Vascular access port with needle detector

• US 20050256451A1
• Filed: 07/26/2005
• Published: 11/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Data Sciences U K Limited (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Data Sciences U K Limited (International Business Machines Corporation), Transoma Medical, Inc.
• Inventors: Brockway, Brian P., Adams, H. Clark, Mills, Perry A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,347,843 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/93.10
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/0226 having means for protecting the interior of the access site from damage due to the insertion of a needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/0244 having means for detecting an inserted needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/0208 Subcutaneous access sites for injecting or removing fluids transcutaneous access sites A61M39/0247; implantable infusion devices A61M5/14276
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/158 Needles for infusions; Accessories therefor, e.g. for inserting infusion needles, or for holding them on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16831 Monitoring, detecting, signalling or eliminating infusion flow anomalies low-level float-valves causing cut-off A61M5/40; indicating or recording presence, absence or direction of flow in general G01P13/0066

Abstract

A vascular access port system including means for detecting and indicating the presence or absence of a needle. The detecting and indicating means may be carried in whole or in part by one of or both of the needle and/or the vascular access port. The detecting and indicating means may utilize a conductive needle, a mechanical switch, a magnetic switch, a Hall effect sensor, an electric field, a magnetic field, or an inductor, for example, for detection purposes. The vascular access port system permits the practitioner to confirm that the needle has been correctly inserted into the VAP, and notifies the patient and/or practitioner if the needle has been accidentally withdrawn.

Claims

1. A vascular access port system for detecting the presence or absence of a needle, the system comprising:

a vascular access port including a portal housing containing an internal reservoir with first and second openings, a self-sealing septum disposed in the first opening, and a catheter extending from the portal housing, the catheter defining a lumen extending therethrough in fluid communication with the reservoir via the second opening;

a detecting circuit configured to detect the presence or absence of the needle in the reservoir; and

an indicating circuit configured to indicate the presence or absence of the needle in the reservoir;

wherein the indicating circuit is configured to generate a removal signal when the needle is removed from the reservoir.

2. The vascular access port system of claim 1, wherein the detecting circuit and the indicating circuit are separate.

3. The vascular access port system of claim 1, wherein the detecting circuit and the indicating circuit are together.

4. The vascular access port system of claim 1, wherein one of the detecting circuit and the indicating circuit is connected to an infusion pump and provides feedback thereto.

5. The vascular access port system of claim 1, wherein the detecting circuit generates a detection signal indicative of a proximity of the needle to the reservoir.

6. The vascular access port system of claim 5, wherein the indicating circuit generates an indicator signal indicative of the detection signal.

7. The vascular access port system of claim 6, wherein the indicating circuit includes a comparator which compares the detection signal to a threshold signal value that is indicative of the needle extending into the reservoir, and wherein the indicating circuit generates an insertion signal when the detection signal exceeds the threshold signal value.

8. The vascular access port system of claim 6, wherein the indicating circuit includes a comparator which compares the detection signal to a threshold signal value that is indicative of the needle extending into the reservoir, and wherein the indicating circuit generates a removal signal when the detection signal falls below the threshold signal value.

9. The vascular access port system of claim 6, wherein the indicating circuit includes a transducer and wherein the transducer generates the indicator signal.

10. The vascular access port system of claim 9, wherein the indicator signal is visible.

11. The vascular access port system of claim 9, wherein the indicator signal is audible.

12. The vascular access port system of claim 9, wherein the indicator signal is tactile.

13. The vascular access port system of claim 9, wherein the transducer generates the removal signal when the needle is removed from the reservoir.

16. The vascular access port system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the needle detecting circuit is connected to the vascular access port.

17. The vascular access port system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the needle detecting circuit is connected to the needle.

18. The vascular access port system of claim 1, wherein the needle detecting circuit is closed by the needle when the needle extends into the reservoir.

19. The vascular access port system of claim 18, wherein the needle detecting circuit includes the needle as a conductive path.

20. The vascular access port system of claim 19, wherein the septum is at least partially conductive, and wherein the needle detecting circuit includes the septum.

21. The vascular access port system of claim 20, wherein the reservoir includes a bottom that is at least partially conductive, and wherein the needle detecting circuit includes the reservoir bottom.

22. The vascular access port system of claim 1, wherein the needle detecting circuit includes a mechanical switch disposed in the reservoir.

23. The vascular access port system of claim 1, wherein the needle is magnetic and wherein the needle detecting circuit includes a magnetic switch disposed in the reservoir.

24. The vascular access port system of claim 1, wherein the needle detecting circuit includes an emitter element connected to a power source to generate an electrical field, wherein the needle detecting circuit includes a detector element, and wherein the emitter element is movable with respect to the detector element.

25. The vascular access port system of claim 24, wherein the emitter element is carried by one of the vascular access port and the needle, and wherein the detector element is carried by the other of the vascular access port and the needle.

26. The vascular access port system of claim 1, wherein the needle detecting circuit comprises a magnet and a Hall effect sensor, and wherein the Hall effect sensor is movable with respect to the magnet.

27. The vascular access port system of claim 26, wherein the Hall effect sensor is carried by one of the vascular access port and the needle, and wherein the magnet is carried by the other of the vascular access port and the needle.

28. The vascular access port system of claim 27, wherein the needle detecting circuit generates a detection signal when the Hall effect sensor is in close proximity to the magnet, and wherein the proximity is indicative of the needle extending into the reservoir.

29. The vascular access port system of claim 1, wherein the needle detecting circuit includes a primary coil connected to a power source, wherein the needle detecting circuit includes a secondary coil, and wherein the primary coil is movable with respect to secondary coil.

30. The vascular access port system of claim 29, wherein the primary coil is carried by one of the vascular access port and the needle, and wherein the secondary coil is carried by the other of the vascular access port and the needle.

31. The vascular access port system of claim 30, wherein the needle detecting circuit generates a detection signal when the primary coil moves in close proximity to the secondary coil and induces current flow therein, and wherein the proximity is indicative of the needle extending into the reservoir.

32. The vascular access port system of claim 1, wherein the needle detecting circuit comprises a magnetically permeable element and an inductive coil, and wherein the magnetically permeable element is movable with respect to the inductive coil.

33. The vascular access port system of claim 32, wherein the inductive coil is carried by one of the vascular access port and the needle, and wherein the magnetically permeable element is carried by the other of the vascular access port and the needle.

34. The vascular access port system of claim 33, wherein the needle detecting circuit generates a detection signal when the magnetically permeable element moves in close proximity to the inductive coil and changes the inductance thereof, and wherein the proximity is indicative of the needle extending into the reservoir.

14. (canceled)

15. (canceled)

35. A vascular access port system for detecting the presence or absence of a needle, the system comprising:

a vascular access port including a portal housing containing an internal reservoir with first and second openings, a self-sealing septum disposed in the first opening, and a catheter extending from the portal housing, the catheter defining a lumen extending therethrough in fluid communication with the reservoir via the second opening; and

means for detecting and indicating the presence or absence of a needle extending into the reservoir;

wherein the detecting and indicating means comprises means for generating a removal signal when the needle is removed from the reservoir.

36. The vascular access port system of claim 35, wherein the needle detecting and indicating means is electrical.

37. The vascular access port system of claim 36, wherein the needle detecting and indicating means includes a detecting circuit and an indicating circuit.

38. The vascular access port system of claim 37, wherein the indicating circuit includes a transducer.

39. The vascular access port system of claim 38, wherein the transducer generates an insertion signal when the needle extends through the septum and into the reservoir.

40. The vascular access port system of claim 38, wherein the transducer generates the removal signal when the needle is removed from the reservoir.

43. The vascular access port system of claim 35, wherein at least a portion of the needle detecting and indicating means is connected to the vascular access port.

44. The vascular access port system of claim 35, wherein at least a portion of the needle detecting and indicating means is connected to the needle.

41. (canceled)

42. (canceled)

45. A method of using a needle and a vascular access port disposed in a subcutaneous space of a patient, the vascular access port including an internal reservoir and a self-sealing septum covering at least a portion of the reservoir, the method comprising:

providing a mechanism for detecting and indicating the presence or absence of the needle extending into the reservoir;

inserting the needle through the patient'"'"'s skin;

advancing the needle into the vascular access port until the needle detecting and indicating means generates an insertion signal; and

generating a removal signal with the needle detecting and indicating mechanism upon withdrawing the needle from the vascular access port.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein the insertion signal is indicative of the needle extending through the septum and into the internal reservoir.

47. The method of claim 46, further comprising infusing a therapeutic agent through the needle and into the vascular access port after the needle detecting and indicating means generates the insertion signal.

49. The method of claim 45, further comprising generating an alarm signal upon withdrawing the needle from the vascular access port.

48. (canceled)

50. A method of using a needle inserted into a vascular access port disposed in a subcutaneous space of a patient, the vascular access port including an internal reservoir and a self-sealing septum covering at least a portion of the reservoir, the method comprising:

providing a mechanism for detecting and indicating the presence or absence of the needle extending into the reservoir; and

generating a removal signal upon withdrawing the needle from the vascular access port.

51. The method of claim 50, further comprising generating an alarm signal upon withdrawing the needle from the vascular access port.