medium discharge is provided, that said gas discharge valve (116) comprises a first and a second chamber (124,126) which are connected with each other, wherein said first chamber (124) has a larger cross-section that said second chamber (126),

between the two chambers (124,126) a shoulder area is provided,

the two chambers (124,126) comprise inlets (118,129) for the in-flow of pressurized gas from a common compressed-gas source,

said first chamber (124) is additionally provided with a vent hole (130) which is adapted to be closed by a closing element (132) biased into the closed position, which closing element (132) is movable against the bias into an open position when the release element (82) is actuated,

said second chamber (126) comprises a gas outlet (114), and

in the two chambers (124,126) a displaceable control piston (122) is arranged which, in its position as bearing upon the shoulder area, closes the gas outlet (114) of said second chamber (126), and, when removed from the shoulder area, clears the gas outlet (114) of said second chamber (126).

24. The device as defined in claim 14 wherein a gas discharge valve (116) for discharging gas synchronously with the medium discharge is provided, that said gas discharge valve (116) comprises a first and a second chamber (124,126) which are connected with each other, wherein

said first chamber (124) has a larger cross-section that said second chamber (126),

between the two chambers (124,126) a shoulder area is provided,

the two chambers (124,126) comprise inlets (118,129) for the in-flow of pressurized gas from a common compressed-gas source,

said first chamber (124) is additionally provided with a vent hole (130) which is adapted to be closed by a closing element (132) biased into the closed position, which closing element (132) is movable against the bias into an open position when the release element (82) is actuated,

said second chamber (126) comprises a gas outlet (114), and

in the two chambers (124,126) a displaceable control piston (122) is arranged which, in its position as bearing upon the shoulder area, closes the gas outlet (114) of said second chamber (126), and, when removed from the shoulder area, clears the gas outlet (114) of said second chamber (126).

25. The device as defined in claim 15 wherein a gas discharge valve (116) for discharging gas synchronously with the medium discharge is provided, that said gas discharge valve (116) comprises a first and a second chamber (124,126) which are connected with each other, wherein

said first chamber (124) has a larger cross-section that said second chamber (126),

between the two chambers (124,126) a shoulder area is provided,

the two chambers (124,126) comprise inlets (118,129) for the in-flow of pressurized gas from a common compressed-gas source,

said first chamber (124) is additionally provided with a vent hole (130) which is adapted to be closed by a closing element (132) biased into the closed position, which closing element (132) is movable against the bias into an open position when the release element (82) is actuated,

said second chamber (126) comprises a gas outlet (114), and

in the two chambers (124,126) a displaceable control piston (122) is arranged which, in its position as bearing upon the shoulder area, closes the gas outlet (114) of said second chamber (126), and, when removed from the shoulder area, clears the gas outlet (114) of said second chamber (126).

26. The device as defined in claim 17 wherein a gas discharge valve (116) for discharging gas synchronously with the medium discharge is provided, that said gas discharge valve (116) comprises a first and a second chamber (124,126) which are connected with each other, wherein

said first chamber (124) has a larger cross-section that said second chamber (126),

between the two chambers (124,126) a shoulder area is provided,

the two chambers (124,126) comprise inlets (118,129) for the in-flow of pressurized gas from a common compressed-gas source,

said first chamber (124) is additionally provided with a vent hole (130) which is adapted to be closed by a closing element (132) biased into the closed position, which closing element (132) is movable against the bias into an open position when the release element (82) is actuated,

said second chamber (126) comprises a gas outlet (114), and

in the two chambers (124,126) a displaceable control piston (122) is arranged which, in its position as bearing upon the shoulder area, closes the gas outlet (114) of said second chamber (126), and, when removed from the shoulder area, clears the gas outlet (114) of said second chamber (126).

27. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein upstream of the gas inlet (129) of the first chamber (124) a flow restrictor (138) is provided, or said gas inlet (129) is configured as a flow restrictor, wherein the gas entering said first chamber (124) flows through a passage area with a smaller cross-section than the gas entering the second chamber (126).