US 11,793,948 B2
Distance indicators for medicinal spray devices
Jerome Riebman, Basking Ridge, NJ (US); Leo B. Kriksunov, Ithaca, NY (US); and Robert J. Tannhauser, Bridgewater, NJ (US)
Assigned to Ethicon, Inc., Raritan, NJ (US)
Filed by Ethicon, Inc., Somerville, NJ (US)
Filed on Jul. 1, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/918,042.
Application 16/918,042 is a division of application No. 15/649,338, filed on Jul. 13, 2017, granted, now 10,737,040.
Application 15/649,338 is a division of application No. 14/520,818, filed on Oct. 22, 2014, granted, now 9,782,549, issued on Oct. 10, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2020/0330705 A1, Oct. 22, 2020
Int. Cl. A61M 11/02 (2006.01); A61M 11/00 (2006.01); A61M 15/00 (2006.01); B05B 12/12 (2006.01); B05B 11/00 (2023.01); B05B 11/02 (2023.01); A61B 17/00 (2006.01); A61B 90/00 (2016.01); A61M 11/06 (2006.01); A61M 35/00 (2006.01)
CPC A61M 11/02 (2013.01) [A61B 17/00491 (2013.01); A61M 11/007 (2014.02); A61M 15/0003 (2014.02); B05B 11/0078 (2013.01); B05B 11/02 (2013.01); B05B 12/124 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00495 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00522 (2013.01); A61B 2090/061 (2016.02); A61B 2090/0807 (2016.02); A61M 11/06 (2013.01); A61M 35/003 (2013.01); A61M 2202/0225 (2013.01); A61M 2205/0266 (2013.01); A61M 2205/13 (2013.01); A61M 2205/3306 (2013.01); A61M 2205/582 (2013.01); A61M 2205/583 (2013.01)] 7 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A spray applicator for delivery of a medicant onto a tissue surface comprising
a) a container containing a medicant and positioned at a proximal end of the spray applicator;
b) a spray tip positioned at a distal end of the spray applicator;
c) a cannula connecting the container with the spray tip;
d) a dispensing mechanism at the proximal end of the spray applicator to express the medicant from the container through the cannula and the spray tip toward the tissue surface;
e) a distance indicator that is deployable between the spray tip and the tissue surface and provides visual or tactile observation indicia of a distance between the spray tip and the tissue surface but does not prevent positioning of the spray tip closer to the tissue surface than the observed distance, wherein said distance indicator is an optical indicator comprising a visible light source; and
f) an optional pressurized gas source in fluid communication with the spray tip through the cannula providing gas in the vicinity of the spray tip or within the spray tip;
wherein said optical indicator comprises the visible light source and at least one light guide that directs two light beams towards the tissue surface along non-parallel paths;
wherein the two light beams directed towards the tissue surface along non-parallel paths cross each other at a distance from the spray tip that is equal to a minimum recommended spray distance.