Provensis Limited

Boston Scientific Medical Device Limited

David Ian Faulkner

David Dakin Iorwerth Wright

Stafford Guy Moss

Carol Suzanne Balfour

Rex Faithfull

Thomas Wyss

Daniel Isler

Thomas Ajao

The present invention relates to methods and devices for production of injectable foams, such as those used in the treatment of varicose veins and other venous disorders. The method requires the delivery or supply of foamable liquid sclerosing agent and a suitable gas or a gas mixture to a foam producing structure in which the liquid and gas are combined to produce foam, wherein the liquid is delivered independently of the delivery of gas. Devices for producing injectable foam comprise a foam producing structure in which liquid and gas are combined to produce foam, the structure comprising an inlet for liquid and gas and an outlet for foam; a liquid pathway in communication with the inlet; and a gas pathway in communication with the inlet, characterised in that the liquid pathway comprises a means for delivering liquid through the liquid pathway independently of gas delivery through the gas pathway. In preferred embodiments, the delivery of liquid and/or gas is controlled with volumetric pumps.

Method and device for generating injectable foam

Syringes which are suitable for dispensing and injecting medical foams for sclerotherapy are described and claimed. The syringes of the invention comprise a syringe barrel having a nozzle and a bore to receive a syringe plunger; a syringe plunger defined by a front end and a rear end connected by a tubular walls and having an internal hollow duct between the front end and the rear end, and through which foam can flow; and an injectate chamber formed by insertion of the front end of the plunger into the barrel. The syringes comprise a flow-disruptor arranged to modify the flow of foam as it enters the injectate chamber. In certain embodiments the syringes comprise waste chambers which capture and retain poor quality foam. The syringes are particularly useful for dispensing foams made with little or no nitrogen content and are configured to reduce the risk of air contamination during dispensing the foam. Kits comprising the syringes together with a suitable source of foam and methods of dispensing foam form further aspects of the invention.

Syringe for administering foam

A foam transfer or dispensing device is described which dispenses foam from a source of foam, typically a pressurised canister, and which enables efficient purging or air and an initial volume of foam from the device to ensure foam sterility and quality when a syringe is filled from the device. The device comprises a foam inlet arranged for communication with a source of foam, a foam pathway in fluid communication with the foam inlet and comprising a foam outlet, arranged for engagement by a syringe nozzle; and a waste outlet in fluid communication with the foam pathway. The foam pathway comprises a tubular projection arranged to extend through the foam outlet and into a syringe nozzle when a syringe is connected to the foam outlet, which improves the efficiency of the purging process and prevents pooling of air or foam. The device further comprises a means for restricting displacement of material through the waste outlet, so that the user can control the volume of foam that is wasted.

Device and method for dispensing foam

This invention relates to apparatus and devices that generate sclerosing microfoams for the treatment of venous disorders, such as varicose veins. The invention includes adaptors which provide fluid connections to microfoam generating devices, to enable filling with gas and/or dispensing of the microfoam product. The adaptors are generally cylindrical elements with open ends to enable attachment to pressurisable container on one end and are configured to enable rapid and easy attachment of a filling means or a dispensing means through the other end of the adaptor. A particular configuration comprises three or more circumferentially and downward extending cam tracks which cooperate with corresponding cams on the filling means or dispensing means and which connect a pressurisable container to a fluid path of a filling or dispensing means when the pressurisable container and filling or dispensing means are rotated relative to each other.

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London, United Kingdom

David Ian Faulkner