Implantable injection port and protective cap

• US 7,972,315 B2
• Filed: 06/19/2009
• Issued: 07/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apollo Endosurgery US, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Allergan, Inc. (Canada) (Abbvie Incorporated)
• Inventors: Birk, Janel A., Coe, Frederick L., Hoyt, Robert E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lucchesi; Nicholas D
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHANDER, DIVA KAKAR
• Application Number:
  US12/488,266
• Publication Number:
  US 20090259190A1
• Time in Patent Office: 746 Days
• Field of Search: 604/93.01, 604/175, 604/288.01, 606/139, 606/213, 606/217, 606/219
• US Class Current: 604/288.01
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/064 Surgical staples, i.e. penetrating the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/068 Surgical staplers , e.g. containing multiple staples or clampsstaplers containing only one staple A61B17/10; magazines or containers for staples A61B17/105; for performing anastomosis A61B17/115; staplers in general B25C5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0684 having a forming anvil staying above the tissue during stapling
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00867 shape memory effect for prostheses A61F2210/0014
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0647 having one single leg, e.g. tacks
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0649 Coils or spirals
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/0223 having means for anchoring the subcutaneous access site
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/0229 having means for facilitating assembling, e.g. snap-fit housing or modular design
• 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 39/04 having pierceable self-sealing members
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1415 Stands, brackets or the like for supporting infusion accessories

Abstract

A surgical fastening system for implantable devices is disclosed. The implantable device may contain a plurality of fasteners in pre-deployment position, may have a housing fitted over or around fit which contains a plurality of fasteners in pre-deployment position, or may be a part of a two-part system into which it fits. Accordingly, the present invention also encompasses a deployment system or tool that optionally positions the implantable device, and which causes the fasteners to move into post-deployment position. The fasteners may be staples, metal loops, coils, springs or hooks formed of biocompatible materials, including shape memory alloys such as NiTi.

Claims

1. An implantable injection port and protective fixture system, comprising:

an implantable injection port having a housing defining generally an upper face, a lower face, and a peripheral outer wall, a septum held within the housing and open to the upper face, the septum being capable of penetration by a needle along the vertical axis, the port further including a space below the septum defining a fluid reservoir and an outlet conduit through the housing from the reservoir, wherein the port further includes a plurality of fasteners incorporated into the housing to enable a user to attach the port to tissue without sutures, the fasteners each having an undeployed position and a deployed position, the deployed position extending below the lower face of the port opposite the upper face; and

a protective fixture adapted to removably attach over the lower face of the housing and cover the fasteners.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the fixture resiliently attaches to the housing with tabs that engage the housing lower face.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the housing and fixture snap together.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the fixture includes a main portion that snaps to the housing and at least one grasping tab non-detachably fixed to the main portion and extending radially therefrom to facilitate removal of the fixture from the housing.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the outlet conduit extends radially through the housing from the reservoir, and the fixture has a passageway for receiving the outlet conduit.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the fasteners each pivotally rotates in the housing from the undeployed position to the deployed position.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the fasteners comprise curved hooks distributed around the lower face of the port that each pivots from the undeployed position to the deployed position.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein sharp tips of the curved hooks rotate through an arc and are received back in or near the lower face of the port at the end of their travel.

9. The system of claim 2, wherein the tabs have ribs that snap onto complementary features on the housing lower face.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the protective fixture includes pegs that engage the housing lower face.

11. The system of claim 5, wherein the protective fixture includes an annular wall that surrounds the housing, and the passageway defines an interruption in the annular wall.

12. An implantable injection port and protective fixture system, comprising:

(a) implantable injection port having a housing defining generally an upper face, a lower face, and a peripheral outer wall, a septum held within the housing and open to the upper face, the septum being capable of penetration by a needle along the vertical axis, the port further including a space below the septum defining a fluid reservoir and an outlet conduit through the housing from the reservoir,

(b) an attachment mechanism comprising at least one fastener for attaching the injection port to a body, the fastener having a deployed position that extends from a distal end of the injection port, and an undeployed position proximal to the distal end of the injection port; and

(c) a loading fixture covering the fastener and removably attached to the distal end of the injection port to protect a user from accidental contact with the fastener.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the loading fixture comprises an annular recess which defines an internal cavity for receiving the injection port.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the loading fixture comprises at least one grasping tab non-detachably fixed thereto and extending therefrom.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the loading fixture resiliently attaches to the injection port with tabs that engage the distal end of the injection port.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the tabs have ribs that engage complementary features on the distal end of the injection port.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the injection port and loading fixture snap together.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein the loading fixture includes an annular wall that surrounds the injection port and is interrupted by a passageway therein to accommodate a reservoir outlet conduit extending from the injection port.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein the fastener pivotally rotates in the injection port from the undeployed position to the deployed position.

20. The system of claim 12, wherein the fastener comprises a curved hook that pivots from the undeployed position to the deployed position.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein a sharp tip of the curved hook rotates through an arc and is received back in or near the distal end of the injection port at the end of its travel.

22. The system of claim 12, wherein the attachment mechanism comprises a plurality of the fasteners integral to the injection port that simultaneously deploy from their undeployed positions to their deployed positions.