Implantable injection port with tissue in-growth promoter

• US 20120123197A1
• Filed: 11/16/2010
• Published: 05/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Woodruff, Scott A., Thompson, Eric W., Noschang, Sarah A., Marcotte, Amy L., Vendely, Michael J., Andrews, James C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,852,217 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/37
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0077 Special surfaces of prostheses, e.g. for improving ingrowth A61F2/30767 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0056 using injection ports
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/0223 having means for anchoring the subcutaneous access site
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/0229 having means for facilitating assembling, e.g. snap-fit housing or modular design
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/0261 Means for anchoring port to the body, or ports having a special shape or being made of a specific material to allow easy implantation/integration in the body
• 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 5/14276 specially adapted for implantation

Abstract

A surgically implantable injection port has a tissue in-growth promoting surface associated with a fluid conduit that is coupled to the injection port. The injection port includes a housing, a fluid reservoir defined in part by the housing, a needle penetrable septum, a fluid conduit in communication with the reservoir, and a tissue in-growth promoting surface coupled to the fluid conduit. The tissue in-growth promoting surface may be provided by surgical mesh wrapped around the conduit or through which the conduit is threaded. The injection port and the fluid conduit may be used as part of a gastric band system or some other type of system.

Claims

1. A surgically implantable injection port, comprising:

(a) a housing;

(b) a fluid reservoir defined in part by the housing;

(c) a needle penetrable septum having an outer surface, wherein the septum defines part of the fluid reservoir such that the reservoir is configured to receive part of a needle inserted through the outer surface of the septum;

(d) a fluid conduit in fluid communication with the reservoir; and

(e) surgical mesh for promoting tissue in-growth, the surgical mesh having a first portion attached to the housing and a second portion coupled to at least a portion of the fluid conduit.

2. The injection port of claim 1, wherein the second portion of the surgical mesh is wrapped around at least a portion of the fluid conduit.

3. The injection port of claim 1, wherein the second portion of the surgical mesh comprises a series of apertures formed through the surgical mesh, and wherein the fluid conduit extends through the apertures of the second portion of the surgical mesh.

4. The injection port of claim 3, wherein the second portion of the surgical mesh is pleated, with the fluid conduit extending through apertures in adjacent pleats.

5. The injection port of claim 1, wherein the first portion of the surgical mesh is bonded to an exterior surface of the injection port.

6. The injection port of claim 1, wherein the first portion of the surgical mesh is mounted at least partially within the housing.

7. The injection port of claim 6, wherein the first portion of the surgical mesh extends over the outer surface of the septum.

8. The injection port of claim 1, wherein the fluid conduit is mounted over a fitting extending from the port housing, and further wherein the second portion of surgical mesh extends adjacent the portion of the fluid conduit mounted over the fitting in order to prevent detachment of the fluid conduit from the fitting.

9. The injection port of claim 1, wherein the surgical mesh comprises a plurality of polymer filaments.

10. The injection port of claim 1, further comprising a gastric band having an inflatable member, the fluid conduit coupling the reservoir with the inflatable member, wherein the reservoir, the fluid conduit, and the inflatable member together form a closed fluid circuit.

11. A method of installing an injection port and associated conduit in a patient, wherein the injection port comprises a housing, a fluid reservoir, and a needle penetrable septum in communication with the fluid reservoir, the method comprising:

(a) positioning the injection port in the patient;

(b) coupling a tissue in-growth promoting material to the conduit; and

(c) attaching the conduit to the injection port such that the interior of the conduit is in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the tissue in-growth promoting material comprises an elongate strip of surgical mesh.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of coupling the surgical mesh to the conduit comprises wrapping the surgical mesh about at least a portion of the conduit.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the elongate strip of surgical mesh includes a plurality of apertures, and wherein the step of coupling the surgical mesh to the conduit comprises threading the conduit through the apertures in the surgical mesh so as to pleat the surgical mesh with the conduit extending through apertures in adjacent pleats.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the surgical mesh is coupled to the conduit after the conduit is attached to the injection port.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising the steps of positioning a gastric band in a patient and connecting the conduit with the gastric band to provide fluid communication between the gastric band and the reservoir of the injection port.

17. A surgically implantable injection port, comprising:

(a) a housing;

(b) a fluid reservoir defined in part by the housing;

(c) a needle penetrable septum having an outer surface, wherein the septum defines part of the fluid reservoir such that the reservoir is configured to receive part of a needle inserted through the outer surface of the septum;

(d) a fluid conduit in fluid communication with the reservoir; and

(e) a pleated elongate strip of surgical mesh for promoting tissue in-growth, the surgical mesh having a plurality of apertures formed therethrough, the apertures being spaced apart along the length of the pleated strip, wherein the fluid conduit extends through apertures in adjacent pleats.

18. The injection port of claim 17, wherein the pleated mesh strip further includes a first end, wherein the first end of the mesh strip is secured to the housing.

19. The injection port of claim 17, wherein the surgical mesh comprises a plurality of polymer filaments.

20. The injection port of claim 17, further comprising a gastric band having an inflatable member, the fluid conduit coupling the reservoir with the inflatable member, wherein the reservoir, the fluid conduit, and the inflatable member together form a closed fluid circuit.