Access port identification systems and methods

• US 9,603,992 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2013
• Issued: 03/28/2017
• 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): BERDICHEVSKY, AARTI
• Application Number:
  US13/853,956
• Publication Number:
  US 20130225990A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,460 Days
• Field of Search: 604/288.01, 604/288.02
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 suitable for power injection, comprising:

a housing having an outlet and a needle-penetrable septum, the housing and septum together defining a reservoir, the housing defining a bottom wall of the reservoir and an outwardly facing bottom surface, the bottom wall comprising a metal;

a catheter configured for accessing a vein of a patient, the catheter having a lumen in communication with the outlet; and

a radiopaque alphanumeric message observable via imaging technology subsequent to subcutaneous implantation of the venous access port assembly, the radiopaque alphanumeric message indicating that the venous access port assembly is suitable for power injection, the radiopaque alphanumeric message positioned on the outwardly facing bottom surface etched into the metal.

2. The venous access port assembly according to claim 1, wherein the imaging technology includes x-ray imaging technology.

3. The venous access port assembly according to claim 1, wherein the radiopaque alphanumeric message includes an abbreviation for computed tomography.

4. The venous access port assembly according to claim 3, wherein the abbreviation for computed tomography includes letters “

C” and

“

T”

.

5. The venous access port assembly according to claim 1, wherein the radiopaque identifier includes an abbreviation for computed tomography.

6. The venous access port assembly according to claim 5, wherein the abbreviation includes letters “

C” and

“

T”

.

7. A venous access port assembly suitable for power injection, comprising:

a housing having an outlet and a needle-penetrable septum, the housing and septum together defining a reservoir, the housing defining a bottom wall of the reservoir and an outwardly facing bottom surface, the bottom wall comprising a metal;

a catheter configured for accessing a vein of a patient, the catheter having a lumen in communication with the outlet; and

a radiopaque identifier including letters “

CT”

observable via x-ray imaging technology subsequent to subcutaneous implantation of the venous access port assembly to indicate that the venous access port assembly is suitable for power injection, the letters “

CT”

positioned on the outwardly facing bottom surface etched into the metal.