Direct dual filling device for sealing agents

• US 6,575,205 B2
• Filed: 12/07/2000
• Issued: 06/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Baxter International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Baxter International Inc.
• Inventors: Plyley, Alan, Redmond, Russell James, Epstein, Gordon Howard
• Primary Examiner(s): DAGOSTINO, SABRINA
• Application Number:
  US09/731,488
• Publication Number:
  US 20020072714A1
• Time in Patent Office: 915 Days
• Field of Search: 604/191, 604/195, 604/186, 604/190, 128/764, 433/81, 137/112, 141/42
• US Class Current: 141/42
• 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: A61J 1/201 having one piercing end
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2013 having two piercing ends
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2058 having multiple connecting ports
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2065 having aligning and guiding means
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2096 Combination of a vial and a syringe for transferring or mixing their contents

Abstract

A method and apparatus for filling a syringe-type applicator having multiple material reservoirs are disclosed. The method and apparatus permits the individual component reservoirs to be simultaneously filled without risk of contamination or unintentional component mixing. The method and apparatus are particularly useful in the preparation and delivery of multiple component tissue sealants such a fibrinogen adhesive compositions.

Claims

1. An apparatus for simultaneously filling at least two dispensing instruments, comprising:

a housing member having a first surface and a second surface, said first surface forming a inlet aperture;

a collar member located on said second surface and integral to said housing member;

at least two inlet port located on said collar member, said at least two inlet ports capable of coupling to syringe-type applicator;

at least two drawing tubes positioned within said inlet aperture and in communication with said at least two inlet ports; and

a container positioning member having container support members, said container positioning member receiving at least two material containers within said inlet aperture and said container support members capable of aligning the containers with said drawing tubes.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said housing member is made from thermoplastic material.

3. An apparatus of claim 2 wherein said thermoplastic is selected form a group consisting of polycarbonate, polystyrene, polypropyene, polytetrafluoroethylene, acrylonitrile butadiene-styrene, and acrylic.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said housing member comprises a resilient material and sized to permit said housing to conform to said containers disposed therein.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first surface comprises:

a proximal portion substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said housing;

a medial portion forming a biasing surface, said biasing surface having an angular bias towards said housing longitudinal axis thereby forcibly tilting said containers disposed therein; and

a distal portion forming a angled stop, said angled stop disposed substantially perpendicular to said biasing surface, thereby effectively restricting further advancement of said containers within said inlet aperture and reinforcing said tilting of said containers.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said inlet ports are formed of a flexible sealing elastomer material.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said collar member further defines at least two material channels in communication with said at least two inlet ports and said at least two drawing tubes, thereby providing a channel in which material may be transported from said at least two drawing tubes to said at least two inlet ports.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least two drawing tubes have a proximal portion attachable to said material channel and a distal portion located within said inlet aperture.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said at least two drawing tubes have pointed tips to pierce and sealably interface with said containers.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said container positioning member comprises a base plate portion capable of securely positioning said material containers within said inlet aperture aligned with said at least two tubes, thereby permitting withdrawal of material form said containers by said at least two drawing tubes.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:

a vertical support member attached to said base plate portion;

at least one angled support member having a proximal portion connected to said vertical support member and a distal portion defining an opening;

said opening being substantially aligned with said at least two drawing tubes and capable of receiving and supporting said containers, thereby permitting said at least two drawing tubes to withdrawal fluid from said containers.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said at least one angled support member has an angled distal portion, a substantially level medial portion, and a proximal portion substantially parallel to said distal portion, thereby permitting tilting of said containers.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said container positioning member lockably interacts with said housing member.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said locking mechanism is a snap lock disposed on said housing member.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said locking mechanism is a slip-fit lock disposed on said housing member.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said locking interaction sealably positions said containers within said housing member.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said container positioning member is made from thermoplastic material.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said thermoplastic is selected form a group consisting of polycarbonate, polystyrene, polypropyene, polytetrafluoroethylene, acrylonitrile butadiene-styrene, and acrylic.

6. An apparatus for simultaneously filling at least two dispensing instruments, comprising:

a housing member having a first surface and a second surface, said first surface forming a inlet aperture;

a collar member located on said second surface and integral to said housing member wherein said collar member is attachable to a plurality of dispensing instruments;

at least two inlet port located on said collar member;

at least two drawing tubes positioned within said inlet aperture and in communication with said at least two inlet ports; and

a container positioning member having container support members, said container positioning member receiving at least two material containers within said inlet aperture and said container support members capable of aligning the containers with said drawing tubes. wherein said collar member is attachable to a plurality of dispensing instruments.

11. An apparatus for simultaneously filling at least two dispensing instruments, comprising:

a housing member having a first surface and a second surface, said first surface forming a inlet aperture;

a collar member located on said second surface and integral to said housing member;

at least two inlet port located on said collar member;

at least two drawing tubes positioned within said inlet aperture and in communication with said at least two inlet ports;

at least two hinged support members having a proximal portion attached to said first surface of said housing member in a hinged fashion, and a distal portion enabling supportive interaction of said at least two hinged support members and said at least two drawing tubes;

wherein said at least two hinged support members support said at least two drawing tubes absent said containers disposed within said inlet aperture; and

a container positioning member having container support members, said container positioning member receiving at least two material containers within said inlet aperture and said container support members capable of aligning the containers with said drawing tubes.

12. An apparatus for simultaneously filling at least two dispensing instruments, comprising:

a housing member having a first surface and a second surface, said first surface forming a inlet aperture;

a collar member located on said second surface and integral to said housing member;

at least two inlet port located on said collar member;

at least two drawing tubes positioned within said inlet aperture and in communication with said at least two inlet ports;

at least two hinged support members having a proximal portion attached to said first surface of said housing member in a hinged fashion, and a distal portion enabling supportive interaction of said at least two hinged support members and said at least two drawing tubes;

wherein said at least two hinged support members support said at least two drawing tubes absent said containers disposed within said inlet aperture, wherein the distal portion of said at two hinged support members are forked; and

a container positioning member having container support members, said container positioning member receiving at least two material containers within said inlet aperture and said container support members capable of aligning the containers with said drawing tubes.