Low-Profile Access Port

• US 20140207086A1
• Filed: 01/23/2014
• Published: 07/24/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: C.R. Bard, Inc. (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: C.R. Bard, Inc. (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Stats, Jason R., Hamatake, Bret, Hibdon, Dwight T., Christian, Kelly J., Orome, Amir, Snyder, Scott W.
• Granted Patent: US 10,463,845 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/288.01
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/0211 with multiple chambers in a single site
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/0232 having means for facilitating the insertion into the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/0235 having an additional inlet, e.g. for a guidewire or a catheter tube
• 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 39/0208 Subcutaneous access sites for injecting or removing fluids transcutaneous access sites A61M39/0247; implantable infusion devices A61M5/14276
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A low-profile access port for subcutaneous implantation within the body of a patient is disclosed. The access port includes a receiving cup that provides a relatively large subcutaneous target to enable a catheter-bearing needle to access the port without difficulty. In addition, the access port includes a valve/seal assembly to permit pressurized fluid injection through the port while preventing backflow. In one embodiment, therefore, a low-profile access port comprises a body including a conduit with an inlet port at a proximal end thereof, and a receiving cup. The receiving cup is concavely shaped to direct a catheter-bearing needle into the conduit via the inlet port. The receiving cup is oriented substantially toward a skin surface when subcutaneously implanted within the patient to ease needle impingement thereon. A valve/seal assembly disposed in the conduit enables passage of the catheter therethrough while preventing fluid backflow.

Claims

1. A low-profile access port for subcutaneous placement in a patient, comprising:

a body including;

a conduit including an inlet port at a proximal end thereof; and

a receiving cup in communication with the inlet port, the receiving cup concavely shaped to direct a catheter-bearing needle into the conduit via the inlet port, the receiving cup oriented substantially toward a skin surface when subcutaneously implanted within the patient; and

a valve/seal assembly disposed in the conduit that enables passage of the catheter therethrough.

2. The access port as defined in claim 1, wherein the conduit includes a first conduit portion and a second conduit portion, the second conduit portion positioned distal to and at an angled orientation with respect to the first conduit portion so as to prevent passage of the needle of the catheter-bearing needle while permitting passage of the catheter.

3. The access port as defined in claim 2, wherein the second conduit portion is disposed at an angle less than about 37 degrees with respect to the first conduit portion.

4. The access port as defined in claim 1, wherein the receiving cup is positioned substantially parallel to the skin surface when the access port is subcutaneously implanted.

5. The access port as defined in claim 4, wherein a needle inserted substantially orthogonally through the skin of the patient can impinge the receiving cup of the access port.

6. The access port as defined in claim 1, wherein the conduit extends from the receiving cup to an outlet of a stem of the access port, and wherein the access port further comprises at least one palpation feature to enable a clinician to palpate the location of the subcutaneously implanted access port.

7. The access port as defined in claim 6, wherein the at least one palpation feature includes a bump and a ridge disposed proximate the receiving cup.

8. The access port as defined in claim 6, wherein the at least one palpation feature includes at least one suture hole plug disposed proximate the receiving cup.

9. The access port as defined in claim 1, wherein the receiving cup further includes a guide groove to direct an impinging distal tip of the catheter-bearing needle toward the inlet port.

10. The access port as defined in claim 1, wherein the body of the access port substantially defines a triangular shape about the receiving cup.

11. The access port as defined in claim 1, wherein the valve/seal assembly includes a first seal, a first slit valve, and a second slit valve positioned in a sandwiched configuration with respect to one another.

12. The access port as defined in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the receiving cup includes a needle-impenetrable material.

13. The access port as defined in claim 12, wherein the needle-impenetrable material includes at least one of metal, glass, and ceramic.

14. The access port as defined in claim 1, wherein the body includes at least one of a metal and a thermoplastic.

15. The access port as defined in claim 14, wherein at least a portion of the body includes at least one of titanium and acetyl resin.

16. The access port as defined in claim 15, wherein the inlet port is substantially centered in the receiving cup.

17. The access port as defined in claim 1, wherein the body defines at least first and second receiving cups, each receiving cup in communication with a conduit via an inlet port, each conduit having disposed therein a valve/seal assembly.

18. A method for manufacturing a low-profile access port for subcutaneous placement in a patient, the method comprising:

providing first and second body portions of the access port, the first body portion defining a portion of a conduit, the conduit including an inlet port at a proximal end thereof, the first body portion further defining a receiving cup in communication with the inlet port, the receiving cup concavely shaped to direct a catheter-bearing needle into the conduit via the inlet port, the receiving cup configured so as to be oriented substantially toward a skin surface when subcutaneously implanted within the patient, the first body portion further including at least one palpation feature for indicating a characteristic of the access port;

placing a valve/seal assembly in the portion of the conduit; and

joining the second body portion of the access port to the first body portion so as to sandwich the valve/seal assembly therebetween, the second body portion including a stem that provides a fluid outlet for the conduit.

19. A low-profile access port for subcutaneous placement in a patient, comprising:

a body including;

a conduit including an inlet port at a proximal end thereof;

a receiving cup in communication with the inlet port, the receiving cup concavely shaped to direct a catheter-bearing needle into the conduit via the inlet port; and

a guide groove defined in the receiving cup to guide a distal tip of the catheter-bearing needle toward the inlet port; and

a valve/seal assembly disposed in the conduit that enables passage of the catheter therethrough, and including at least one seal for preventing backflow through the valve/seal assembly.

20. The access port as defined in claim 19, further comprising at least one palpation feature to enable a clinician to palpate the location of the subcutaneously implanted access port, the at least one palpation feature including at least one of a bump and a ridge disposed proximate the receiving cup.

21. The access port as defined in claim 20, wherein the at least one seal defines a central hole therethrough and wherein a distal face of the seal includes a frustoconical portion disposed about the hole for preventing backflow past the catheter when fluid is passed through the catheter under pressure.

22. The access port as defined in claim 21, wherein the receiving cup is oriented substantially toward a skin surface when subcutaneously implanted within the patient, and wherein a compliant overmolded portion covers at least a portion of the body of the access port.

23. The access port as defined in claim 22, wherein the overmolded portion includes at least one predetermined region through which sutures can be passed to secure the access port to tissue of the patient.

24. The access port as defined in claim 23, wherein the valve/seal assembly further includes first and second slit valves that are sandwiched between the at least one seal and a second seal.