Abstract:
Several embodiments of a disposable surgical tool for quickly and easily connecting tubing to implantable components are disclosed. A method for using the novel tool for connecting tubing to components, such as a pump, a reservoir, a connector, etc., is also described.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE To RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. utility patent application Ser. No. 11/276,723, filed Mar. 10, 2006, which claims priority of U.S. provisional patent application No. 60/660,491, filed Mar. 10, 2005. This application additionally claims the benefit of provisional patent application No. 60/705,657 filed Aug. 4, 2005. Each of the previously noted applications are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to surgical tools and methods. More specifically, the present invention pertains to disposable tools and methods for connecting tubing to components.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0003]     Certain surgical procedures, such as a penile implant, include the placement of a system of interconnected components within a body. Components in such systems may include a cylinder, reservoir, pump, etc. Some such components, such as a balloon, may be configured for selective inflation and/or deflation by an operator. Typically, a system may include an inflatable/deflatable component interconnected to a fluid-filled reservoir, a pump, and a valve assembly. During use, the pump may be actuated and fluid transferred from the reservoir into the component, causing the component to inflate. Later, a valve assembly may be operated deflating the component by transferring the fluid from the inflated component back into the reservoir.  
         [0004]     An implantable system may include a multitude of tubing interconnecting several components. Typically, the tubing may be inserted into a strain relief component and the open end of the tubing connected to the component. In known examples, such as U.S. Pat. No. 4,651,721 to Mikulich et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 5,167,611 to Cowan, among others, a straight bore is extended through a strain relief and into the inflatable/deflatable component.  
         [0005]     The points of connection between the tubing and the components may be a source of complication, such as leakage, disconnect, etc., and may also pose sterilization challenges in certain environments. Additionally, portability and handling of the connection tools for effecting the connections may also pose a challenge due to the weight and size of the connection tool.  
         [0006]     Accordingly, there exists a need in the art for connection tools and methods which facilitate such surgical procedures.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0007]     In one aspect, the present invention discloses a surgical tool and method for connecting tubing to components, such as a pump, a reservoir, a connector, etc.  
         [0008]     While multiple embodiments of the instant invention are disclosed, still other embodiments may become apparent to those skilled in the art. The following detailed description shows and describes illustrative embodiments of the present invention. As will be realized, the embodiment are capable of modifications in various aspects, all without departing from the spirit and scope of the instant invention. Accordingly, the drawings and detailed description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]      FIG. 1  illustrates a prior art tool for connecting tubing to a component;  
         [0010]      FIGS. 2A-2C  illustrate a method of using the tool of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  illustrates one embodiment of a tool of the present invention; and  
         [0012]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  show alternate views of an embodiment of a jaw section of a tool of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0013]      FIG. 1  illustrates a prior art tool  10  for connecting tubing to a component. As shown, tool  10  includes two arms or handles  12  and  14 , tubing connecting section  16  including jaws  17 , and stop member  18  to prevent connecting section  16  from closing all the way or to close only up to a predetermined position.  
         [0014]      FIGS. 2A-2C  illustrate a method for connecting two tubing segments or tubes to each other using a prior art tool, such as tool  10 . The first step of the method is to place a collet over the tubing, such as sliding collet  22  onto tubing  20  as shown in  FIG. 2A .  FIG. 2B  shows tubing connector  28  for connecting tubing segments  24  and  30  to each other at their respective open ends  34  and  38 . Tubing connector  28  is shown having ports  36  and  40  through which tubing  24  and  30 , respectively, will be connected. Tubing  24  includes collet  26  proximate open end  34 , and tubing  30  includes collet  32  proximate open end  38 . Next, open end  34  is slid over port  36  until open end  34  touches wall  42  in connector  28 . Similarly, open end  38  of tubing  30  is pushed over port  40  until open end  38  also touches wall  42 . Then collet  26  and  32  are slid over tubing  24  and  30  towards the edges of connector  28 . Jaws  17  of tubing connecting section  16  are placed around collet  26  and  32 , as illustrated in  FIG. 2C , and handles  12  and  14  of tool  10  are squeezed together until closure stop  18  on handle  14  touches opposite handle  12 . Thus tubing  24  and  30  are connected and tool  10  removed.  
         [0015]     Alternate embodiments of a tool for connecting tubing to components or tubing connectors such as connector  28  are illustrated in  FIGS. 3A-3C .  
         [0016]      FIG. 3  illustrates tool  300  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Tool  300  may include first and second cooperatively operable elongate members  302  and  304  pivotally interconnected at pivot point  306 . Each first and second elongate members  302  and  304  may respectively include handle sections  308  and  310 , jaw sections  312  and  314 , and inwardly extending projections  316  and  318 .  
         [0017]     In one embodiment, inwardly extending projections  316  and  318  may be at approximately the same distance from pivot point  306 . In an alternate embodiment, inwardly extending projections  316  and  318  may be at different distances from pivot point  306 . In another embodiment, inwardly extending projections  316  and  318  may be orthogonal relative to their respective elongate members  302  and  304 . In yet another embodiment, inwardly extending projections  316  and  318  may extend the same distance from an inside surface of their respective elongate members  302  and  304 . In an alternate embodiment, inwardly extending projections  316  and  318  may extend different distances from an inside surface of their respective elongate members  302  and  304 .  
         [0018]     When used in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, inwardly extending projections  316  and  318  may function as one or more stop members preventing jaw sections  312  and  314  from closing all the way. In one embodiment of the present invention, minimum separation distance  320  between jaw sections  312  and  314  may be governed by the distance each inwardly extending projections  316  and  318  extends from their respective elongate members  302  and  304 . In another embodiment of the present invention, minimum separation distance  320  between jaw sections  312  and  314  may be governed by the distance between pivot point  306  and each inwardly extending projections  316  and  318 .  
         [0019]     In an embodiment of the present invention, each jaw section  312  and  314  may respectively include a tip  322  and  324 . In one such embodiment, each tip  322  and  324  may respectively include a recess  326  and  328 . Recess  326  and  328  may span a depth from respective tip  322  and  324  into respective jaw section  312  and  314 . The depth spanned by each recess  326  and  328  may at least equal an outside diameter of tubing  30 . In one embodiment, each recess  326  and  328  may span a width of respective jaw section  312  and  314 , extending from an inner surface to an outer surface of each jaw section  312  and  314 . In another embodiment, each recess  326  and  328  may span a height of respective jaw section  312  and  314 . The height spanned by each recess  326  and  328  may at least equal an outside diameter of tubing  30  but less than a diameter of a collet. In an alternate embodiment, recess  326  and  328  may be mirror-images of one another.  
         [0020]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  illustrate alternate views of an embodiment of jaw section  400  of tool  300 .  FIG. 4A  is an illustrative side view of jaw section  400  when viewed from the outer surface of jaw section  400 ; and  FIG. 4B  is an illustrative perspective view of jaw section  400 . An embodiment of jaw section  400  may include recess  402  spanning a depth from tip  404  into jaw section  400 . The depth spanned by recess  402  may at least equal an outside diameter of tubing  30 . In one embodiment, recess  402  may span a width of jaw section  400  extending from an outer surface to an inner surface of jaw section  400 . In another embodiment, recess  402  may span a height of jaw section  400 . The height spanned by each recess  402  may at least equal an outside diameter of tubing  30  but less than a diameter of a collet.  
         [0021]     An embodiment of tool  300  of the present invention, such as that illustrated in  FIGS. 3, 4A , and  4 B, may be used for connecting two tubing segments or tubes to each other. In one embodiment of a method of using tool  300  for connecting two tubing segments or tubes to each other, the previously described method in reference to  FIGS. 2A and 2B  may be used for preparing an assembly. Then, the assembly of tubing connector  28  with collets  26  and  32  may be placed between jaw sections  312  and  314 . Tubing  24  and  30  may be passed through recess  326  and  328  such that the entire outer surface of tubing  24  and  30  is placed within recess  326  and  328 . Next, handle sections  308  and  310  of tool  300  may be squeezed together thereby decreasing the spacing between jaw sections  312  and  314 , and forcing collets  26  and  32  into tubing connector  28 . As such, tubing  24  and  30  may be fixedly attached to tubing connector  28  and to one another. Jaw sections  312  and  314  may be drawn apart and the tubing assembly removed from tool  300  by sliding tubing  24  and  30  out of recess  326  and  328  and past tips  322  and  24 . As previously described, inwardly extending projections  316  and  318  in an embodiment of tool  300  may function as stop members such that minimum separation distance  320  between jaw sections  312  and  314  may not be less than a longitudinal length of tubing connector  28 .  
         [0022]     In one or more embodiments of the present invention, tool  300  may be disposable after use. In other embodiments, elongate members  302  and  304  of tool  300  may be formed by a molding process. In yet other embodiments, elongate members  302  and  304  of tool  300  may be molded from polymers including, but not limited to, nylon, polycarbonate, and delrin, among others. In one or more embodiments, tool  300  may be sterilizable. Alternatively, tool  300  may be sterilized after manufacture and packaged in a sterile container. In other embodiments, tool  300  may have an ergonomic design.  
         [0023]     In one or more embodiments of the present invention, jaw sections  312  and  314  of tool  300  may be substantially parallel to one another when the distance between jaw sections  312  and  314  is approximately equal to minimum separation distance  320 . In other embodiments, jaw sections  312  and  314  may travel towards one another in a substantially linear manner when the distance between jaw sections  312  and  314  is approximately equal to minimum separation distance  320 .  
         [0024]     Various modifications and additions may be made to the exemplary embodiments presented hereinabove without departing from the scope and intent of the present invention. For example, while the disclosed embodiments refer to particular features, the scope of the instant invention is considered to also include embodiments having different combinations of features that do not include all of the features described herein. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations as falling within the scope and intent of the appended claims, including all equivalents thereof.