Device for injecting high viscosity material

Abstract

The device for injecting a high viscosity material into a cannula includes a body having a material-moving member disposed therewithin which separates the body into a first cavity adapted to receive an incompressible fluid and a second cavity adapted to receive a high viscosity material. A pressure applicator, including a housing having incompressible fluid, is remote from but connected to the body by an extension line providing fluid flow between a fluid outlet of the pressure applicator and the first cavity. First and second check valves within the housing control the flow through the housing. The power piston generates negative pressure within the housing to draw the incompressible fluid in when the piston is extended, and generates positive pressure within the housing, forcing the incompressible fluid out through the second check valve and the fluid outlet and into the first cavity of the non-compliant body, when the piston is depressed.

1 . A device for injecting a high viscosity material into a cannula, comprising:
 a non-compliant body having a material-moving member disposed therewithin, the material moving member separating the non-compliant body into a first cavity having a first volume adapted to receive an incompressible fluid and a second cavity having a second volume adapted to receive a high viscosity material, the material-moving member being displaceable by a pressure of the incompressible fluid acting thereagainst to vary the first and second volumes inversely proportionally; and   a pressure applicator including a housing receiving the incompressible fluid and defining a fluid flow path therethrough, the housing having a fluid outlet of the fluid flow path in fluid flow communication with the non-compliant body, the pressure applicator being remote from the non-compliant body and fluidicly connected thereto by a non-compliant extension line providing fluid flow communication therebetween the fluid outlet of the pressure applicator and the first cavity of the non-compliant body, the pressure applicator forcing the incompressible fluid into the first cavity of the non-compliant body to displace the material-moving member, thereby increasing the first volume, decreasing the second volume, and ejecting the high viscosity material out of the non-compliant body,   the pressure applicator further including:
 at least a first and a second check valve disposed within the housing upstream of the fluid outlet and in the flow path to control the fluid flow through the housing, each of the first and second check valves permitting only one-way fluid flow therethrough; and 
 a power piston connected to the housing in fluid flow communication with the flow path and having a piston outlet disposed within the housing between the first and second check valves and upstream of the fluid outlet, the power piston generating a negative pressure within the housing to draw the incompressible fluid in through the fluid inlet and the first check valve when the power piston is displaced from a depressed position to an extended position thereof, and the power piston generating a positive pressure within the housing to force the incompressible fluid along the fluid flow path and out through the second check valve and the downstream fluid outlet and into the first cavity of the non-compliant body when displaced from the extended position to the depressed position, the power piston being repeatedly manually displaceable between the extended position and the depressed position to generate a build-up of pressure within the housing, thereby forming a manually operated pump. 
   
     
     
         2 . The device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the pressure applicator includes a pressure relief valve disposed within the housing for equalizing pressure in the device, the pressure relief valve being in fluid communication with the first cavity of the non-compliant body for equalizing the pressure therein with atmospheric pressure when the pressure relief valve is activated. 
     
     
         3 . The device as defined in  claim 2 , wherein, when actuated, the pressure relief valve recirculates the incompressible fluid back into the incompressible fluid flow path within the pressure applicator. 
     
     
         4 . The device as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the pressure relief valve is fail safe and includes a biased portion movable between a depressed position and a released position, when in the depressed position the relief valve allowing the pressure build up and when in the released position the relief valve releasing the pressure build up from the first cavity. 
     
     
         5 . The device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the material-moving member is a flexible and non-compliant element received in the non-compliant body. 
     
     
         6 . The device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the material-moving member includes a membrane. 
     
     
         7 . The device as defined in  claim 6 , wherein the membrane has a perimeter that is attached to the non-compliant body. 
     
     
         8 . The device as defined in  claim 6 , wherein the membrane is displaceable within the non-compliant body and seals against an inner surface thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the material-moving member includes a plunger disposed in the non-compliant body and displaceable therewithin. 
     
     
         10 . The device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the non-compliant body is a container having a proximal end defining an inlet and a distal end defining an outlet adapted for engagement with the cannula. 
     
     
         11 . The device as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising a pressure gauge disposed in the flow path through the pressure applicator, the pressure gage being located downstream of the second check valve. 
     
     
         12 . The device as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising a temperature control system for adjusting the temperature of the high viscosity material. 
     
     
         13 . A device for injecting a high viscosity material into a cannula, comprising:
 a non-compliant container having a proximal end defining an inlet, a distal end defining an outlet adapted to communicate with a cannula;   a material-moving member separating the non-compliant container into an incompressible fluid receiving portion and a high viscosity material receiving portion, the material-moving member being movable by pressure exerted thereon by an incompressible fluid within the incompressible fluid receiving portion toward the outlet of the non-compliant container, thereby forcing the high viscosity material out of the high viscosity material receiving portion and into the cannula;   a pressure applicator remote from and in fluid communication with the non-compliant container, the pressure applicator operable to generate a pressure build up of the incompressible fluid, the pressure applicator comprising:
 a housing having a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet and a fluid flow path defined therebetween, at least one check valve in the flow path controlling the fluid flow, the fluid outlet in fluid flow communication with the container; and 
   a power piston connected to the housing in fluid flow communication with the flow path, the power piston generating mechanical advantage by building up pressure in the housing using the incompressible fluid, the power piston being displaceable between a first and a second position, when displaced towards the second position the power piston creating a suction force drawing the incompressible fluid through the fluid inlet, the check valve preventing a back flow back into the housing, when displaced towards the first position the power piston creating a pressure driving the incompressible fluid past the check valve out of the housing through the outlet and into the non compliant container, thereby displacing the material-moving member and thus forcing the high viscosity material out of the high viscosity material receiving portion of the non-compliant container and into the cannula.   
     
     
         14 . The device as defined in  claim 13 , wherein the pressure applicator and the non-compliant container are fluidicly connected by a non-compliant extension line providing fluid flow communication between the fluid outlet of the housing of the pressure applicator and the incompressible fluid receiving portion of the non-compliant container. 
     
     
         15 . The device as defined in  claim 13 , wherein the material-moving member is flexible and non-compliant. 
     
     
         16 . The device as defined in  claim 13 , wherein the material-moving member includes a membrane. 
     
     
         17 . The device defined in  claim 13 , wherein the pressure applicator further comprises a pressure relief valve disposed within the housing for equalizing pressure in the device, the pressure relief valve being in fluid communication with the incompressible fluid receiving portion of the non-compliant container for equalizing the pressure therein with atmospheric pressure when the pressure relief valve is activated. 
     
     
         18 . The device defined in  claim 17 , wherein, when actuated, the pressure relief valve recirculates the incompressible fluid back into the fluid flow path within the pressure applicator. 
     
     
         19 . The device defined in  claim 17 , wherein the pressure relief valve is fail safe and includes a piston valve movable between a depressed position and a released position, when in the depressed position the relief valve allowing the pressure build up and when in the released position the relief valve releasing the pressure build up from the incompressible fluid receiving portion. 
     
     
         20 . The device defined in  claim 13 , wherein the pressure applicator further comprises a pressure gauge therein, the pressure gauge disposed within the housing in the fluid flow path and downstream of the at least one check valve, the pressure gauge being operable to determine the pressure required to force the high viscosity material out of the non-compliant container and into the cannula.