SURGICAL TUNNELER

1 . A surgical tunneler assembly comprising:

a lance including a first segment, a second end segment, and a connector on each one of the first end segment and the second end segment;

a cable adapter including a lance connection portion and a cable connection portion, the lance connection portion configured to engage and disengage the connectors, the cable connection portion configured to engage and disengage a cable; and

a handle configured to engage and disengage the lance.

2 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the lance connection portion includes a flexible device configured to deform and to engage and disengage the connectors.

3 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the lance connection portion includes a lance passageway configured to radially expand to allow disengagement of the cable adapter from the connectors and to radially contract to allow engagement of the cable adapter to the connectors.

4 . The assembly of claim 3 , wherein each of the connectors includes a narrow segment and a wide segment, and the lance passageway includes a constricted segment or an enlarged segment configured to engage the narrow segment or the wide segment respectively.

5 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the lance connection portion includes a plurality of engagement members configured to flex apart from each other and toward each other.

6 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cable adapter includes a ring configured to clamp around of the lance connection portion.

7 . The assembly of claim 6 , wherein the ring includes an internal wall and a protrusion on or a depression into the internal wall configured to engage a depression into or protrusion on an outer surface of the lance connection portion.

8 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cable connection portion includes a protrusion or a depression configured to engage the cable.

9 . The assembly of claim 8 , wherein the protrusion or the depression of the cable connection portion forms a helical thread.

10 . The assembly of claim 9 , wherein the helical thread is disposed within the cable connection portion.

11 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cable connection portion includes a resilient device configured to form a liquid tight seal on the cable when the cable connection portion is engaged to the cable.

12 . The assembly of claim 11 , wherein the resilient device is disposed within the cable connection portion.

13 . The assembly of claim 11 , wherein the resilient device includes any one or a combination of an o-ring seal and a flat seal.

14 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the handle is configured to engage and disengage the connectors.

15 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the handle includes:

a tube having a passageway configured to receive the connectors;

an actuator configured to move relative to the tube with application of an external force on the actuator; and

a lock member trapped within the tube,

wherein the lock member is pushed into the passageway when the actuator is moved to a first position relative to the tube, and the lock member is capable of moving away from the passageway when the actuator is moved to a second position relative to the tube.

16 . The assembly of claim 15 , wherein each of the connectors includes a depression configured to receive the lock member.

17 . A surgical implantation kit comprising:

an operative device;

a cable including a first end connected to or configured for connection to the operative device; and

the surgical tunneler assembly of claim 1 .

18 . The kit of claim 17 , wherein the operative device is a ventricular assist device or a controller for a ventricular assist device.

19 . The kit of claim 17 , further comprising a second operative device connected to or configured for connection to a second end of the cable.

20 . The kit of claim 19 , wherein the second operative device is either:

a controller when the first operative device is a ventricular assist device, or

a ventricular assist device when the first operative device is a controller.