Medical cannula assembly

Abstract

A medical assembly includes a cannula and a sealing cap releasably coupled to the cannula. The cap includes a body and a sealing member integrally molded with the body to form a fluid-tight seal between the cap and cannula. The cap includes a member defining an opening for passage of a medical instrument therethrough in a fluid-tight manner. The member includes a first portion surrounding the opening and being thickened to limit tearing of the first portion, and a second portion surrounding the first portion being tapered down in thickness toward the first portion to increase flexibility of the member. The assembly includes a shaft receivable in a lumen defined by an inner surface of the cannula. The shaft includes a protrusion and the inner surface further defines a protrusion receiving formation.

1 . A medical assembly, comprising: 
 a cannula, and    a sealing cap releasably coupled to the cannula, the cannula and cap configured to form a fluid-tight seal therebetween without the use of an additional element.    
   
   
       2 . The medical assembly of  claim 1  wherein the cannula has a wall with an inner surface defining a lumen, and the assembly further comprises a shaft receivable in the lumen.  
   
   
       3 . The medical assembly of  claim 2  wherein the shaft includes a protrusion and the inner surface further defines a protrusion receiving formation.  
   
   
       4 . The medical assembly of  claim 3  wherein the protrusion receiving formation comprises a slot.  
   
   
       5 . The medical assembly of  claim 1  wherein the cap comprises a body and a sealing member integrally molded with the body.  
   
   
       6 . The medical assembly of  claim 5  wherein the sealing member is chemically bonded with the body.  
   
   
       7 . The medical assembly of  claim 5  wherein the cannula includes an annular shoulder and the sealing member includes an annular projection that is compressed against the annular shoulder to form the fluid-tight seal.  
   
   
       8 . The medical assembly of  claim 1  wherein the cannula defines a slot and the cap has a projection receivable in the slot to releasably couple the cap to the cannula.  
   
   
       9 . The medical assembly of  claim 8  wherein the slot is J-shaped.  
   
   
       10 . The medical assembly of  claim 1  wherein the cap includes a member defining an opening for passage of a medical instrument therethrough in a fluid-tight manner.  
   
   
       11 . The medical assembly of  claim 10  wherein the member comprises 
 a first portion surrounding the opening and being thickened to limit tearing of the first portion, and    a second portion surrounding the first portion being tapered down in thickness toward the first portion to increase flexibility of the member.    
   
   
       12 . A medical assembly, comprising: 
 a cannula, and    a sealing cap releasably coupled to the cannula, the cap including a body and a sealing member that is integrally molded with the body and configured to form a fluid-tight seal with the cannula.    
   
   
       13 . A medical assembly, comprising: 
 a shaft including a protrusion; and    a cannula having a wall with an inner surface defining a lumen for receiving the shaft, the inner surface defining a protrusion receiving formation extending from a proximal end of the cannula.    
   
   
       14 . The medical assembly of  claim 13  wherein the protrusion receiving formation comprises a slot.  
   
   
       15 . The medical assembly of  claim 13  wherein the shaft includes a second, opposing protrusion and the inner surface defines a second, opposing protrusion receiving formation.  
   
   
       16 . The medical assembly of  claim 15  wherein the second protrusion receiving formation comprises a slot.  
   
   
       17 . The medical assembly of  claim 16  wherein the second protrusion receiving formation extends from the proximal end of the cannula.  
   
   
       18 . The medical assembly of  claim 13  wherein the lumen has a constant diameter.  
   
   
       19 . The medical assembly of  claim 13  wherein the lumen is tapered.  
   
   
       20 . A medical cannula, comprising: 
 a wall with an inner surface defining a lumen, the inner wall defining a protrusion receiving formation extending from a proximal end of the cannula.    
   
   
       21 . The medical cannula of  claim 20  wherein the protrusion receiving formation comprises a slot.  
   
   
       22 . The medical cannula of  claim 20  wherein the inner surface defines a second, opposing protrusion receiving formation.  
   
   
       23 . The medical cannula of  claim 22  wherein the second protrusion receiving formation comprises a slot.  
   
   
       24 . The medical cannula of  claim 22  wherein the second protrusion receiving formation extends from the proximal end of the cannula.  
   
   
       25 . The medical cannula of  claim 20  wherein the wall has an outer surface defining an outer slot.  
   
   
       26 . The medical cannula of  claim 25  wherein the outer slot is J-shaped.  
   
   
       27 . The medical cannula of  claim 25  wherein the outer surface defines a second, opposing outer slot.  
   
   
       28 . The medical cannula of  claim 27  wherein the second outer slot is J-shaped.  
   
   
       29 . The medical cannula of  claim 20  further comprising an annular shoulder coupled to the wall for forming a fluid-tight seal with a cap.  
   
   
       30 . The medical cannula of  claim 20  wherein the wall has an outer surface that is threaded.  
   
   
       31 . The medical cannula of  claim 20  wherein the lumen has a constant diameter.  
   
   
       32 . The medical cannula of  claim 20  wherein the lumen is tapered.  
   
   
       33 . A sealing cap, comprising: 
 a body for releasable attachment to a medical cannula, and    a sealing member integrally formed with the body and configured to form a fluid-tight seal with the cannula without the use of an additional element.    
   
   
       34 . The sealing cap of  claim 33  wherein the sealing member is chemically bonded with the body.  
   
   
       35 . The sealing cap of  claim 33  wherein the sealing member includes an annular projection that is compressible against the medical cannula to form the fluid-tight seal.  
   
   
       36 . The sealing cap of  claim 33  wherein the cap includes a projection for removably connecting the cap to the cannula.  
   
   
       37 . The sealing cap of  claim 33  wherein the cap includes an outer seal disposed over the body, the outer seal defining an opening for passage of a medical instrument therethrough in a fluid-tight manner.  
   
   
       38 . The sealing cap of  claim 37  wherein the outer seal comprises 
 a first portion surrounding the opening and being thickened to limit tearing of the first portion, and    a second portion surrounding the first portion being tapered down in thickness toward the first portion to increase flexibility of the member.    
   
   
       39 . The sealing cap of  claim 37  wherein the cap further includes an inner seal disposed within the outer seal, the inner seal including an opening for passage of the medical instrument therethrough in a fluid tight manner.  
   
   
       40 . A seal, comprising: 
 a member defining an opening for passage of a medical instrument therethrough in a fluid-tight manner, a first portion of the member surrounding the opening being thickened to limit tearing of the first portion, and a second portion of the member surrounding the first portion being tapered down in the thickness toward the first portion to increase flexibility of the member.    
   
   
       41 . A shaft, comprising: 
 an elongated body receivable in a medical cannula, and at least two opposed protrusions extending from the body configured to mate with respective protrusion receiving formations in the cannula.    
   
   
       42 . A medical assembly, comprising: 
 a means for forming a channel for inserting a surgical instrument into a tissue, and    a means for forming a fluid-tight seal with the means for forming a channel.    
   
   
       43 . A method comprising: 
 inserting a cannula into tissue; and    removing a sealing cap from the cannula as a single unit without leaving a loose element behind.    
   
   
       44 . The method of  claim 43  further comprising removing tissue through the cannula after removing the sealing cap.  
   
   
       45 . The method of  claim 43  further comprising reattaching the cap to the cannula while the cannula remains in the tissue.