Adhesive applier with articulating tip

• US 7,658,305 B2
• Filed: 10/25/2006
• Issued: 02/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2006
• 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): Bomberg; Kenneth
• Application Number:
  US11/552,669
• Publication Number:
  US 20080103452A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,203 Days
• Field of Search: 222/533, 222/387, 604/95.04, 604/95.05, 604/187, 604/528
• US Class Current: 222/387
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00491 Surgical glue applicators surgical adhesives A61L24/00; two-component delivery syringes A61M5/19
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/291 the position of the handle being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/292 connection of actuating rod to handle, e.g. ball end in recess
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2947 Pivots

Abstract

An exemplary adhesive applier comprises a handle portion, a shaft portion, and a tip portion. The handle portion is configured to be gripped by a user. The shaft portion is in communication with the handle portion. The tip portion is in communication with the shaft portion. The tip portion is operable to articulate relative to the shaft portion in response to user input, and is operable to dispense a liquid substance at a plurality of articulated positions. In some embodiments, the handle portion is configured to pivot relative to the shaft portion, and the tip portion is operable to pivot relative to the shaft portion in response to pivoting of the handle portion relative to the shaft portion.

Claims

1. An adhesive applier, comprising:

(a) a handle portion having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the handle portion is configured to be gripped by a user, wherein the handle portion comprises a barrel and a plunger, wherein the plunger extends proximally from the barrel;

(b) a liquid substance within the barrel;

(c) a shaft portion having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the shaft portion defines an inner lumen;

(d) a first ball and socket joint coupling the distal end of the handle portion with the proximal end of the shaft portion, such that the handle portion is pivotable relative to the shaft portion, wherein the first ball and socket joint comprises a first ball and a first socket, wherein the first ball has an interior funnel-shaped portion in communication with the lumen;

(e) a tip portion having a proximal end and a distal end;

(f) a second ball and socket joint coupling the distal end of the shaft portion with the proximal end of the tip portion, such that the tip portion is pivotable relative to the shaft portion, wherein the second ball and socket joint comprises a second ball and a second socket, wherein the second ball has an interior funnel-shaped portion in communication with the lumen;

(g) a conduit in fluid communication with the barrel, wherein the conduit extends through the interior funnel-shaped portion of the first ball, through the lumen, through the interior funnel-shaped portion of the second ball, and through the tip portion, wherein the handle portion is operable to cause dispensation of the liquid substance via the conduit at the distal end of the tip portion in response to actuation of the plunger by a user; and

(h) at least one cable connecting the handle portion with the tip portion, such that the at least one cable is configured to cause the tip portion to pivot relative the shaft portion in response to pivoting of the handle portion relative to the shaft portion;

wherein the interior funnel-shaped portion of the first ball is configured to permit the conduit to flex to reduce interference between the conduit and the first ball and the first socket during pivoting of the handle portion relative to the shaft portion at the first ball and socket joint;

wherein the interior funnel-shaped portion of the second ball is configured to permit the conduit to flex to reduce interference between the conduit and the second ball and the second socket during pivoting of the tip portion relative to the shaft portion at the second ball and socket joint.

2. The adhesive applier of claim 1, wherein the liquid substance comprises an adhesive.

3. The adhesive applier of claim 2, wherein the adhesive comprises one or both of a cyanoacrylate or an isocyanate.

4. The adhesive applier of claim 1, wherein movement of the tip portion relative to the shaft portion in response to movement of the handle portion relative to the shaft portion mimics the movement of the handle portion relative to the shaft portion.

5. The adhesive applier of claim 1, wherein the conduit comprises a flexible tube.

6. A method of applying and adhesive, the method comprising:

(a) providing a liquid substance applier, wherein the liquid substance applier comprises;

(i) a handle portion having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the handle portion is configured to be gripped by a user,

(ii) a shaft portion having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the shaft portion defines an inner lumen,

(iii) a first ball and socket joint coupling the distal end of the handle portion with the proximal end of the shaft portion, such that the handle portion is pivotable relative to the shaft portion, wherein the first ball and socket joint comprises a first ball and a first socket, wherein the first ball has an interior funnel-shaped portion in communication with the lumen, and

(iv) a tip portion having a proximal end and a distal end,

(v) a second ball and socket joint coupling the distal end of the shaft portion with the proximal end of the tip portion, such that the tip portion is pivotable relative to the shaft portion, wherein the second ball and socket joint comprises a second ball and a second socket, wherein the second ball has an interior funnel-shaped portion in communication with the lumen,

(vi) a conduit in fluid communication with the handle portion, wherein the conduit extends through the interior funnel-shaped portion of the first ball, through the lumen, through the interior funnel-shaped portion of the second ball, and through the tip portion, wherein the handle portion is operable to cause dispensation of a liquid substance via the conduit at the distal end of the tip portion, and

(vii) at least one cable connecting the handle portion with the tip portion, such that the at least one cable is configured to cause the tip portion to articulate relative the shaft portion in response to pivoting of the handle portion relative to the shaft portion,

wherein the interior funnel-shaped portion of the first ball is configured to permit the conduit to flex to reduce interference between the conduit and the first ball and the first socket during pivoting of the handle portion relative to the shaft portion at the first ball and socket joint,

wherein the interior funnel-shaped portion of the second ball is configured to permit the conduit to flex to reduce interference between the conduit and the second ball and the second socket during pivoting of the tip portion relative to the shaft portion at the second ball and socket joint;

(b) providing a liquid substance within the handle portion of the liquid substance applier;

(c) grasping the handle portion;

(d) positioning the tip portion at a surgical site, wherein the step of positioning the tip portion comprises articulating the tip portion relative to the shaft portion at the second ball and socket joint, wherein the step of articulating the tip portion comprises pivoting the handle portion relative to the shaft portion at the first ball and socket joint, such that pivotal movement of the handle portion relative to the shaft portion is communicated along the at least one cable; and

(e) dispensing at least a portion of the liquid substance in the handle portion at the surgical site via the conduit through the interior funnel-shaped portion of the first ball, through the lumen, through the interior funnel-shaped portion of the second ball, and through distal end of the articulated tip portion.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the liquid substance comprises a surgical adhesive.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the handle portion comprises a plunger and a barrel, wherein the act of dispensing comprises actuating the plunger.

9. An adhesive applier device, comprising:

(a) a handle portion having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the handle portion is configured to be gripped by a user;

(b) a liquid substance provided within the handle portion;

(c) a shaft portion having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the shaft portion defines an inner lumen;

(d) a first ball and socket joint coupling the distal end of the handle portion with the proximal end of the shaft portion, such that the handle portion is pivotable relative to the shaft portion, wherein the first ball and socket joint comprises a first ball and a first socket, wherein the first ball has an interior funnel-shaped portion in communication with the lumen;

(e) a tip portion having a proximal end and a distal end;

(f) a second ball and socket joint coupling the distal end of the shaft portion with the proximal end of the tip portion, such that the tip portion is pivotable relative to the shaft portion, wherein the second ball and socket joint comprises a second ball and a second socket, wherein the second ball has an interior funnel-shaped portion in communication with the lumen;

(g) a conduit in fluid communication with the handle portion, wherein the conduit extends through the interior funnel-shaped portion of the first ball, through the lumen, through the interior funnel-shaped portion of the second ball, and through the tip portion, wherein the handle portion is operable to cause dispensation of the liquid substance via the conduit at the distal end of the tip portion; and

(h) at least one cable connecting the handle portion with the tip portion, such that the cable is configured to cause the tip portion to pivot relative the shaft portion in response to pivoting of the handle portion relative to the shaft portion;

wherein the interior funnel-shaped portion of the first ball is configured to permit the conduit to flex to reduce interference between the conduit and the first ball and the first socket during pivoting of the handle portion relative to the shaft portion at the first ball and socket joint;

wherein the interior funnel-shaped portion of the second ball is configured to permit the conduit to flex to reduce interference between the conduit and the second ball and the second socket during pivoting of the tip portion relative to the shaft portion at the second ball and socket joint.