APPLICATOR DELIVERY TIP EXTENSION
A delivery tip extension communicates an adhesive material from a fluid applicator tip to a site within a patient. The delivery tip extension has an elongated shaft with a proximal end portion, a central body portion, and a tapered distal end portion. The central body portion has a length between about 5 cm and about 45 cm. A lumen is defined within and extends along the elongated shaft from a proximal opening to a distal opening. The elongated shaft is relatively more rigid along the central body portion than along the distal end portion to facilitate driving the elongated shaft through the patient with reduced trauma to the patient by the distal end portion. The lumen is sized and shaped along the proximal end portion for securely receiving the fluid applicator tip inserted through the proximal opening such that a dispensing outlet on the fluid applicator tip is in fluid communication with the lumen. The delivery tip extension is sterilized or sterilizable.
1 . A delivery tip extension for communicating an adhesive material from a fluid applicator tip to a site within a patient, comprising:
an elongated shaft comprising a proximal end portion, a central body portion having a length between 5 cm and 45 cm, and a tapered distal end portion; and
a lumen defined within and extending along the elongated shaft from a proximal opening on the proximal end portion to a distal opening on the distal end portion;
wherein the elongated shaft is relatively more rigid along the central body portion than along the distal end portion to facilitate driving the elongated shaft through the patient with reduced trauma to the patient by the distal end portion,
wherein the lumen is sized and shaped along the proximal end portion for securely receiving the fluid applicator tip inserted through the proximal opening such that a dispensing outlet on the fluid applicator tip is in fluid communication with the lumen, and
wherein the delivery tip extension is sterilized or sterilizable.
2 . The delivery tip extension of claim 1 , wherein the lumen has a reduced cross-sectional area along the central body and distal end portions relative to the cross-sectional area along the proximal end portion, the reduced cross-sectional area promoting rapid transport of adhesive from the fluid applicator tip to the distal opening.
3 . The delivery tip extension of claim 1 , further comprising a distal end covering positioned about the distal end portion of the elongated shaft, the distal end covering comprising a relatively softer material than the elongated shaft, the relatively softer material further reducing trauma to the patient by the distal end portion.
4 . The delivery tip extension of claim 3 , wherein:
the elongated shaft comprises a polyurethane material; and
the distal end covering comprises a polyether block amide material.
5 . The delivery tip extension of claim 1 , further comprising a proximal end connector defining the proximal end portion of the elongated shaft, the proximal end connector comprising a relatively softer material than the elongated shaft.
6 . The delivery tip extension of claim 1 , wherein:
the elongated shaft has an outer diameter of between about 2 mm and about 8 mm along the central body portion; and
the lumen has a diameter of between about 0.5 mm and about 5.0 mm along the central body and distal end portions.
7 . The delivery tip extension of claim 4 , wherein:
the elongated shaft has an outer diameter of between about 4 mm and about 6 mm along the central body portion; and
the lumen has a diameter of between about 0.8 mm and about 1.6 mm along the central body and distal end portions.
8 . The delivery tip extension of claim 1 , wherein the elongated shaft has a length of about 10 cm, about 27 cm, or about 35 cm.
9 . The delivery tip extension of claim 1 , wherein the proximal end portion comprises a textured inner surface for frictional engagement with the fluid applicator tip.
10 . The delivery tip extension of claim 1 , wherein the elongated shaft comprises a clear polymer.
11 . The delivery tip extension of claim 9 , wherein the polymer comprises a polyurethane.
12 . A sterile kit for delivering an adhesive material to a site within a patient, comprising:
a syringe apparatus comprising:
at least one chamber housing a fluid that comprises an adhesive or at least one precursor therefor;
a fluid applicator tip in fluid communication with each fluid in each chamber, the fluid applicator tip having a dispensing outlet; and
at least one delivery tip extension connectable to the fluid applicator tip of the syringe apparatus for dispensing the adhesive, the delivery tip extension comprising:
an elongated shaft comprising a proximal end portion, a central body portion having a length between 5 cm and 45 cm, and a tapered distal end portion; and
a lumen defined within and extending along the elongated shaft from a proximal opening on the proximal end portion to a distal opening on the distal end portion;
wherein the elongated shaft is relatively more rigid along the central body portion than along the distal end portion to facilitate driving the elongated shaft through the patient with reduced trauma to the patient by the distal end portion, and
wherein the lumen is sized and shaped along the proximal end portion for securely receiving the fluid applicator tip inserted through the proximal opening such that the dispensing outlet is in fluid communication with the lumen.
13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the at least one chamber comprises a first chamber and a second chamber.
14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein:
the first chamber houses a first fluid that comprises a solution including albumin; and
the second chamber houses a second fluid that comprises an aldehyde for crosslinking the albumin.
15 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the syringe apparatus further comprises a plunger for driving the first and second fluids from the first and second chambers into the fluid applicator tip.
16 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the fluid applicator tip comprises a static mixer operable to mix the first and second fluids to form the adhesive.
17 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the fluid applicator tip comprises a static mixer.
18 . A method for delivering an adhesive to a tissue site in a patient, comprising:
flowing an adhesive from a syringe apparatus through a delivery tip extension to a tissue site in a patient, the delivery tip extension comprising:
an elongated shaft comprising a proximal end portion, a central body portion having a length between 5 cm and 45 cm, and a tapered distal end portion; and
a lumen defined within and extending along the elongated shaft from a proximal opening on the proximal end portion to a distal opening on the distal end portion;
wherein the elongated shaft is relatively more rigid along the central body portion than along the distal end portion to facilitate driving the elongated shaft through the patient with reduced trauma to the patient by the distal end portion;
wherein the lumen is sized and shaped along the proximal end portion for securely receiving the fluid applicator tip inserted through the proximal opening such that a dispensing outlet on the fluid applicator tip is in fluid communication with the lumen.
19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the delivery tip extension delivers the adhesive laparoscopically.
20 . A method of making a delivery tip extension, comprising:
molding an elongated shaft having a lumen extending therethrough and a length between 5 cm and 45 cm, the elongated shaft comprising:
a proximal end portion,
a central body portion, and
a tapered distal end portion; and
overmolding a distal end covering about the distal end portion of the elongated shaft, the distal end covering comprising a relatively softer material than the elongated shaft, to form the delivery tip extension.
21 . The method of claim 20 , further comprising sterilizing the delivery tip extension.