Implantable access devices

• US 5,350,360 A
• Filed: 10/08/1993
• Issued: 09/27/1994
• 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:
  US08/148,394
• Time in Patent Office: 354 Days
• Field of Search: 604/93, 604/167, 604/175, 604/241, 604/242, 604/243, 604/280, 604/283, 604/86, 604/82, 604/83
• US Class Current: 604/288.03
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3653 Interfaces between patient blood circulation and extra-corporal blood circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/0211 with multiple chambers in a single site
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/0214 some or all chambers sharing a single septum
• 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 2039/0673 comprising means actively pressing on the device passing through the seal, e.g. inflatable seals, diaphragms, clamps
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/00 Devices for bringing media into the body in a subcutaneous, intra-vascular or intramuscular way; Accessories therefor, e.g. filling or cleaning devices, arm-rests vaccination appliances for veterinary use A61D1/025 ; tube connectors, tube couplings, valves or branch units specially adapted for medical use A61M39/00; containers specially adapted for medical or pharmaceutical purposes A61J1/00; combinations of vial and syringe for mixing or transferring their contents A61J1/20; holders for containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3286 Needle tip design, e.g. for improved penetration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3291 Shafts with additional lateral openings

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 a funnel 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 device for permitting access to an internal catheter by a filament such as a needle, external catheter, wire or optical fiber, said device being implantable within the body of a patient and comprising:

a housing having a funnel shaped entrance orifice, a passageway and an exit orifice, said entrance orifice having a decreasing cross sectional area defining a target area for insertion of said filament and causing said filament introduced into said entrance orifice to be directed to and enter said passageway, said passageway connecting said entrance orifice with said exit orifice;

a leaflet valve positioned within said passageway and normally remaining closed for providing resistance to fluid flow through said passageway, said leaflet valve also permitting passage of said filament therethrough for enabling said filament to communicate with said internal catheter, said leaflet valve including a resilient disk of elastomeric material having a single slit extending thereacross and defining two leaves in said disk; and

supporting means for supporting said access device within the body of a patient.

2. An access device according to claim 1 wherein said leaflet valve includes a second resilient disk of elastomeric material having a single slit extending thereacross and defining two leaves therein.

3. An access device according to claim 2 wherein said slits of said resilient disks are angularly disaligned with one another.

4. An access device according to claim 1 wherein said slit extends at least partially across said resilient disk.

5. An access device according to claim 2 wherein said slit of said second resilient disk extends at least partially across said second resilient disk.

6. An access device according to claim 1 further comprising a valve element having a generally centrally located aperture therein.

7. An access device according to claim 6 wherein said valve element is located between said entrance orifice and said resilient disk.

8. An access device according to claim 6 wherein said valve element is located between said resilient disk and said exit orifice.

9. An access device according to claim 1 further comprising a pair of valve elements each having a generally centrally located aperture therein.

10. An access device according to claim 9 wherein said aperture of one of said pair of valve elements is larger than said aperture of the other of said pair of valve elements.

11. An access device according to claim 9 wherein said resilient disk is located between said pair of valve elements.

12. An access device according to claim 11 wherein one of said pair of valve elements is located between said entrance orifice and said resilient disk and wherein the other of said pair of valve elements is located between said exit orifice and said resilient disk.

13. An access device according to claim 12 wherein said aperture of said valve element located between said entrance orifice and said resilient disk is larger than said aperture of the other of said pair of valve elements.

14. An access device according to claim 2 further comprising a valve element having a generally centrally located aperture therein.

15. An access device according to claim 14 wherein said valve element is located between said resilient disk and said exit orifice.

16. An access device according to claim 14 wherein said valve element is located between said resilient disk and said exit orifice.

17. An access device according to claim 2 further comprising a pair of valve elements each having a generally centrally located aperture therein.

18. An access device according to claim 17 wherein said aperture of one of said pair of valve elements is larger than said aperture of the other of said pair of valve elements.

19. An access device according to claim 85 wherein said resilient disk is located between said pair of valve elements.

20. An access device according to claim 19 wherein said aperture of said valve element located generally adjacent to said exit orifice is smaller than said aperture of said other valve element located generally adjacent to said entrance orifice.