Applicator for dispensing measured quantities with use of controlled suction

Abstract

A medical fluid applicator for dispensing a fluid onto biological tissues in tissue adhesive or sealant applications includes a dispensing pathway with an audible loudness indicator that signals the cumulative amount of fluid delivered by varying the pitch or tone of audible signals emitted at discrete volumetric increments. A suction pathway is also included for applying vacuum pressure to the applicator tip contemporaneous with the fluid application. The medical fluid applicator further includes a clearing pathway for retrogradedly withdrawing coagulated mixed fluids, such as mixed two-part tissue adhesives, from the applicator tip. A valve manifold and a shuttle valve are actuated to adjust the operation of vacuum pressure in the device between the various suctioning, clearing, and venting conduits of the device. The valve manifold is also adapted to couple a vent pathway and the suction pathway simultaneously to the vacuum conduit adapted for connection to a vacuum source. The coupling of vacuum to these pathways may be selectively adjusted by use of inversely and reciprocally shaped valving apertures on the valve manifold, such that preselected levels of applied suction at the suction pathway may be achieved. The device also includes a supply device portion and an applicator portion removably coupled thereto. The supply device portion includes the proximal portions of the dispensing assembly including the audible loudness indicator and the fluid reservoirs. The applicator portion includes the suction conduit, the clearing conduit, and a mixing conduit for mixing the components of the fluid reservoirs immediately prior to fluid delivery. A filling dispenser is further provided which is keyed to engage the supply device portion of the device in a predetermined orientation such that each fluid reservoir of the supply device is coupled for filling from a specified, predetermined filling reservoir.