Abstract:
A cannula adapter can include an adapter body, a breakpoint, and a coupling mechanism. The adapter body can have an interior channel with opposing openings. The first opening of the interior channel can be sized and shaped for insertion of a cannula and the second opening can be sized and shaped for a connection point of a medical device. The breakpoint can separate the adapter body into two discrete sections when an applied transverse force meets or exceeds its failure threshold, decreasing a likelihood of causing injury to a patient and the user of the medical device. The coupling mechanism can couple a bottom end of the adapter body to the connection point of the medical device, forming an air-tight connection between the cannula and the medical device that increases a failure threshold of the adapter body for withstanding applied longitudinal forces and torque.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This utility application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent 62/203,610 filed on Aug. 11, 2015 titled “ENHANCEMENTS TO A SYRINGE OR LIPOSUCTION HANDLE TO CANNULA ADAPTER.” The entire contents of 62/203,610 are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to the field of medical adapters and, more particularly, to an improved cannula adapter for medical devices. 
         [0003]    A variety of medical procedures utilize cannulas (small tubes) that are inserted into a patient. The cannula is often connected to another medical device, such as a syringe or a specialized wand, via an adapter. When the medical procedure involves high pressure and/or suction or pressure differentials between the patient&#39;s body and the medical device, the conventional adapters connecting to the cannula are known to fail, causing undo stress upon the physician and patient. 
         [0004]    For example, in lipoplasty, fat is injected and/or removed from the patient&#39;s body using an inserted cannula that is connected to a syringe or the handle of the liposuction tool with an adapter. During the procedure, a large amount of pressure is generated by the medical device and propagated through the adapter to the cannula to inject or remove the fat. This large amount of pressure has been known to cause the adapter to violently separate from the cannula and/or the medical device, which can be dangerous to the patient. 
         [0005]    The issue of adapter failure is especially critical in the case of lipoplasty and other similar cosmetic surgery procedures. The fat being injected or suctioned often becomes stuck in the cannula-adapter-tool apparatus due to the viscous nature of the fat. This exacerbates the built-up pressure, increasing the likelihood of adapter failure. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0006]    One aspect of the present invention can include a cannula adapter comprised of an adapter body, a breakpoint, and a coupling mechanism. The adapter body can have an interior channel with opposing openings. A first opening of the interior channel can be located on a top surface of the adapter body and can be sized and shaped to match a respective size and a respective shape for insertion of a cannula. A second opening of the interior channel can be sized and shaped to match a respective size and a respective shape of a connection point of a medical device. The breakpoint can be integrated throughout a horizontal cross-section of the adapter body. Responsive to an application of transverse force to the adapter body that meets or exceeds a failure threshold of the breakpoint, the breakpoint can separate the adapter body into two discrete sections. Separation of the adapter body can decrease a likelihood of causing injury to a patient and the user of the medical device. The coupling mechanism can couple a bottom end of the adapter body to the connection point of the medical device. Engagement of the coupling mechanism can form an air-tight connection between the inserted cannula and the medical device that increases a failure threshold of the adapter body for withstanding longitudinal forces and torque applied by a user of the medical device during a medical procedure. 
         [0007]    Another aspect of the present invention can include a system that includes a cannula, a syringe, and an adapter that creates an air-tight connection between the cannula and the syringe. The adapter can be comprised of an adapter body, a breakpoint, and a coupling mechanism. The adapter body can have an interior channel with opposing openings. A first opening of the interior channel can be located on a top surface of the adapter body and can be sized and shaped to match a respective size and a respective shape for insertion of a cannula. A second opening of the interior channel can be sized and shaped to match a respective size and a respective shape of a connection point of the syringe. The breakpoint can be integrated throughout a horizontal cross-section of the adapter body. Responsive to an application of transverse force to the adapter body that meets or exceeds a failure threshold of the breakpoint, the breakpoint can separate the adapter body into two discrete sections. Separation of the adapter body can decrease a likelihood of causing injury to a patient and the user of the medical device. The coupling mechanism can couple a bottom end of the adapter body to the connection point of the syringe. Engagement of the coupling mechanism can form an air-tight connection between the inserted cannula and the syringe that increases a failure threshold of the adapter body for withstanding longitudinal forces and torque applied by a user of the medical device during a medical procedure. 
         [0008]    Yet another aspect of the present invention can include a system comprised of a cannula, a manually-manipulated tool for a lipoplasty apparatus having a threaded connection point, and an adapter that creates an air-tight connection between the cannula and the tool. The adapter can include an adapter body, a breakpoint, and a coupling mechanism. The adapter body can have an interior channel with opposing openings. A first opening of the interior channel can be located on a top surface of the adapter body and can be sized and shaped to match a respective size and a respective shape for insertion of a cannula. A second opening of the interior channel can be sized and shaped to match a respective size and a respective shape of a connection point of the tool. The breakpoint can be integrated throughout a horizontal cross-section of the adapter body. Responsive to an application of transverse force to the adapter body that meets or exceeds a failure threshold of the breakpoint, the breakpoint can separate the adapter body into two discrete sections. Separation of the adapter body can decrease a likelihood of causing injury to a patient and the user of the lipoplasty apparatus. The coupling mechanism can couple a bottom end of the adapter body to the connection point of the tool. Engagement of the coupling mechanism can form an air-tight connection between the inserted cannula and the tool that increases a failure threshold of the adapter body for withstanding longitudinal forces and torque applied by a user of the tool during a lipoplasty procedure. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of system for utilizing a break-away adapter in accordance with embodiments of the inventive arrangements disclosed herein. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a collection of views for an exemplary break-away adapter in accordance with embodiments of the inventive arrangements disclosed herein. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2A  illustrates use of the break-away cannula adapter with a Toomey syringe in accordance with embodiments of the inventive arrangements disclosed herein. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is collection of views for an exemplary break-away adapter in accordance with embodiments of the inventive arrangements disclosed herein. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3A  illustrates use of the break-away cannula adapter with a Luer Lok syringe in accordance with embodiments of the inventive arrangements disclosed herein. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0014]    The present invention discloses an improved adapter for connecting a cannula to a medical device. The adapter can utilize a coupling mechanism that creates an air-tight connection between the cannula and the medical device, which increases the adapter&#39;s ability to withstand the longitudinal forces and torque that are commonly applied during medical procedures. The adapter can also include a breakpoint that separates the body of the adapter when transverse forces become too great, mitigating injury to the patient and the use of the medical device. 
         [0015]    As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, aspects of the present invention may be embodied as a system or method. Aspects of the present invention are described below with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods and apparatus (systems) according to embodiments of the invention. 
         [0016]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of system  100  for utilizing a break-away adapter  110  in accordance with embodiments of the inventive arrangements disclosed herein. As is known in the Art, adapters are used to connect cannulas  105  to a variety of medical devices  160  for various medical procedures. Conventional adapters can be prone to failure due to the stresses applied by manual manipulation, such as in the case of lipoplasty procedures, where a lipoplasty tool must be vigorously manipulated. 
         [0017]    The break-away adapter  110  of system  100  can be superior to conventional adapters as its design can create an air-tight connection between the cannula  105  and a medical device  160 , which increases the break-away adapter&#39;s  110  ability to withstand longitudinal forces and torque, and can include a breakpoint  135  that separates the body  115  of the break-away adapter  110  when transverse forces become too great, mitigating injury to the patient and the use of the medical device  160 . 
         [0018]    The cannula  105  can conform to the standards known in the Art. The medical device  160  can represent a variety of medical items commonly used with cannula  105  and/or break-away adapter  110 . Common examples of the medical device  160  can include, but are not limited to, syringes, manually-manipulated tools of larger medical apparatuses (e.g., a wand or scope), and the like. 
         [0019]    The break-away adapter  110  can be comprised of a body  115  and a coupling mechanism  145 . The body  115  and/or coupling mechanism  145  can be made of materials that are appropriate for use in medical procedures. The body  115  can have a longitudinal interior channel  125  that provides passage of materials between the cannula  105  and the medical device  160 . 
         [0020]    The interior channel  125  can have a cannula aperture  120  where the cannula  105  can be inserted and a device aperture  130  where a connection point  165  of the medical device  160  can be inserted. Both apertures  120  and  130  can be sized and shaped for their respective inserted elements. 
         [0021]    The body  115  can further include a breakpoint  135  and a pressure release mechanism  140 . The breakpoint  135  can be a mechanism embedded within the body  115  that automatically separates the body  115  when excessive transverse forces are applied to the break-away adapter  110 . This separation can be a controlled, safe event, not a catastrophic event, for mitigating damage and/or injury to the patient and/or user of the medical device  160 . 
         [0022]    For example, during a liposuction procedure, if a patient jerks suddenly while a physician is using a liposuction syringe  160  that uses a break-away adapter  110 , the breakpoint  135  can allow the syringe  160  to be easily separated. 
         [0023]    The pressure release mechanism  140  can be a mechanism to decrease pressure gradients that build-up between the medical device  160 , break-away adapter  110 , and/or cannula  105  during a medical procedure. The pressure release mechanism  140  can conform to traditional (e.g., release dial valve of rubber inflation bulbs) and/or proprietary mechanisms. The pressure release mechanism  140  can, therefore, provide additional assistance in mitigating failures of the break-away adapter  110  during the medical procedure. 
         [0024]    The coupling mechanism  145  can couple the body  115  of the break-away adapter  110  to the connection point  165  of the medical device  160 . The specific implementation of the coupling mechanism  145  can vary based upon the requirements of the connection point  165  of the medical device  160 . 
         [0025]    For example, the coupling mechanism  145  can be a set of cutting threads that physically cuts into the plastic nose of a syringe. As another example, the coupling mechanism  145  can be a nut-bolt mechanism where the body  115  of the break-away adapter  110  and the connection point  165  both include threads that the nut screws onto. 
         [0026]    The coupling mechanism  145  can include a recess  155  for accommodating the connection point  165  and the medical device  160 . The recess  155  can sized and shaped to rest upon the connection point  165  and/or medical device  160  to provide an air-tight seal between the medical device  160  and coupling mechanism  145 . 
         [0027]      FIG. 2  is a collection  200  of views  205  and  225  for an exemplary break-away adapter  210  in accordance with embodiments of the inventive arrangements disclosed herein. Collection  200  can depict a side view  105  and a top view  225  of the break-away adapter  210 . 
         [0028]    As shown in the side and the top views  205  and  225 , the adapter  210  can be symmetrically cylindrical around a center line  220 . It should be appreciated that the size and shape of the adapter  210  can conform to traditional industry or proprietary tolerances (e.g., +/−0.0001 mm). In this embodiment, the adapter  210  can include a shoulder  212 , knurling  214 , a breakpoint  216 , cutting threads  230 , and the like. 
         [0029]    Knurling  214  can provide greater grip traction for manipulating the adapter  210  during the medical procedure. The breakpoint  216 , as shown here, can be located on the shoulder  212  of the adapter  210 ; other positions of the breakpoint  216  can also be contemplated. 
         [0030]    This embodiment of the adapter  210  can be suited for coupling the cannula  235  with a Toomey syringe  260 , as shown in  FIG. 2A , or a liposuction handle (not shown). As depicted in  FIG. 2A , the Toomey syringe  260  can be inserted into a tapered opening  255  of the adapter  210 . The adapter  210  shoulder  212  can fit against the lip  264  and/or the barrel  266  of the syringe  260 , placing the nose  262  into the recess  250  of the adapter  210 . 
         [0031]    It should be appreciated that the direct contact between the adapter  210  and the syringe  260  can provide the adapter  210  with the ability to better withstand the longitudinal forces and torque that are often applied during medical procedures without failure. That is, conventional adapters that do not have such a tight coupling to the syringe  260  can fail under lower amounts of longitudinal and rotational stresses than the break-away adapter  210 . 
         [0032]    For example, in lipoplasty procedures, differences in pressure gradients from harvesting the fat cells and injecting the fat cells can occur. That is, due to the viscus nature of fat, significant longitudinal forces must be applied to the composite apparatus of the syringe  260 , adapter  210 , and cannula  235  to inject fat into subcutaneous regions of the human body. This adapter  210  can be well suited to accommodate these longitudinal forces, which are known to overwhelm conventional adapters. 
         [0033]    Rotating the syringe  260  can couple the syringe  260  to the adapter  210  via the cutting threads  230  within the recess  250 . Rotation of the syringe  260  can cause the cutting threads  230  to cut threads into the nose  162  of the syringe  260  (i.e., the coupling mechanism), creating an air-tight seal that connects to the cannula  235  via the interior channel  245 . Thus, the adapter  210  can be securely attached to a Toomey syringe  260  or a liposuction handle using a mechanism that provides external fixation to the outer wall of the syringe or liposuction handle, and, by extension, to any other apparatus connected to the syringe  260 . 
         [0034]      FIG. 3  is a collection  300  of views  305  and  325  for an exemplary break-away adapter  310  in accordance with embodiments of the inventive arrangements disclosed herein. Collection  300  can depict a side view  305  and a cross-sectional view  325  of the break-away adapter  310 . 
         [0035]    As shown in the side and the cross-sectional views  305  and  325 , the adapter  310  can be symmetrically cylindrical around a center line  320 . It should be appreciated that the size and shape of the adapter  310  can conform to traditional industry or proprietary tolerances (e.g., +/−0.0001 mm). The breakpoint  314 , as shown here, can be located near the top end of the adapter  210 , near where the cannula  335  is inserted; other positions of the breakpoint  314  can also be contemplated. 
         [0036]    This embodiment of the adapter  310  can utilize a coupling mechanism  350  comprised of threads  352  on the adapter  310  and a threaded nut  312  to couple the cannula  335  with a Luer Lok syringe  360 , as shown in  FIG. 3A , or a liposuction handle (not shown). As own in  FIG. 3A , the adapter  310  can have threads  352  on it bottom end where the threaded nut  312  it to be coupled. The threaded nut  312  can then be fastened against the nose  264  of the Luer Lok syringe  360   
         [0037]    In one embodiment, the threaded nut  312  can couple with inner threads within the nose  364  of the Luer Lok syringe  360 , connecting the interior cavity of the syringe  360  to the cannula  335  via the interior channel  330  of the adapter  310 . In another embodiment, the threaded nut  312  can be fastened against the outer surface of nose  364  Luer Lok syringe  360  via cutting threads (not shown) on the inside of the threaded nut  312 , which cut threads into the nose  364 . In yet another contemplated embodiment, the threaded nut  312  can be threaded to fit against the lip  366  of the Luer Lok syringe  360 . 
         [0038]    In another contemplated embodiment, the recess  345  of the adapter  310  can be configured to engage threads on the tapered post  362  and/or nose  364  of the Luer Lok syringe  360 . In such an embodiment, the threaded nut  312  can be configured to engage the threads  352  on the proximal end of the adapter  310  while cutting threads on the outer wall of the syringe  360 . 
         [0039]    In an alternate embodiment, the tapered post  360  of the Luer Lok syringe  360  can be removed to provide an enlarged opening to permit fluids, tissue, and cells to flow with less resistance. 
         [0040]    It should be appreciated that the direct contact between the adapter  310  and the syringe  360  can provide the adapter  310  with the ability to better withstand the longitudinal forces and torque that are often applied during medical procedures without failure. That is, conventional adapters that do not have such a tight coupling to the syringe  360  can fail under lower amounts of longitudinal and rotational stresses than the break-away adapter  310 . 
         [0041]    For example, in lipoplasty procedures, differences in pressure gradients from harvesting the fat cells and injecting the fat cells can occur. That is, due to the viscus nature of fat, significant longitudinal forces must be applied to the composite apparatus of the syringe  360 , adapter  310 , and cannula  335  to inject fat into subcutaneous regions of the human body. This adapter  310  can be well suited to accommodate these longitudinal forces, which are known to overwhelm conventional adapters. 
         [0042]    The diagrams in the Figures illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems and methods according to various embodiments of the present invention. It will also be noted that each block of the block diagrams and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams can be implemented by special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specified functions or acts, or combinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions.