Surgical adhesive applicator

An applicator for controllably releasing and applying a surgical adhesive to an incision comprising:

• a receiver having a deformable cylindrical body, the body having a deformable cylindrical wall and a cylinder-closing first end and an open second end, the internal dimensions of the receiver being set to removably accommodate and receive a sealed ampoule of surgical adhesive, the ampoule being formed of a frangible material,
• the second open end being cylindrical with a series of circumferential sealing ribs present on the outer surface of the second open end and a latching slot in the outer surface of the second end, the latching slot located adjacent to the circumferential sealing ribs but being between the circumferential sealing ribs and the first end,
• a pair of wings, each having an inside and an outside end with the inside end affixed to the receiver at a position adjacent to the open end with the two wings being positioned diametrically across the cylindrical body, with the outside end of the wings being splayed out away from the cylindrical wall but being movable toward the cylindrical wall when a user applies opposing finger pressure to the outside ends,
• each of the wings having a pressure barb facing toward the cylindrical wall, the pressure barb bearing upon the cylindrical wall and capable of applying a compressing force to the cylindrical wall, which compressing force distorts the cylindrical wall of the cylindrical body and applies a fracturing force to an ampoule accommodated and received within the receiver, the fracturing force releasing surgical adhesive contained within the ampoule,
• wherein the compressing force applies the fracturing force to the ampoule at a point that is between approximately 4 mm and 8 mm from the end of the ampoule that is closest to the cylinder-closing first end of the body as measured from longest axis of the ampoule,
• a blunt cylindrical body of surgical adhesive-permeable foam inserted into the open second end of the receiver to absorb and transmit adhesive released from the ampoule,
• a cylindrical collar having an open first end and an open second end, the first end having an internal diameter selected to sealably engage the circumferential sealing ribs and having an internally-projecting locking key which fits into the locking slot and locks the collar onto the receiver when the collar is rotated on a common axis between the collar and the receiver, the collar enclosing the body of foam,
• and the second end having an internal diameter selected to provide a narrowed pathway for the adhesive to pass when the collar is sealed to the second end of the receiver,
• and the second end of the collar having a slightly tapered cylindrical shape sized to frictionally and sealably engage a pipette tip, the pipette tip when sealed to the collar providing a sealed narrow pathway for surgical adhesive to pass from the receiver through the pipette tip and the collar, when removed, providing a broader pathway for the adhesive to pass as a sealing layer from the receiver through the body of foam to the incision.