Method and apparatus for anchoring a catheter line to the tissue of a patient for pain pump drug delivery

A method for securing an elongated component to tissue, said method comprising:

• providing an apparatus for releasably securing the elongated component to the tissue, said apparatus comprising:
• a housing comprising:
• a distal end portion terminating in a distal end surface, a proximal end portion terminating in a proximal end surface, and an intermediate portion disposed between said distal end portion and said proximal end portion;
• and
• a passageway extending through said housing from said distal end surface to said proximal end surface, said passageway comprising a distal end section, a proximal end section, and an intermediate section disposed between said distal end section and said proximal end section;
• wherein at least a portion of said housing is formed out of an elastomeric material so that said housing may be selectively longitudinally stretched so as to transform from a longitudinally-relaxed condition to a longitudinally-stretched condition;
• and
• a collet assembly for disposition in said passageway of said housing, said collet assembly comprising:
• a radially-compressible body comprising a tapered distal end region terminating in a distal end surface, a tapered proximal end region terminating in a proximal end surface, and a tubular intermediate region disposed between said tapered distal end region and said tapered proximal end region;
• and
• a bore extending between said distal end surface of said body and said proximal end surface of said body, said bore being sized larger than the elongated component when said body is in a radially-uncompressed condition;
• wherein said tapered distal end region of said body of said collet assembly is received in said distal end section of said passageway of said housing, and said tapered proximal end region of said body of said collet assembly is received in said proximal end section of said passageway of said housing;
• wherein, when said housing is in the longitudinally-relaxed condition, said distal end section of said passageway of said housing engages said tapered distal end region of said body of said collet assembly, and said proximal end section of said passageway of said housing engages said tapered proximal end region of said body of said collet assembly, so as to radially compress said body of said collet assembly into a radially-compressed condition wherein said bore is sized smaller than the elongated component;
• and
• wherein, when said housing is in the longitudinally-stretched condition, said distal end section of said passageway of said housing disengages from said tapered distal end region of said body of said collet assembly, and said proximal end section of said passageway of said housing disengages from said tapered proximal end region of said body of said collet assembly, so as to no longer radially compress said body of said collet assembly;
• applying a longitudinally-stretching force to said housing so as to transform said housing from the longitudinally-relaxed condition to the longitudinally-stretched condition, whereby to transform said body of said collet assembly from the radially-compressed condition to the radially-uncompressed condition;
• passing the elongated component through said passageway of said housing and said bore of said collet assembly;
• removing the longitudinally-stretching force from said housing so as to transform said housing from the longitudinally-stretched condition to the longitudinally-relaxed condition, whereby to transform said body of said collet assembly from the radially-uncompressed condition to the radially-compressed condition;
• and
• securing said housing to the tissue.