Implantable access devices

• US 5,281,199 A
• Filed: 09/04/1992
• Issued: 01/25/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Michigan Transtech Corporation
• Original Assignee: Michigan Transtech Corporation
• Inventors: Ensminger, William D., Gavin, Robert F.
• Primary Examiner(s): YASKO JR, JOHN D
• Application Number:
  US07/940,619
• Time in Patent Office: 508 Days
• Field of Search: 604/167, 604/175, 604/174, 604/93, 604/82, 604/83, 604/86, 604/256
• 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 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 access port for implantation within the body of a patient for providing repeated access to specific tissue within the patient and communicating with the tissue by an implanted internal catheter. The access ports in accordance with this invention include a housing having funnel a shaped inlet orifice leading to a reduced diameter guide passageway. An articulating valve which may take various forms including leaflet type valves or self-collapsing tubular valves are placed in line with the access port housing. An external filament such as a needle, guide wire, optical fiber, or external catheter can be introduced into the access device and fed through the housing to penetrate the articulating valve. This system allows the introduction of therapeutic agents, the removal of fluids from the body, or the introduction of sensing or articulating devices to specific sites within the patient.

Claims

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

an access housing defining a generally funnel shaped entrance orifice communicating with a passageway terminating at an outlet, said entrance orifice guiding the external filament inserted percutaneously into said passageway, said housing having means for supporting said housing within the body of the patient,

a valve assembly having an inlet connected with said access housing outlet and having an outlet for connection with a site within the body of the patient, said valve assembly normally resisting the passage of fluids across said valve assembly yet opens to permit passage of the external filament inserted through said access housing passageway and into said valve assembly, and

conduit means for connecting said access housing outlet with said valve assembly.

2. An access port according to claim 1 wherein said valve assembly comprises an articulating valve.

3. An access port according to claim 2 wherein said articulating valve comprises a leaflet valve having at least one generally flat disc of a resilient material with at least one cut through said disk.

4. An access port according to claim 3 wherein said leaflet valve includes at lest two of said discs which are stacked together and are oriented so that said cut of a first of said discs is not aligned with said cut of a second of said valve disks.

5. An access port according to claim 1 further comprising stop means within said access housing passageway for restricting the passage of a relatively rigid external filament while permitting a relatively more flexible introduced filament to pass through said access hosing and into said valve assembly.

6. An access port according to claim 5 wherein said stop means comprises a ben din said housing passageway.

7. An access port according to claim 1 wherein said conduit means is flexible.

8. An access port according to claim 1 further comprising an implanted catheter connected with said valve assembly outlet and said site.

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

an access hosing defining a generally funnel shaped entrance orifice communicating with a passageway, said entrance orifice guiding said external filament inserted percutaneously into said passageway, said housing having means for supporting said housing within the body of the patient, and

a valve connected to said access housing passageway, said valve in the form of a hollow tube having an interior cavity and formed of an elastomeric material which normally remains in a flattened condition causing said interior cavity to be occluded thus resisting the passage of fluids through said valve yet opens to permit passage of said external filament into said interior cavity when said external filament is inserted through said housing passageway and into said valve, said valve having an outlet communicating with a site within the body of the patient.

10. An implantable access port according to claim 9 wherein said access housing passageway terminates in an outlet and said valve is attache to said housing outlet.

11. An implantable access port according to claim 10 wherein said valve terminates in an internal catheter segment having a round cross-section which communicates with said site within the body of the patient.

12. An implantable access port according to claim 9 wherein said valve opens through contact with said external filament during insertion thereof.

13. An access port according to claim 9 further comprising stop means within said access housing for restricting the passage of a relatively rigid filament while permitting a relatively more flexible introduced filament to pass through said access housing and into said valve.

14. An access port according to claim 13 wherein said stop means comprises a bend in said housing passageway.