Implantable access device

• US 5,741,228 A
• Filed: 02/17/1995
• Issued: 04/21/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AngioDynamics, Inc., Rita Medical Systems Incorporated (AngioDynamics, Inc.), Bank Of America NA (Bank of America Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Strato/Infusaid
• Inventors: Khera, Ashish, Makower, Joshua, Vidal, Claude A., Lambrecht, Gregory H., Bhatia, Sangeeta N., McDonald, David, Redmond, Russell J., Flaherty, J. Christopher, Plyley, Alan K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bockelman, Mark
• Application Number:
  US08/390,014
• Time in Patent Office: 1,159 Days
• Field of Search: 604/256, 604/93, 604/167, 604/891.1, 604/175, 251/149.3
• US Class Current: 604/288.01
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/26 Valves closing automatically on disconnecting the line and opening on reconnection thereof check valves A61M39/24
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14276 specially adapted for implantation

Abstract

An implantable access device for allowing repeat access to a site, space, device, or other object, fluid, tissue or region within the body of a patient. The implantable device, in one embodiment, includes a housing having an elongated open guidance channel that leads to an entrance orifice, a valve assembly communicating with the entrance orifice, and an exit orifice. The device permits access via the percutaneous insertion of an accessing filament such as a needle through the entrance orifice and into the valve assembly, which opens to allow the passage of fluids or other filaments such as guide wires or optical fibers. The device can be used for the introduction of therapeutic agents, for the infusion or withdrawal of fluids, or for the introduction of sensing, sampling, or treatment devices to another implanted device or to regions within the patient.

Claims

1. An implantable access device comprising a housing having at least one entry port and at least one exit port with a passageway extending therebetween, said housing further comprising an elongated open entrance guidance channel disposed therein having a tenth and communicating with said entry port, said channel having a substantially constant transverse cross sectional area substantially along the length, with substantially constant cross sectional area substantially along the length, with said channel further being adaptable to receive a filament for guiding said filament toward and into said entry port, and with said housing further including a valve assembly disposed and into said entry port, and with said housing further including a valve assembly disposed in said passageway, said valve assembly adapted to be activated by said filament after passage of said filament through said entry port, said valve assembly being normally closed but adapted to be opened by said filament to allow access through said exit port, wherein said valve assembly comprises a sealing element and a valve disposed in said passageway, with said sealing element being positioned closer to said entry port than is said valve, said filament and said sealing element coacting to first create a seal about said filament before said valve opens to allow said access, and wherein said sealing element comprises an elastomeric member with a first end and a second end and an open conduit therebetween, said first end being substantially fixed in position within said housing and said second end having a resilient cap affixed thereto, said cap being adapted to withstand repeat contact with said filament, resisting passage of said filament such that when said filament is advanced through said conduit the filament makes contact with said cap causing said elastomeric member to stretch and collapse around said filament.

2. The device according to claim 1 wherein said elastomeric member has an outer dimension, said outer dimension at a first location having a first size which decreases to an outer dimension of a second size at a second location, said decrease corresponding to a decrease in dimension of said passageway such that when said elastomeric member is stretched by advancement of said filament, the larger outer dimension of said elastomeric member is compressed against said accessing filament within the smaller dimension of said passageway.

3. An implantable access device comprising a housing having at least one entry port and at least one exit port with a passageway extending therebetween, said entry port being adapted to receive a filament for passage into said passageway, said housing further including and disposed in said passageway a valve assembly comprising a valve and a sealing element, said sealing element comprising an elastomeric member with a first and second end and an open conduit therebetween, said first end being substantially fixed in position within said housing and said second end having a resilient cap affixed thereto, said cap being adapted to withstand repeat contact with said filament, resisting passage of said filament such that when said filament is advanced through said conduit the filament makes contact with said cap causing said elastomeric member to stretch and collapse around said filament, said valve assembly adapted to be activated by said filament after passage of said filament through said entry port whereupon a seal, independent of activation of said valve, is created by said sealing element about said filament before said valve opens to allow access through said exit port.

4. The device according to claim 3 wherein said valve comprises a miter valve.

5. The device according to claim 3 wherein said housing further comprises means for retaining an accessing filament in a fixed position within said housing.

6. The device according to claim 3 wherein said exit port is adapted to be connected to a catheter, a graft, or an implanted medical device.

7. The device according to claim 3 wherein said filament is a needle having a point and wherein said housing further includes means for guiding said needle through said conduit and into said resilient cap such that said point of said needle contacts only said resilient cap.