IP Library Granted Patent US 8,377,507
Granted Patent B2
US 8,377,507 · App. 12/774,903 · Granted Feb 19, 2013

Method and apparatus for applying a sealant

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,377,507
App. No.
12/774,903
Granted
Feb 19, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method and apparatus for applying a sealant includes a first chamber that retains a first substance. A second chamber retains a second substance, wherein the second chamber is in selective fluid communication with the first chamber. A third chamber retains a third substance. A first actuator is configured to cause fluid communication of the first and second chambers to allow the first and second substances to comingle and form a first mixture. A second actuator is configured to urge the first mixture and the third substance out of the sealant application apparatus.

Claims (54)

1. A sealant application apparatus comprising:

a first chamber including a first substance;

a second chamber including a second substance, wherein the second chamber is in selective fluid communication with the first chamber;

a third chamber including a third substance;

a first actuator configured to cause fluid communication of the first and second chambers to allow the first and second substances to comingle and form a first mixture; and

a second actuator configured to urge the first mixture and the third substance out of the sealant application apparatus.

2. The sealant application apparatus of claim 1 , comprising a mixing chamber configured to receive and mix the first mixture and the third substance into sealant mixture prior to being urged out of the sealant application apparatus.

3. The sealant application apparatus of claim 1 , comprising an atomizing nozzle configured to spray the first mixture and the third substance out of the sealant application apparatus.

4. The sealant application apparatus of claim 1 , comprising a burst disc fluidly separating the first and second chambers, wherein actuation of the first actuator causes the burst disc to rupture to allow fluid communication of the first and second chambers.

5. The sealant application apparatus of claim 1 , comprising a valve fluidly separating the first and second chambers, wherein actuation of the first actuator allows the first or second substance to pass therethrough to allow fluid communication of the first and second chambers.

6. The sealant application apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the valve comprises a one-way check valve.

7. The sealant application apparatus of claim 6 , wherein actuation of the first actuator urges the second substance through the one-way check valve and in to the first chamber to mix with the first substance.

8. The sealant application apparatus of claim 1 , comprising a fourth chamber including a fourth substance, wherein the fourth chamber is in selective fluid communication with the third chamber.

9. The sealant application apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the first actuator is configured to cause fluid communication of the third and fourth chambers to allow the third and fourth substances to comingle and form a second mixture.

10. The sealant application apparatus of claim 8 , wherein a second actuator is configured to cause fluid communication of the third and fourth chambers to allow the third and fourth substances to comingle and form a second mixture.

11. The sealant application apparatus of claim 1 , comprising a lock configured to fix the second actuator with respect to the sealant application apparatus to inhibit inadvertent urging of the first mixture and the third substance out of the sealant application apparatus.

12. The sealant application apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first, second, and third substances comprise tissue sealant components.

13. The sealant application apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a first syringe includes the first and second chambers.

14. The sealant application apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a first syringe includes the first chamber, and a second syringe includes the second chamber.

15. The sealant application apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a third syringe includes the third chamber.

16. The sealant application apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second chamber includes a spring-actuated plunger configured to urge the first mixture out of the second chamber and into the first chamber.

17. A method of using a self-contained sealant application apparatus, the method comprising:

actuating a first actuator to allow a first substance of a first chamber to comingle with a second substance of a second chamber;

mixing the first and second substances to form a first mixture; and

urging the first mixture and a third substance of a third chamber together to mix to form a sealant mixture; and

urging the sealant mixture out of the application apparatus for application of the sealant mixture.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein mixing the first and second substances includes repeatedly actuating the first actuator to mix the first and second substances.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein mixing the first and second substances includes shaking the sealant application apparatus to mix the first and second substances.

20. The method of claim 17 , wherein actuating the second actuator to urge the first mixture and the third substance together includes actuating the second actuator to urge the first mixture and the third substance into a mixing chamber to mix and form the sealant mixture.

21. The method of claim 17 , wherein the urging steps are performed by actuating a second actuator.

22. The method of claim 17 , wherein the urging steps are performed by actuating second and third actuators, respectively.

23. A sealant application apparatus comprising:

a first chamber configured to receive a first substance;

a second chamber configured to receive a second substance, wherein the second chamber is in selective fluid communication with the first chamber;

a third chamber configured to receive a third substance;

a first actuator configured to cause fluid communication of the first and second chambers to allow the first and second substances to comingle and form a first mixture; and

a second actuator configured to urge the first mixture and the third substance out of the sealant application apparatus.

24. The sealant application apparatus of claim 23 , comprising a mixing chamber configured to receive and mix the first mixture and the third substance into sealant mixture prior to being urged out of the sealant application apparatus.

25. The sealant application apparatus of claim 23 , comprising an atomizing nozzle configured to spray the first mixture and the third substance out of the sealant application apparatus.

26. The sealant application apparatus of claim 23 , comprising a burst disc fluidly separating the first and second chambers, wherein actuation of the first actuator causes the burst disc to rupture to allow fluid communication of the first and second chambers.

27. The sealant application apparatus of claim 23 , comprising a valve fluidly separating the first and second chambers, wherein actuation of the first actuator allows the first or second substance to pass therethrough to allow fluid communication of the first and second chambers.

28. The sealant application apparatus of claim 27 , wherein the valve comprises a one-way check valve.

29. The sealant application apparatus of claim 23 , comprising a fourth chamber configured to receive a fourth substance, wherein the fourth chamber is in selective fluid communication with the third chamber.

30. The sealant application apparatus of claim 23 , comprising a lock configured to fix the second actuator with respect to the sealant application apparatus to inhibit inadvertent urging of the first mixture and the third substance out of the sealant application apparatus.

31. The sealant application apparatus of claim 23 , wherein a first syringe includes the first and second chambers.

32. The sealant application apparatus of claim 23 , wherein a first syringe includes the first chamber, and a second syringe includes the second chamber.

33. The sealant application apparatus of claim 23 , wherein a third syringe includes the third chamber.

34. The sealant application apparatus of claim 23 , wherein the second chamber includes a spring-actuated plunger configured to urge the first mixture out of the second chamber and into the first chamber.

35. A sealant application apparatus comprising:

a first chamber configured to retain a first substance;

a second chamber configured to retain a second substance, wherein the second chamber is in selective fluid communication with the first chamber;

a third chamber configured to retain a third substance;

a first actuator configured to cause fluid communication of the first and second chambers to allow the first and second substances to comingle and form a first mixture; and

a second actuator configured to urge the first mixture and the third substance out of the sealant application apparatus.

Assignments (6)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE INCORRECT APPLICATION NO. US 13/486,591 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 030358 FRAME 0945. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Jun 5, 2017
From: SYNTHES USA, LLC
To: DEPUY SPINE, LLC
Reel/Frame 042687/0849 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE INCORRECT APPL. NO. 13/486,591 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 030359 FRAME: 0001. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded May 17, 2017
From: DEPUY SPINE, LLC
To: HAND INNOVATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 042621/0565 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 6, 2013
From: SYNTHES USA, LLC
To: DEPUY SPINE, LLC
Reel/Frame 030358/0945 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 6, 2013
From: DEPUY SPINE, LLC
To: HAND INNOVATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 030359/0001 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 6, 2013
From: HAND INNOVATIONS LLC
To: DEPUY SYNTHES PRODUCTS, LLC
Reel/Frame 030359/0036 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 19, 2010
From: WAWRZYNIAK, KORTNEY; PFAHNL, ANDREAS CARL; WHITE, JOHN OWEN
To: SYNTHES USA, LLC
Reel/Frame 024859/0699 →