Adhesive applicator

• US 7,441,973 B2
• Filed: 10/20/2006
• Issued: 10/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Ortiz, Mark S., Shelton, Fredrick E. IV, Voegele, James Walden
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, HUYEN D
• Application Number:
  US11/551,261
• Publication Number:
  US 20080095569A1
• Time in Patent Office: 739 Days
• Field of Search: 401132-135
• US Class Current: 401/134
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00491 Surgical glue applicators surgical adhesives A61L24/00; two-component delivery syringes A61M5/19
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00544 pneumatically

Abstract

An apparatus for applying a liquid substance comprises a bulb portion, a cannulated shaft in fluid communication with the bulb portion, and a swab portion in fluid communication with the cannulated shaft. The bulb portion comprises a capsule. The capsule comprises a liquid substance. The bulb portion further comprises a valve operable to control the flow of a medium through the bulb portion. The bulb portion is operable to rupture the capsule to release the liquid substance. The cannulated shaft is dimensioned to extend percutaneously into a patient. The swab portion is operable to apply the liquid substance. The apparatus may be used to percutaneously apply adhesives to tissue, such as through a trocar or other cannulated member.

Claims

1. An apparatus for applying a liquid substance, the apparatus comprising:

(a) a trocar;

(b) a container portion, wherein the container portion comprises;

(i) a capsule, wherein the capsule comprises a liquid substance, and

(ii) a valve operable to control the flow of a medium through the bulb portion, wherein the container portion is operable to rupture the capsule to release the liquid substance from the capsule;

(c) a cannula member disposed within the trocar;

(d) a cannulated shaft disposed within the cannula member and in fluid communication with the container portion, wherein the cannulated shaft is dimensioned to extend percutaneously into a patient; and

(c) a swab portion, wherein the swab portion is in fluid communication with the cannulated shaft, wherein the swab portion is operable to apply the liquid substance.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the capsule comprises a stress riser configured to facilitate the rupture of the capsule.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the container portion further comprises a piercing member operable to facilitate the rupture of the capsule.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the liquid substance comprises an adhesive.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the adhesive is a tissue adhering adhesive.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the valve comprises a duckbill valve.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a pressurized medium source in communication with the valve.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the pressurized medium source comprises a cartridge.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the valve comprises a needle valve.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a flexible tube, wherein the pressurized medium source is in fluid communication with the valve via the flexible tube.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the swab portion comprises a plurality of fibers.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the swab portion comprises an activator substance configured to react with the liquid substance.

13. A method of applying a liquid substance to tissue, the method comprising:

(a) providing an applicator, wherein the applicator comprises;

(i) a bulb portion, wherein the bulb portion comprises a capsule, wherein the capsule comprises a liquid substance, and a valve operable to control the flow of a medium through the bulb portion,

(ii) a trocar;

(iii) a cannula member disposed within the trocar;

(ii) a cannulated shaft disposed within the cannula member and in fluid communication with the bulb portion, wherein the cannulated shaft is dimensioned to extend percutaneously into a patient, and a swab portion, wherein the swab portion is in fluid communication with the cannulated shaft, wherein the swab portion is operable to apply the liquid substance;

(b) inserting a distal portion of the applicator percutaneously into a patient;

(c) rupturing the capsule to release the liquid substance;

(d) positioning the swab portion adjacent to tissue;

(e) communicating the liquid substance through the cannulated shaft to the swab portion; and

(f) applying the liquid substance to the adjacent tissue with the swab portion.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the distal portion of the applicator is inserted through the trocar.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the act of rupturing the capsule comprises squeezing the bulb portion.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the act of communicating the liquid substance through the cannulated shaft comprises at least partially opening the valve.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the liquid substance is an adhesive.