Access port identification systems and methods

• US 7,785,302 B2
• Filed: 03/06/2006
• Issued: 08/31/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bard Peripheral Vascular Incorporated (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: C.R. Bard, Inc. (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Powers, Kelly B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lucchesi; Nicholas D
• Assistant Examiner(s): BERDICHEVSKY, AARTI
• Application Number:
  US11/368,954
• Publication Number:
  US 20060247584A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,639 Days
• Field of Search: 604/288.01, 604/288.02
• US Class Current: 604/288.02
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/032 Transmission computed tomography [CT]
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/0045 Radiopaque indicia
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/0238 having means for locating the implanted device to insure proper injection, e.g. radio-emitter, protuberances, radio-opaque markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/582 by tactile feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/583 by visual feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6054 Magnetic identification systems
• 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 39/0247 Semi-permanent or permanent transcutaneous or percutaneous access sites to the inside of the body peritoneal dialysis catheters A61M1/285; tracheostomy devices A61M16/0465; measuring pressure within the body A61B5/03; colostomy devices A61F5/445; gastrotomy feeding tubes A61J15/0015; means for fixing a feeding tube outside of the body A61J15/0053
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/007 for contrast media

Abstract

An access port for subcutaneous implantation is disclosed. Such an access port may comprise a body for capturing a septum for repeatedly inserting a needle therethrough into a cavity defined within the body. Further, the access port may include at least one feature structured and configured for identification of the access port subsequent to subcutaneous implantation. Methods of identifying a subcutaneously implanted access port are also disclosed. For example, a subcutaneously implanted access port may be provided and at least one feature of the subcutaneously implanted access port may be perceived. Further, the subcutaneously implanted access port may be identified in response to perceiving the at least one feature.

Claims

1. A venous access port assembly for implantation into a patient, comprising:

a housing having a discharge port, a needle-penetrable septum, and a cap securable to the housing and retaining the septum securely in the assembly, the housing having a housing base defining a bottom wall of at least one reservoir, and an outwardly facing bottom surface,

the housing base including radiopaque alphanumeric characters that convey to a practitioner that the venous access port assembly is power injectable when an X-ray of the patient is taken after implantation.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the radiopaque alphanumeric message is applied to a surface of the housing base.

3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the radiopaque alphanumeric message is applied to the outwardly facing bottom surface of the housing base.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the radiopaque alphanumeric characters include the letters “

C” and

“

T”

.

5. A venous access port assembly for implantation into a patient, comprising:

a housing having an outlet, and

a needle-penetrable septum, the needle-penetrable septum and the housing together defining a reservoir,

wherein;

the assembly includes a radiopaque alphanumeric message observable through interaction with X-rays subsequent to subcutaneous implantation of the assembly, and

the alphanumeric message indicating that the assembly is power injectable.

6. The assembly of claim 5, wherein the alphanumeric message includes an abbreviation for computed tomography.

7. The assembly of claim 5, wherein the alphanumeric message is applied to the exterior of the assembly.

8. A venous access port assembly for implantation into a patient, comprising:

a housing and a needle-penetrable septum together defining a reservoir; and

the housing including an outlet and a radiopaque alphanumeric message observable through interaction with X-rays subsequent to subcutaneous implantation of the assembly into the patient, the radiopaque alphanumeric message identifying the venous access port assembly as suitable for power injection.

9. The assembly of claim 8, wherein the radiopaque alphanumeric message includes “

C” and

“

T”

.

10. A venous access port assembly for implantation into a patient, comprising:

a housing and a needle-penetrable septum together defining a reservoir; and

the housing including radiopaque markings including the alphanumeric message “

CT”

that conveys to a practitioner when an X-ray of the patient is taken after implantation that the venous access port assembly is suitable for power injection.