Modular device for cell spraying

Abstract

Systems and methods for spraying a liquid treatment solution can include a syringe attachment device and a handheld device, which are configured to be coupled together in an assembled position of the system. The syringe attachment device can be configured to secure a syringe containing the liquid treatment solution. In an example, the treatment solution can include autologous skin cells for treating a tissue wound. The handheld device can have a movable slide configured to dispense the treatment solution from the syringe. In an example, the spray deposition system can include a cover positioned to provide an impervious barrier between at least a portion of the syringe attachment device and the handheld device. The cover can be attached to the syringe attachment device prior to coupling the devices together. In an example, the cover can have a generally tubular shape with a closed end and an open end. The handheld device can be inserted into the cover and the cover can enclose the handheld device in the assembled position. In an example, the cover can be sterile and at least a portion of the syringe attachment device can be sterile. In an example, after delivery of the treatment solution, the syringe attachment device can be disposed of and the handheld device can be reused.

The claimed invention is: 
     
         1 . A spray deposition system, comprising:
 a syringe attachment device having a base with a coupling portion, the syringe attachment device comprising:
 a needle adjacent a syringe channel, the syringe channel configured to receive a syringe; and 
 a tube having a discharge end proximate a delivery end of the needle, the tube configured to deliver an air flow; 
   a handheld device configured to be coupled to the coupling portion of the syringe attachment device in an assembled position of the system and control delivery of a treatment solution from the syringe; and   a sterile cover coupled to the syringe attachment device to provide an impervious barrier between at least a portion of the syringe attachment device and the handheld device,   wherein the syringe attachment device, handheld device and sterile cover are disposable after the treatment solution is delivered from the syringe.   
     
     
         2 . The spray deposition system of  claim 1 , wherein the base of the syringe attachment device is a bottom plate and the top portion of the syringe attachment device is a top plate, and the top and bottom plates are attached together. 
     
     
         3 . The spray deposition system of  claim 2 , wherein the sterile cover is positioned between the top and bottom plates. 
     
     
         4 . The spray deposition system of  claim 1 , wherein the sterile cover is welded to an outer perimeter of the base of the syringe attachment device. 
     
     
         5 . The spray deposition system of  claim 1 , wherein the sterile cover is bonded with an adhesive to an outer perimeter of the base of the syringe attachment device. 
     
     
         6 . The spray deposition system of  claim 1 , wherein the handheld device is at least partially within a cavity of the sterile cover in the assembled position. 
     
     
         7 . The spray deposition system of  claim 1 , wherein the syringe attachment device includes at least one feature on the coupling portion to engage a corresponding feature on an upper surface of the handheld device. 
     
     
         8 . The spray deposition system of  claim 1 , wherein the needle of the syringe attachment device includes a taper fitting. 
     
     
         9 . The spray deposition system of  claim 1 , wherein the handheld device includes spray volume indicia. 
     
     
         10 . The spray deposition system of  claim 1 , wherein the syringe removably contains a cell suspension of living cells in a serum-free physiological solution, the spray deposition system is configured to spray the cell suspension onto a wounded area of skin on a human subject, and the cells are obtained from the subject's normal skin tissue that has been treated with enzymes thereby causing the cells to release from the dermal-epithelial cell junction. 
     
     
         11 . The spray deposition system of  claim 10 , wherein the wounded area is a burn wound. 
     
     
         12 . A spray deposition system, comprising:
 a syringe attachment device having a base with a coupling portion and a top portion, the syringe attachment device comprising:
 a needle adjacent a syringe channel, the syringe channel configured to receive a syringe; and 
 a tube having a discharge end proximate a delivery end of the needle, the tube configured to deliver an air flow; 
   a handheld device having an upper surface and including a movable slide disposed on the upper surface, the handheld device configured to be coupled to the coupling portion of the syringe attachment device in an assembled position of the system and control delivery of a treatment solution from the syringe, the movable slide including a plunger drive configured to engage a plunger of the syringe disposed in the syringe channel; and   a sterile cover positioned to provide an impervious barrier between at least a portion of the syringe attachment device and the handheld device.   
     
     
         13 . The spray deposition system of  claim 12 , wherein the plunger is configured to be electronically positionable or manually positionable by a user of the spray deposition system. 
     
     
         14 . The spray deposition of  claim 12 , wherein the handheld device includes a switch configured to electronically control the movable slide. 
     
     
         15 . The spray deposition system of  claim 14 , wherein the handheld device includes a battery compartment and wherein an electrical contact of the battery compartment is electrically coupled to the electronically movable slide. 
     
     
         16 . The spray deposition system of  claim 12 , wherein the movable slide of the handheld device is controlled by a threaded shaft, and wherein a coupler is positioned between and configured for engagement with the movable slide and the threaded shaft, and movement of the coupler on the threaded shaft corresponds to movement of the slide on the handheld device. 
     
     
         17 . The spray deposition system of  claim 12 , wherein the sterile cover is coupled to the syringe attachment device. 
     
     
         18 . A method of spray depositing a treatment solution, the method comprising:
 providing a spray deposition system comprising:
 a syringe attachment device configured to receive a syringe; 
 a handheld device configured to be removably coupled to the syringe attachment device when the system is in an assembled position; and 
 a sterile cover attached to the syringe attachment device and configured to provide a sterile barrier between at least a portion of the syringe attachment device and the handheld device; 
   inserting a syringe into the syringe attachment device, the syringe containing a treatment solution; and   spraying the treatment solution from the syringe attachment device.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising inserting a portion of the handheld device into the cover by aligning a marker on the handheld device with a corresponding marker on the cover. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the syringe attachment device includes tubing that can be connected to the needle and configured to deliver an air flow through the tubing to a discharge end of the tubing located proximate to a delivery end of the needle. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising decoupling the syringe attachment device and the handheld device after spraying the treatment solution. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising disposing of the syringe attachment device and the sterile cover, after spraying the treatment solution. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising disposing of the handheld device, after spraying the treatment solution.