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US 11,598,700 B2Granted
Tissue marking dye applicator, system, and method
AssigneeCancer Diagnostics, Inc.
InventorPatrick O'Neill
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In one aspect of the present disclosure, a tissue marking system is provided that includes a container and an applicator. The applicator is in the container and is removable therefrom. The applicator includes a tip, a reservoir containing sterile tissue marking dye, and a valve. The valve is configured to open and permit sterile tissue marking dye to flow from the reservoir to the tip of the applicator in response to the tip being pressed against a priming surface. In one embodiment, the system includes a substrate that is removable from the container and includes the priming surface. In another embodiment, the container includes a tray having a compartment that receives the applicator. The tray includes a well that includes the priming surface.
Claims22
A tissue marking system for marking a tissue specimen, the tissue marking system comprising:
- a sealed container having a sterile interior;
- a sterile elongate applicator in the sterile interior of the sealed container, the elongate applicator having a longitudinal axis, the entirety of the elongate applicator in the sterile interior of the sealed container;
- wherein the sealed container is openable to remove the applicator from the sterile interior of the sealed container;
- the elongate applicator comprising:
- a body having a closed end portion and an open end portion opposite the closed end, the open end portion of the body having a body opening;
- an internal reservoir of the body containing sterile tissue marking dye;
- and
- an applicator valve assembly connected to the open end portion of the body, the applicator valve assembly comprising:
- a pad;
- a valve body comprising:
- a base supporting the pad and having a base opening;
- a support member depending from the base and extending into the body opening of the body;
- and
- a valve member comprising:
- a valve element portion shiftable along the longitudinal axis between a closed position wherein the valve element portion obstructs the base opening to keep the tissue marking dye in the internal reservoir of the body and an open position wherein the valve element portion permits the tissue marking dye to travel from the internal reservoir of the body, through the base opening, and into the pad;
- an actuator pin portion projecting from the valve element portion and having a free end positioned to be contacted by the pad upon the pad being pressed against a surface, the actuator pin portion configured to shift the valve element portion along the longitudinal axis from the closed position to the open position upon the actuator pin portion being contacted by the pad;
- and
- a frustoconical spring portion connecting the valve element portion to the support member of the valve body and biasing the valve element portion toward the closed position, the frustoconical spring portion deforming in response to the valve element portion being shifted axially from the closed position toward the open position by the actuator pin portion.
15 more elements
A tissue marking system comprising:
- a sealed container and an elongate applicator in the sealed container, the elongate applicator having a longitudinal axis;
- the sealed container comprising:
- a tray comprising:
- an internal compartment;
- an opening in communication with the internal compartment;
- a flange extending about the opening;
- a lid connected to the flange of the tray and covering the opening of the tray;
- the elongate applicator in the internal compartment of the tray of the sealed container, the elongate applicator comprising:
- an elongate body having a closed end portion, an open end portion opposite the closed end portion, an interior containing tissue marking dye, and a tubular side wall extending about the interior of the body;
- an applicator valve assembly connected to the open end portion of the elongate body, the applicator valve assembly comprising:
- a pad;
- a base having an upper surface and a lower surface opposite the upper surface, the pad above the upper surface of the base;
- a through opening of the base extending between the upper and lower surfaces of the base;
- a lower valve element shiftable along the longitudinal axis between a closed position and an open position, wherein the lower valve element in the closed position thereof is configured to obstruct the through opening of the base and inhibit tissue marking dye in the interior of the elongate body from flowing through the through opening of the base to the pad;
- an upper actuator protruding from the lower valve element and axially shiftable therewith, the upper actuator having a free end above the upper surface of the base and adjacent the pad with the lower valve element in the closed position thereof, the upper actuator being configured to shift the lower valve element from the closed position to the open position in response to the pad being pressed against a surface;
- and
- a resilient member configured to bias the lower valve element axially upward toward the closed position and resiliently deform in response to the upper actuator shifting the lower valve element downward from the closed position toward the open position.
14 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.