IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICES INCLUDING SEPTUM-BASED INDICATORS

• US 20100121283A1
• Filed: 11/13/2009
• Published: 05/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: C.R. Bard, Inc. (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: C.R. Bard, Inc. (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Hamatake, Bret, Evans, John G.
• Granted Patent: US 8,932,271 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/246
• 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 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: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

An access port for providing subcutaneous access to a patient is disclosed. The access port includes a septum including palpable identification indicia thereon. In particular, the access port in one embodiment includes a body that defines a fluid cavity and a needle-penetrable septum covering the fluid cavity for providing access thereto. The septum defines an outer periphery. One or more palpation features are included on the septum. The palpation features each include a portion that extends in a radial direction beyond the outer periphery of the septum. The palpation features are therefore disposed relatively farther away from each other, simplifying palpation and identification thereof after the port has been subcutaneously implanted into a patient. The palpation features can be indicative of an attribute of the port, such as its ability to withstand fluid pressures and flow rates associated with power injection, for instance.

Claims

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

a body defining a fluid cavity;

a needle-penetrable septum covering the fluid cavity for providing access to the fluid cavity, the septum defining an outer periphery; and

at least one palpation feature included on the septum, the at least one palpation feature including a portion that extends in a radial direction beyond the outer periphery of the septum.

2. The access port as defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one palpation feature includes a protrusion including a shape selected from the list consisting of:

tear-shaped, triangular, semi-spherical, round, elongate, and oblong.

3. The access port as defined in claim 1, wherein the septum is retained by a retaining ring and wherein the at least one palpation feature overlaps the retaining ring.

4. The access port as defined in claim 1, wherein the body includes a base and a cap, the base and the cap sandwiching the septum therebetween when the base and the cap are mated.

5. The access port as defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one palpation feature is indicative of the port being suitable for power injection.

6. The access port as defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one palpation feature is integrally formed with the septum.

7. The access port as defined in claim 1, wherein the outer periphery of the septum defines a geometric shape.

8. The access port as defined in claim 7, wherein the outer periphery of the septum is substantially round.

9. The access port as defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one palpation feature enables the port to be palpated by a clinician after subcutaneous implantation of the port so as to identify an attribute of the port.

10. A method of manufacturing an access port for providing subcutaneous access to a patient, the method comprising:

forming a port body, the port body defining a fluid cavity; and

securing a septum with the port body so as to cover the fluid cavity, the septum defining an outer periphery, the septum including at least one palpation feature that extends in a radial direction beyond the outer periphery of the septum.

11. The method of manufacturing as defined in claim 10, wherein the at least one palpation feature includes a protrusion that overlaps a portion of the port body adjacent the fluid cavity.

12. The method of manufacturing as defined in claim 10, wherein securing the septum with the port body further includes:

securing the septum between a cap portion and a base portion of the port body.

13. A needle-penetrable septum for use in an access port that provides subcutaneous access to a patient, the septum comprising:

a substantially disc-shaped septum body generally defining a substantially round outer periphery and a top surface; and

a plurality of palpation features integrally defined on the top surface of the septum body, each palpation feature protruding beyond both the top surface and the outer periphery of the septum body.

14. The septum as defined in claim 13, wherein the plurality of palpation features includes three equidistantly spaced protrusions integrally defined on the septum.

15. The septum as defined in claim 14, wherein each protrusion is tear-shaped.

16. The septum as defined in claim 13, wherein the palpation features are indicative of an attribute of the port in which the septum is disposed.

17. The septum as defined in claim 16, wherein the attribute of the port is the capability of the port to flow fluid therethrough at a rate of about five milliliters per second.

18. The septum as defined in claim 13, wherein the outer periphery of the septum is received into an aperture of a fluid cavity defined by a body of the port such that the palpation features overlap the aperture.

19. The access port as defined in claim 18, wherein the septum includes a first outer periphery and a second outer periphery, the palpation features radially protruding beyond the first outer periphery.

20. The access port as defined in claim 19, wherein the first outer periphery is defined by a portion of the septum that is exterior to the port body.