Dispensing head for a tissue sealant applicator and process of use

Abstract

The invention provides a handheld, manually operable fluid applicator, particularly suited to the needs of surgeons, for dispensing a multi-component fluid applicator, for example fibrin and thrombin components of a tissue adhesive. A preferred applicator has a body containing reservoirs for the sealants and a detachable dispensing head which can be removed to refill the reservoirs. In the mixing head, the sealant components undergo turbulent mixing, for mixing efficacy, in a mixing chamber provided in a one-piece flexible and resilient manifold have 'self-sealing' inlet and outlet ports. To enhance mixing, the mixing chamber has an increased cross-sectional area over the combined areas of the component supply passages and the fluid flows are directly opposed to impinge on each other in the mixing chamber. The applicator body and mixing head each have a housing with an ergonomic, streamlined or otherwise smoothly contoured shape and esthetic appearance.