Systems, devices and methods for dispensing flowable hemostats that incorporate safety mechanisms for preventing air embolisms

A system for dispensing a flowable viscous fluid comprising:

• an elongated hollow tube having a proximal end, a distal end, and an outer wall that extends from the proximal end to the distal end of said elongated hollow tube;
• at least one an air vent formed in said outer wall adjacent the distal end of said elongated hollow tube;
• a valve comprising at least one flexible flap disposed inside said elongated hollow tube, said at least one flexible flap being moveable between an extended position for sealing said at least one air vent and a retracted position for unsealing said at least one air vent, wherein said at least one flexible flap is normally biased into the retracted position for unsealing said at least one air vent;
• a syringe including a syringe barrel and a syringe plunger that is disposed inside said syringe barrel;
• a syringe connector having a proximal end coupled with a distal end of said syringe barrel and a distal end coupled with said proximal end of said elongated hollow tube, wherein said syringe connector has a fluid conduit that extends from said proximal end to said distal end of said syringe connector that defines a fluid flow path that extends between said syringe barrel and said elongated hollow tube;
• and
• a flowable viscous fluid disposed within said syringe barrel, wherein said syringe plunger is adapted for being depressed toward said distal end of said syringe barrel for expelling said flowable viscous fluid from said syringe barrel and forcing said flowable viscous fluid through said fluid flow path of said syringe connector and into said proximal end of said elongated hollow tub,
• wherein said at least one air vent comprises four air vents that are formed in said outer wall of said hollow tube and that are evenly spaced from one another adjacent the distal end of said hollow tube,
• wherein said at least one flexible flap comprises a first flexible flap that is configured for sealing and unsealing a first air vent of said four air vents, a second flexible flap that is configured for sealing and unsealing a second air vent of said four air vents, a third flexible flap that is configured for sealing and unsealing a third air vent of said four air vents, and a fourth flexible flap that is configured for sealing and unsealing a fourth air vent of said four air vents, and
• wherein said valve comprises a valve ring having a proximal edge and a distal edge, wherein said four flexible flaps have proximal ends that are hingedly connected with said distal edge of said valve ring, wherein said valve ring and said four flexible flaps are disposed inside said elongated hollow tube so that said four flexible flaps are distal to said valve ring and so that said four flexible flaps are aligned with said four air vents, respectively, and wherein said four flexible flaps are evenly spaced from one another around a perimeter of said valve ring.

A method of dispensing a flowable viscous fluid comprising:

• obtaining a hollow tube having an outer wall with at least one air vent formed in said outer wall at a location that is adjacent a distal end of said hollow tube, said hollow tube including a valve having at least one flexible flap disposed inside said hollow tube that is normally biased in an open position for unsealing said at least one air vent;
• forcing a mass of a flowable viscous fluid into said hollow tube and toward a distal end of said hollow tube until said mass of said flowable viscous material engages said at least one flexible flap for forcing said at least one flexible flap to move into a closed position for sealing said at least one air vent;
• and
• after said forcing said mass step, directing air into a proximal end of said hollow tube whereupon said air forces said mass of said flowable viscous fluid to move in a distal direction beyond a distal end of said at least one flexible flap so that said air engages said at least one flexible flap whereupon said at least one flexible flap moves back to said biased open position for unsealing said at least one air vent,
• wherein said at least one air vent comprises four air vents that are formed in said outer wall of said hollow tube and that are evenly spaced from one another adjacent the distal end of said hollow tube,
• wherein said at least one flexible flap comprises a first flexible flap that is configured for sealing and unsealing a first air vent of said four air vents, a second flexible flap that is configured for sealing and unsealing a second air vent of said four air vents, a third flexible flap that is configured for sealing and unsealing a third air vent of said four air vents, and a fourth flexible flap that is configured for sealing and unsealing a fourth air vent of said four air vents, and
• wherein said valve comprises a valve ring having a proximal edge and a distal edge, wherein said four flexible flaps have proximal ends that are hingedly connected with said distal edge of said valve ring, wherein said valve ring and said four flexible flaps are disposed inside said elongated hollow tube so that said four flexible flaps are distal to said valve ring and so that said four flexible flaps are aligned with said four air vents, respectively, and wherein said four flexible flaps are evenly spaced from one another around a perimeter of said valve ring.