Systems and methods for radiographically identifying an access port

• US 10,857,340 B2
• Filed: 01/07/2019
• Issued: 12/08/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bard Peripheral Vascular Incorporated (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: Bard Peripheral Vascular Incorporated (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Barron, William R., Powers, Kelly B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mendez, Manuel A
• Application Number:
  US16/241,775
• Publication Number:
  US 20190134373A1
• Time in Patent Office: 701 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/12 Arrangements for detecting or locating foreign bodies
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/0205 for injecting media
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/0211 with multiple chambers in a single site
• 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 2205/32 with radio-opaque indicia
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/582 by tactile feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6054 Magnetic identification systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2207/00 Methods of manufacture, assembly or production
• 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: Y10T 156/10 Methods of surface bonding and/or assembly therefor

Abstract

A power-injectable access port and methods of making are described. One method of making includes forming a power-injectable access port housing, creating a screen including one or more apertures through the screen in the shape of one or more alphanumeric characters, suspending a radiopaque material in a silicone material to form a radiopaque suspension, and depositing the radiopaque suspension onto a surface of the power-injectable access port housing through the one or more apertures of the screen to create at least one radiopaque identification feature. The at least one radiopaque identification feature may have a thickness protruding from an outer surface of the port base such that it is perceivable by sight and touch prior to implantation of the power injectable access port, and is observable via imaging technology subsequent to subcutaneous implantation of the power-injectable access port.

Claims

1. A method of making a power-injectable access port, comprising:

forming a power-injectable access port housing;

creating a screen including one or more apertures through the screen in the shape of one or more alphanumeric characters;

suspending a radiopaque material in a silicone material to form a radiopaque suspension; and

depositing the radiopaque suspension onto a surface of the power-injectable access port housing through the one or more apertures of the screen to create at least one radiopaque identification feature having a thickness protruding from an outer surface of a power-injectable access port base such that it is perceivable by sight and touch prior to implantation of the power-injectable access port, the at least one radiopaque identification feature observable via imaging technology subsequent to subcutaneous implantation of the power-injectable access port, the at least one radiopaque identification feature indicating that the power-injectable access port is suitable for power injection.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the depositing step comprises:

holding the screen against the surface of the power-injectable access port housing;

applying the radiopaque suspension to the screen over the one or more apertures; and

forcing the radiopaque suspension through the one or more apertures and onto the surface of the power-injectable access port housing.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the screen comprises a sheet of stainless steel, and wherein the creating step comprises etching the one or more apertures through the sheet of stainless steel.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the etching comprises a chemical etching process.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein forming the power-injectable access port housing comprises:

forming a power-injectable access port cap;

forming the power-injectable access port base; and

capturing one or more septums between the power-injectable access port cap and the power-injectable access port base.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the surface of the power-injectable access port housing is a bottom surface of the power-injectable access port base.

7. The method according to claim 5, wherein forming the power-injectable access port base comprises forming a first fluid cavity and a second fluid cavity, and wherein capturing one or more septums comprises covering the first fluid cavity by a first septum, and covering the second fluid cavity by a second septum.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the surface of the power-injectable access port housing is a bottom surface of the power-injectable access port base.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the at least one radiopaque identification feature includes a first radiopaque identification feature and a second radiopaque identification feature, and wherein the depositing step comprises:

depositing the first radiopaque identification feature on the bottom surface of the power-injectable access port base under the first fluid cavity; and

depositing the second radiopaque identification feature on the bottom surface of the power-injectable access port base under the second fluid cavity.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the second radiopaque identification feature is distinguishable from the first radiopaque identification feature.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the one or more alphanumeric characters includes an abbreviation for computed tomography.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the abbreviation for computed tomography includes the letters “

C” and

“

T”

.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the second radiopaque identification feature is distinguishable from the first radiopaque identification feature.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the one or more alphanumeric characters includes an abbreviation for computed tomography.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the abbreviation for computed tomography includes the letters “

C” and

“

T”

.

16. The method according to claim 1, wherein the imaging technology includes x-ray imaging technology.

17. The method according to claim 1, wherein the power-injectable access port housing comprises a bio-compatible plastic material.

18. The method according to claim 1, wherein the radiopaque material is selected from the group consisting of tungsten, barium, titanium, and combinations thereof.

19. The method according to claim 1, further comprising activating the surface of the power-injectable access port housing prior to the depositing step via a Corona Treatment.

20. A method of making a power-injectable access port, comprising:

forming a power-injectable access port housing;

creating a screen including one or more apertures through the screen;

suspending a radiopaque material in a silicone material to form a radiopaque suspension; and

depositing the radiopaque suspension onto a surface of the power-injectable access port housing through the one or more apertures of the screen to create at least one radiopaque identification feature having a thickness protruding from an outer surface of a power-injectable access port base such that it is perceivable by sight and touch prior to implantation of the power-injectable access port, the at least one radiopaque identification feature observable via imaging technology subsequent to subcutaneous implantation of the power-injectable access port.