referring to fig1 a representation of a patient &# 39 ; s intra - abdominal cavity 10 is illustrated . this is the area within a patient &# 39 ; s abdomen , behind the abdominal wall 12 , where internal organs are located . two conventional , laparoscopic operating ports 14 and 16 are shown in fig1 having been inserted through the abdominal wall 12 of the patient , such that the ports extend into the intra - abdominal cavity 10 . before proceeding with a detailed description of the present invention , a brief description of the laparoscopic operating ports 14 and 16 is first provided . laparoscopic operating ports 14 and 16 both include a cylindrically - shaped , hollow tube 18 extending forwardly from an enlarged , generally rectangular body portion 20 . at the forward end of the body portion 20 , adjacent the hollow tube 18 , are two shoulders 22 , projecting laterally from opposite sides of the body portion 20 . each shoulder is generally in the shape of a right triangle to present an abutment for the user &# 39 ; s fingers when grasping the port . the hollow tube 18 mates with the body portion 20 so that the longitudinal axes of each part are coincident . the laparoscopic operating ports 14 and 16 are inserted into the intra - abdominal cavity 10 up to near the body portion 20 . the remaining portions of the laparoscopic operating ports 14 and 16 are disposed outside the body of the patient . laparoscopic operating port 16 includes a valve 24 , for the introduction of pressurization gas into the intra - abdominal cavity 10 . valve 24 on laparoscopic operating port 16 is shown attached to a delivery tube 26 . the other end of the tube 26 , in turn , connects to a source of pressurization gas 28 . when valve 24 on laparoscopic operating port 16 is open , pressurization gas flows from source 28 , through tube 26 , through valve 24 , and through the laparoscopic operating port 16 into the intra - abdominal cavity 10 of the patient . the intra - abdominal cavity 10 is normally pressurized in this way with carbon dioxide during a laparoscopic surgery to approximately 15 mm hg . this properly inflates the intra - abdominal cavity 10 , permitting medical procedures to be more easily accomplished within the intra - abdominal cavity . the body portions 20 of the laparoscopic operating ports 14 and 16 have an internal passageway 30 extending through it coincident with the longitudinal axis of the body portion . the hollow tube 18 mates with the body portion 20 of the laparoscopic operating port 14 , 16 , such that internal passageway 30 extends from hollow tube 18 through body portion 20 of the laparoscopic operating port . the laparoscopic operating ports 14 , 16 include an internal gate valve , not shown , for closing off the internal passageway 30 within the body portions 20 . pivot handles 34 are provided for manually operating the valves . when the valve is closed , its handle 34 is positioned generally perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of hollow tube 18 and body portion 20 . ideally , the valve is spring biased in closed position . when the handle 34 is rotated clockwise approximately 30 °, the valve is opened . a lip seal 32 is located just inside the rearward entrance to the internal passageway 30 , in the body portion 20 of laparoscopic operating ports 14 , 16 . seal 32 is generally annularly shaped and surrounds the internal passageway 30 . seal 32 is designed to extend around instruments that are inserted into laparoscopic operating ports 14 , 16 through the gate valve as long as the exterior size of the instrument closely corresponds with the interior size of the port , to prevent fluid leakage through passageway 30 of the laparoscopic operating ports 14 , 16 , and into the environment . a medical instrument 36 is shown inserted through laparoscopic operating port 16 and into the intra - abdominal cavity 10 of the patient . the seal 32 , within the internal passageway of the port , presses against the circumference of the instrument 36 as it is inserted into the port and substantially prevents pressurization gas from escaping through the port while instrument 36 is being used . a drain tube 38 is shown inserted through the laparoscopic operating port 14 . the seal 32 within the laparoscopic operating port 14 presses against the tube 38 to prevent the leakage of fluid between the port and the tube . a plug 40 in accordance with the present invention is shown inserted into the end of the drain tube 38 that extends through laparoscopic operating portion 14 into the intra - abdominal cavity 10 of the patient . illustrated in fig2 is an enlarged view of the plug 40 , shown engaged with the drain tube 38 . the plug 40 is preferably made of plastic , or other appropriate material , that is lightweight , substantially impervious to the passage of fluids , and has good moisture resistant properties to body fluids . in a preferred embodiment , the plug is of integral , one - piece construction . in alternate embodiments , the different sections of the plug may be separately formed and then combined . the plug 40 includes an elongated insertion section 42 which is sized to be inserted into the end of the drain tube 38 . drain tubes , such as tube 38 , used in laparoscopic surgery typically have internal diameters ranging from about 5 to 10 mm . the insertion section 42 is substantially cylindrical in shape having a rounded , generally hemispherical distal end 44 . the hemispherical shape of the distal end 44 facilitates insertion of the plug 40 into the drain tube 38 . preferably , the diameter of the insertion section 42 is sized such that the insertion section 42 can be snugly slid into the end of the drain tube 38 . the plug 40 includes a retaining section 46 that extends longitudinally from the opposite end of the insertion section 42 . the retaining section 46 is substantially cylindrical and is generally coaxially aligned with the insertion section 42 . the retaining section is substantially shorter in length relative to the insertion section 42 . the diameter of the retaining section 46 is somewhat less , at least 0 . 02 inch , than the diameter of the insertion section 42 . the insertion section 42 of the plug 40 is inserted into the drain tube 38 until the drain tube 38 extends beyond the proximal end of the insertion section , and surrounds the retaining section 46 . because the insertion section 42 snugly fits within the drain tube 38 , the drain tube 38 is somewhat radially stretched as the insertion section is inserted therein . thus , when the end of the drain tube 38 is slid past the proximal end of the insertion section 42 , the drain tube tends to radially contract around the smaller diameter retaining section 46 . this helps to retain the drain tube 38 over the insertion section 42 of the plug 40 . the plug also includes a gasping section 48 that extends longitudinally from the end of the retaining section 46 , in the direction opposite the insertion section 42 . the gasping section 48 preferably includes a generally cylindrical portion 50 that extends substantially coaxially from the retaining section 46 . ideally , but not mandatorily , the cylindrical portion is larger in diameter than the diameter of the insertion section 42 . thus , the plug 40 is inserted into the drain tube 38 until the end of the drain tube abuts the cylindrical portion 50 . the larger diameter of the cylindrical portion 50 therefore serves as a stop to limit the distance the plug 40 is inserted into the drain tube 38 . however , preferably the diameter of the cylindrical portion 50 does not exceed the outside diameter of the drain tube 38 as will be discussed more fully below . the gasping section of the plug 40 also includes a generally conical portion 52 extending substantially coaxially from the end of the cylindrical portion 50 , opposite the retaining section 46 . the conical portion 52 gradually decreases in diameter to a distal tip 56 . a thin tab 58 extends from the tip 56 . preferably , the tab 58 is generally in the shape of a circle . however , in alternate embodiments of the present invention , the tab 58 may have other geometries , such as an oval , or a triangle by way of illustrative , nonlimiting examples . in the preferred embodiment , the tab 58 extends from the conical portion 52 such that the central axis of the tab 58 is generally aligned with the central axis of the conical portion 52 . preferably , the tab 58 includes a generally planar central region 60 which is surrounded by a marginal rim 62 that projects on either side of the planar region 60 to form a raised , annular lip . the tab may be quite thin , but still be of sufficient structural integrity to be gasped by the instrument 36 and the attached tube 38 pulled through port 14 and out port 16 , as described below . in this regard , if the plug 40 is composed of polypropylene , polyurethane or similar polymer plastic , the tab may be of a thickness of from about 0 . 01 to 0 . 04 inches . the lip may extend above and below the tab from about 0 . 01 to 0 . 04 inches . in alternate embodiments , the planar area 60 of the tab can be eliminated , leaving a loop , or opening bounded by the rim 62 . in the alternate embodiments , the rim 62 may be flexible . thus the ring may be formed of string , nylon filament , plastic or other similar materials . in general , the purpose of the loop or tab 58 is to form a projecting member that presents a thin cross section for grasping by the medical instrument 36 . the plug 40 is used as follows : prior to inserting the tube 38 through a laparoscopic operating port 14 , the plug 40 is inserted into the drain tube 38 . thereafter , the plug 40 is inserted through the laparoscopic operating port 14 into the intra - abdominal cavity 10 of the patient , with the drain tube 38 trailing the plug 40 . the plug 40 serves to substantially seal the end of the drain tube 38 so that pressurization gas within the intra - abdominal cavity 10 cannot escape through the drain tube while it is being inserted through the laparoscopic operating port 14 . after the plug 40 has been inserted into the intra - abdominal cavity 10 , a medical instrument 36 is extended through a second laparoscopic operating port 16 . the end of the instrument 36 is used to grasp the tab 58 at the end of the plug 40 . subsequently , the instrument 36 is withdrawn through the second laparoscopic operating port 16 , thereby threading the plug 40 and drain tube 38 through the second laparoscopic operating port . thus , it is desirable that the largest outside diameter of the plug 40 not exceed the outside diameter of the drain tube 38 to facilitate threading the plug and drain tube through the ports 14 and 16 . the drain tube 38 and plug 40 are withdrawn through the second laparoscopic operating port 16 , until the trailing end of the drain tube 38 is properly positioned within the intra - abdominal cavity 10 . when the trailing end of the drain tube 38 has been properly positioned and the surgical procedure completed , the laparoscopic operating ports 14 and 16 are removed . in particular , the second laparoscopic operating port 16 is withdrawn over the drain tube 38 , and the skin tissue of the patient is sutured around the drain tube 38 . the use of the plug 40 in accordance with the present invention provides several advantages . first , the plug 40 serves to substantially seal the end of the drain tube 38 when it is being inserted through the laparoscopic operating port 14 . this prevents pressurization gas in the intra - abdominal cavity 10 of the patient from escaping through the drain tube 38 . second , the tab 58 at the end of the plug 40 facilitates grasping by the medical instrument 36 . moreover , tab 58 is thin enough that when the medical instrument 36 is grasping the plug 40 , the jaws of the instrument do not remain open to the extent that the medical instrument cannot be withdrawn through the laparoscopic operating port 16 . if the plug is not used so that the instrument must clamp on to the end of the tube 38 itself , the jaws of the medical instrument 36 remain open to the extent that the medical instrument cannot be withdrawn through the laparoscopic operating port 16 . third , the rim 62 around the outer periphery of the tab 58 serves to facilitate a firm grasp by the medical instrument 36 , i . e ., help prevent the jaws of the instrument from disengaging from the tab . as noted above , in alternate embodiments , the central planar area 60 of the tab 58 may be removed , leaving a loop . thus , in the alternate embodiments , a medical instrument having a hook - type end could be used to hook the loop . fourth , the conical portion 52 of the plug 40 serves to center the plug as it is being drawn into the second laparoscopic operating port 16 by the medical instrument 36 . in alternate embodiments , the cylindrical portion 50 of the plug 40 can be eliminated . the plug 40 also provides advantages in surgical procedures that are accomplished without the use of laparoscopic operating ports . as discussed above in the background of the invention section of this specification , a drain tube is typically extended out of a second , smaller incision , separate from the major incision through which the surgical procedure is performed . when it is desired to extend a drain tube 38 out of the second , smaller incision , the drain tube , having the plug 40 engaged therewith , may be inserted into the patient through the major incision . a medical instrument 36 inserted through the second , smaller incision , can be used to grasp tab 58 of the plug 40 . the drain tube 38 is threaded through the second , smaller incision by withdrawing the medical instrument from the smaller incision . use of the plug 40 in the foregoing manner is advantageous because the medical instrument 36 can be used to more readily and securely grasp the tab 58 of the plug , as opposed to the drain tube 38 itself . further , the tab 58 is significantly thinner than the drain tube 38 . thus , the jaws of the medical instrument 36 are substantially contracted even when grasping the tab 58 . the medical instrument 36 can therefore be used to thread the drain tube 38 through a smaller incision to help reduce patient trauma and recovery time . the same advantages are provided in alternative embodiments where the planar area 60 of the tab is removed to form a loop for grasping by the medical instrument 36 . finally , the conical portion 52 of the plug 40 serves to center the plug as it is being withdrawn through the second , smaller incision . while a preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described , it will be appreciated that various changes can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention .
a plug is used to plug the end of a drain tube . the drain tube is introduced into a patient during a medical procedure to drain the surgical site . the drain tube is introduced through an opening or incision in the patient leading to the interior of the patient &# 39 ; s body . a medical instrument is used to extract the drain tube out through the opening in the patient &# 39 ; s body . the plug includes an elongated insertion section of a cross - sectional size for slidable insertion into the end of the drain tube . the plug also includes a grasping section projecting longitudinally from the insertion section and conveniently graspable by the medical instrument . the grasping section includes a tip portion opposite the insertion section , and a base portion located between the tip and the insertion section . the cross - sectional size of the base portion is greater than the cross - sectional size of the tip portion , wherein the cross - sectional size of the grasping section decreases in a direction extending away from the insertion section .