ACCESS PORT IDENTIFICATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20080140025A1
• Filed: 01/31/2008
• Published: 06/12/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bard Peripheral Vascular Incorporated (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: C.R. Bard, Inc. (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Gerondale, Jay D., Lowe, Matthew M., Stats, Jason R., Burnside, Eddie K., Sheetz, Kevin W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,959,615 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/288.02
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/032 Transmission computed tomography [CT]
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/0045 Radiopaque indicia
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/0238 having means for locating the implanted device to insure proper injection, e.g. radio-emitter, protuberances, radio-opaque markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/582 by tactile feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/583 by visual feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6054 Magnetic identification systems
• 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 39/0247 Semi-permanent or permanent transcutaneous or percutaneous access sites to the inside of the body peritoneal dialysis catheters A61M1/285; tracheostomy devices A61M16/0465; measuring pressure within the body A61B5/03; colostomy devices A61F5/445; gastrotomy feeding tubes A61J15/0015; means for fixing a feeding tube outside of the body A61J15/0053
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/007 for contrast media

Abstract

An access port for subcutaneous implantation is disclosed. Such an access port may comprise a body for capturing a septum for repeatedly inserting a needle therethrough into a cavity defined within the body. Further, the access port may include at least one feature structured and configured for identification of the access port subsequent to subcutaneous implantation. Methods of identifying a subcutaneously implanted access port are also disclosed. For example, a subcutaneously implanted access port may be provided and at least one feature of the subcutaneously implanted access port may be perceived. Further, the subcutaneously implanted access port may be identified in response to perceiving the at least one feature.

Claims

1. An access port for providing subcutaneous access to a patient, comprising:

a body configured for capturing a septum for repeatedly inserting a needle therethrough into a cavity defined within the body; and

at least one feature of the access port structured to identify the access port subsequent to subcutaneous implantation.

2. The access port of claim 1, wherein the at least one feature comprises at least one of the following:

a generally quadrilateral exterior, a generally triangular exterior, and an arcuate exterior.

3. The access port of claim 1, wherein:

the body comprises a cap and a base assembled to one another generally along a mating line; and

the at least one feature comprises a peripheral discontinuity proximate the mating line and extending at least partially about a periphery of the access port.

4. The access port of claim 1, wherein the at least one feature comprises at least one of the following:

a protrusion, a protruding region, a circumferentially extending protrusion, a recess, a recessed region, a circumferentially extending recess, at least one suture aperture, an overhanging rim feature, a lip feature, an undulation, and adjacent features of different elevation.

5. The access port of claim 1, wherein the access port further comprises at least one suture aperture configured and positioned so as to identify the access port subsequent to subcutaneous implantation.

6. The access port of claim 1, wherein the at least one feature comprises at least one of the following:

a substantially planar side surface defining a portion of the body of the access port, an arcuate side surface defining a portion of the body of the access port, and a concave region of at least a portion of a side surface defining a portion of the body of the access port.

7. The access port of claim 1, wherein the at least one feature forms an elongated side portion of the body of the access port.

8. A method of identifying a subcutaneously implanted access port, comprising:

providing a subcutaneously implanted access port;

perceiving at least one feature of the subcutaneously implanted access port; and

identifying the subcutaneously implanted access port in response to perceiving the at least one feature.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein perceiving the at least one feature comprises employing at least one of palpation, x-ray, ultrasound, and RFID technology.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein perceiving the at least one feature comprises perceiving at least one of the following:

a generally quadrilateral exterior, a generally triangular exterior, and an arcuate exterior.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein perceiving the at least one feature comprises perceiving at least one of the following:

a protrusion, a protruding region, a circumferentially extending protrusion, a recess, a recessed region, a circumferentially extending recess, at least one suture aperture, an overhanging rim feature, a lip feature, an undulation, and adjacent features of different elevation.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein identifying the subcutaneously implanted access port comprises identifying the subcutaneously implanted access port as being power injectable in response to perceiving the at least one feature.

13. An access port for providing subcutaneous access to a patient, comprising:

a body configured for capturing a septum for repeatedly inserting a needle therethrough into a cavity defined within the body; and

at least one feature of the access port structured to identify the access port as being power injectable subsequent to subcutaneous implantation.

14. The access port of claim 13, wherein the at least one feature comprises at least one of the following:

a generally quadrilateral exterior, a generally triangular exterior, and an arcuate exterior.

15. The access port of claim 13, wherein:

the body comprises a cap and a base assembled to one another generally along a mating line; and

the at least one feature comprises a peripheral discontinuity proximate the mating line and extending at least partially about a periphery of the access port.

16. The access port of claim 13, wherein the at least one feature comprises at least one of the following:

a protrusion, a protruding region, a circumferentially extending protrusion, a recess, a recessed region, a circumferentially extending recess, at least one suture aperture, an overhanging rim feature, a lip feature, an undulation, and adjacent features of different elevation.

17. The access port of claim 13, wherein the access port further comprises at least one suture aperture configured and positioned so as to identify the access port subsequent to subcutaneous implantation.

18. The access port of claim 13, wherein the at least one feature comprises at least one of the following:

a substantially planar side surface defining a portion of the body of the access port, an arcuate side surface defining a portion of the body of the access port, and a concave region of at least a portion of a side surface defining a portion of the body of the access port.

19. The access port of claim 13, wherein the at least one feature forms an elongated side portion of the body of the access port.