Implantable access device

• US 5,226,879 A
• Filed: 01/10/1992
• Issued: 07/13/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: James A. Knol, James C. Andrews, William D. Ensminger
• Original Assignee: James A. Knol, James C. Andrews, William D. Ensminger
• Inventors: Mastroeni, John J., Ensminger, William D., Knol, James A., Andrews, James C.
• Primary Examiner(s): YASKO JR, JOHN D
• Application Number:
  US07/818,626
• Time in Patent Office: 550 Days
• Field of Search: 604/93, 604/86, 604/167, 604/175, 604/256, 604/132, 604/131, 604/140, 604/141, 604/82, 604/83, 128/764, 128/769
• US Class Current: 604/288.03
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/0211 with multiple chambers in a single site
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/062 used with a catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/0633 the seal being a passive seal made of a resilient material with or without an opening
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/064 Slit-valve
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/0653 Perforated disc
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/0666 Flap-valve
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/0686 comprising more than one seal
• 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 39/0606 without means for adjusting the seal opening or pressure A61M39/0693 takes precedence

Abstract

An infusion device which permits transcutaneous access to an implanted catheter for use in introducing an external filament such as a optical fiber, external catheter, guide wire or rigid needle. In accordance with this invention the device includes a valve assembly including a first valve element defining an aperture with a sealing member which is normally to engage and seal against the aperture. The sealing element is made from a hard material such as a metal. Upon introduction of a rigid external introducer such as a needle, the needle directly contacts the sealing member plug unsealing it from the valve element aperture which then closes against the external element. The device enables repeated access using a sharp introduced element such as a needle without it contacting soft sealing elements which could be degraded by such repeated access.

Claims

1. An implantable access port to permit the introduction of an external filament such as an external catheter, needle, guide wire or optical fiber within a patient comprising:

a housing defining a generally funnel shaped entrance orifice, an entrance passageway and an exit passageway, said entrance orifice for guiding said external filament into said housing entrance passageway and an exit passageway,

an elastomeric valve element disposed within said housing between said entrance and exit passageways defining an aperture for permitting the passage of said external filament therethrough,

sealing means for defining a plug which is urged into sealing engagement with said valve element aperture, said plug being forced from sealing engagement with said aperture upon contact with said external filament as said external filament is introduced into said port through said entrance passageway, and

mounting means formed by said housing for enabling fastening of said housing subcutanously.

2. An implantable access port according to claim 1 wherein said plug is shaped to extend partially through and expand said valve element aperture when said external filament is not within said housing and wherein said valve element aperture constricts into sealing engagement with said external filament upon said plug being forced from sealing engagement with said aperture.

3. An implantable access port according to claim 2 wherein said plug defines a convex outer surface which aids in expanding said valve element aperture.

4. An implantable access port according to claim 1 wherein said aperture is circular.

5. An implantable access port according to claim 1 wherein said housing entrance passageway is oriented with respect to said plug whereby upon introduction of said external filament, said filament contacts said plug and is prevented from contacting said sealing element while said plug is in said sealing engagement with said valve element aperture.

6. An implantable access port according to claim 5 wherein said plug defines a concave central area which is engaged by said external filament.

7. An implantable access port according to claim 1 wherein said plug is formed of a metal.

8. An implantable access port according to claim 1 wherein said sealing means comprises a disk having plural leaves with each having plug segments at near the center of said disk which together define said plug.

9. An implantable access port according to claim 8 wherein said sealing means disk is made of metal and wherein said plug segments are formed integrally by said disk.

10. An implantable access port according to claim 8 wherein said plug segments are formed by separate metal elements bonded to a substrate.

11. An implantable access port according to claim 1 wherein said sealing member plug is supported by an arm urging said plug into engagement with said valve element aperture.

12. An implantable access port according to claim 1 further comprising a second elastomeric valve element disposed in engagement with said sealing means and positioned adjacent said exit passageway.

13. An implantable access port according to claim 12 wherein said second elastomeric valve element comprises a leaflet valve having plural leaves which join near the center of said valve.

14. An implantable patient access port to permit the introduction of a needle for the removal or introduction of a fluid through an implanted catheter, or permitting the introduction of a filament such as an external catheter, guide wire or optical fiber, comprising:

a housing defining a generally funnel shaped entrance orifice for guiding said needle into a housing entrance passageway, said housing further having an exit passageway with a valve chamber within said housing between said entrance and exit passageway, said housing further having means for connecting said passageway to said implanted catheter,

an elastomeric valve element positioned within said valve chamber adjacent said housing entrance passageway, and having a generally round aperture located in alignment with said housing entrance passageway.

sealing means for defining a plug which is normally biased into sealing engagement with said valve element aperture and enlarging said aperture, said plug being formed of a hard material for enabling repeated engagement with said needle, said plug projecting toward said housing entrance passageway whereby insertion of said needle or said filament and engagement with said plug forces said plug to deflect out of said aperture and allowing said valve member aperture to constrict into sealing contact with said needle or said filament, and

mounting means formed by said housing enabling fastening of said housing subcutaneously.

15. An implantable access port according to claim 14 wherein sad housing passageway is oriented with respect to said plug whereby upon introduction of said needle or said external filament, said needle or said filament contacts said plug and is prevented from contacting said sealing element while said plug is in said sealing engagement with said sealing element aperture.

16. An implantable access port according to claim 14 wherein said plug defines a concave central area which is engaged by said needle or said external filament.

17. An implantable access port according to claim 14 wherein said plug is formed of a metal.

18. An implantable patient access port according to claim 14 wherein said sealing member comprises a disk having plural leaves which join at near the center of said disk to define said plug.

19. An implantable access port according to claim 18 wherein said plug is defined by a plug segment disposed at the center region of each of said leaves.

20. An implantable access port according to claim 18 wherein said sealing means disk is made of metal and wherein said plug segments are formed integrally by said disk.

21. An implantable access port according to claim 18 wherein said plug segments are formed by separate metal elements bonded to a substrate.

22. An implantable access port according to claim 14 wherein said sealing member plug is supported by an arm urging said plug into engagement with said valve element aperture.

23. An implantable access device according to claim 14 wherein said plug defines a convex shaped outer surface with a central region defining a concave disk.

24. An implantable access device according to claim 14 further comprising a second elastomeric valve element disposed in engagement with said sealing means and positioned adjacent said exit passageway.

25. An implantable access device according to claim 24 wherein said second elastomeric valve element comprises a leaflet valve having plural leaves which join near the center of said valve.

26. An implantable access port to permit the introduction of an external filament such as an external catheter, needle, guide wire or optical fiber within a patient comprising:

a housing defining a generally funnel shaped entrance orifice for guiding sad external filament into a housing entrance passageway, said housing further defining an exit passageway and a valve chamber positioned between said passageways,

a sealing ball element disposed within said valve chamber,

a valve member disposed in said housing valve chamber defining a ball seat wherein when said ball rests on said ball seat, fluid flow between said entrance and exit passageways is inhibited, said ball seat positioning said ball such that said external filament engages said ball and displaces said ball from sealing contact with said ball seat thereby allowing said external filament to enter said exit passageway, said ball being resiliently biased into engagement with said seat when said external filament is removed.

27. An implantable access device according to claim 26 wherein said ball seat positions said ball off-center with respect to the axis of said entrance and exit passageways.

28. An implantable access device according to claim 26 wherein said ball seat is defined by a piston member which is resiliently biased by an elastomeric biasing member.

29. An implantable access device according to claim 28 wherein said piston member is caused to be displaced toward said entrance orifice upon said ball being displaced allowing passage of said external filament.

30. An implantable access device according to claim 29 wherein said elastomeric biasing member comprises a bushing having a central passageway through which said external filament passes upon introduction of said filament and wherein compression of said bushing caused by displacement of said ball causes said central passageway to constrict into sealing engagement with sad external filament.

31. An implantable access port to permit the introduction of an external filament such as an external catheter, needle, guide wire or optical fiber within a patient comprising:

a housing defining a generally funnel shaped entrance orifice, an entrance passageway and an exit passageway, said entrance orifice for guiding said external filament into said housing entrance passageway and an exit passageway,

valve means disposed within said housing valve chamber having an elastomeric sealing element defining an aperture through which said filament passes, and having an actuating element which causes said aperture to constrict around said filament after said filament has been introduced into said housing.