Tube connector with a guiding tip

摘要

Generally described herein are apparatus, systems and methods related to utilizing a guiding tip to connect two open ends of respective tubes of a gastric banding system. More particularly, one of these tubes may include a barbed element at or near the point of connection which makes it difficult to connect the two tubes as the barbed element may be larger than an opening to receive the barbed element. The guiding tip provides a solution to this problem by acting as an interface between the barbed element and the receiving tube. In this manner, the sealing functionality of the barbed element may be retained while improving the ease of inserting the barbed element into the receiving tube.

主权项

1. A gastric banding system for a treatment of obesity, the gastric banding system comprising:
a gastric band having an inflatable portion; an access port having a septum for removing or inserting fluid into the inflatable portion of the gastric band and an access port connector; a first tube including a first end connected to the inflatable portion of the gastric band and a second end, the first tube having a first inner diameter; a second tube including a first end connected to the access port connector of the access port and a second end connected to the second end of the first tube, the second tube having a second inner diameter; and a tube connector for connecting the second end of the first tube and the second end of the second tube, the tube connector for fluidly coupling the first tube and the second tube, the tube connector including:
a first barb portion located at a first end of the tube connector and having a diameter larger than the first inner diameter of the first tube, the first barb portion configured to be pressed into the first inner diameter of the first tube,a stem portion located adjacent to the first barb portion,a second barb portion located adjacent to the stem portion, the second barb portion having a diameter larger than the second inner diameter of the second tube, the second barb portion configured to be pressed into the second inner diameter of the second tube, anda guiding tip portion located at a second end of the tube connector and having an outer diameter not larger than the first inner diameter of the first tube configured to be inserted into the first inner diameter of the first tube.