Implantable infusion port

• US 4,778,452 A
• Filed: 06/19/1987
• Issued: 10/18/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Surgical Engineering Associates Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Surgical Engineering Associates Incorporated
• Inventors: Caldwell, Michael D., Moden, James R., Moden, Robert D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pellegrino, Stephen C.
• Application Number:
  US07/065,644
• Time in Patent Office: 487 Days
• Field of Search: 604/175, 604/174, 604/180, 604/891, 604/93, 604/272, 604/244
• US Class Current: 604/288.02
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/0211 with multiple chambers in a single site
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/0208 Subcutaneous access sites for injecting or removing fluids transcutaneous access sites A61M39/0247; implantable infusion devices A61M5/14276

Abstract

An implantable infusion port for dispensing medication in the body of a patient comprises a septum which is preferably integrally molded from a nontoxic, rubberized material and has an interior cavity formed therein for receiving medication in the septum, and a catheter element which extends from the cavity to the exterior of the septum for dispensing medication in the body of a patient. The septum has a rounded dome-shaped configuration, and the infusion port is surgically implantable in the body of a patient so that it is positioned beneath the skin and subcutaneous tissue of the patient. After the infusion port has been implanted in the patient, medication can be introduced into the cavity by inserting a hypodermic needle through the skin of the patient and through the side wall of the septum. The rounded dome-shaped configuration and the integrally molded construction of the septum minimize patient discomfort and provide an increased needle penetration area in the infusion port so that it does not become rapidly damaged by needle penetrations and it can be effectively used over a prolonged period of time without requiring replacement.

Claims

1. A subcutaneously implantable infusion port for dispensing medication in the body of a patient in combination with a hypodermic injection needle for injecting medication into said infusion port, said infusion port comprising a septum having a base portion, a side wall portion and a top wall portion which cooperate to define an enclosed cavity in said septum, at least a portion of said side wall portion being made of a material which is penetrable by said needle for introducing medication into said cavity but which is substantially self-sealing upon removal of said needle therefrom, and catheter means providing communication between said cavity and the exterior of said septum for dispensing said medication in the body of said patient, said hypodermic injection needle comprising connected tip and shank portions disposed approximately perpendicular to each other and being constructed so that when said infusion port is subcutaneously implanted in a patient, said needle is positionable with said shank portion thereof in substantially perpendicular relation to the body of said patient for facilitating handling of said needle during the insertion of said tip portion through the skin of said patient and through the penetrable side wall portion of said septum, and is thereafter rotatable about said tip portion to a position wherein said shank portion lies substantially parallel to and adjacent to the body of said patient.

2. In the infusion port of claim 1, said side wall portion being substantially entirely made of said material which is penetrable.

3. In the infusion port of claim 1, said base portion extending outwardly from around the periphery of said side wall portion to define a peripheral rim on said septum, said infusion port further comprising reinforcing means in said rim portion, said reinforcing means being penetrable for securing said infusion port to adjacent tissue in the body of said patient.