Implantable infusion devices with palpable landmarks and methods of needle detection

• US 8,721,605 B2
• Filed: 04/20/2010
• Issued: 05/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Minimed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Alfred E. Mann Foundation For Scientific Research
• Inventors: Brandt, William A., Villegas, Daniel H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Quynh-Nhu H
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, BRANDY SCOTT
• Application Number:
  US12/763,504
• Publication Number:
  US 20100274196A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,484 Days
• Field of Search: 60428801-28804, 604/891.1
• US Class Current: 604/288.01
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/0217 at least some chambers being stacked separated by another septum
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/0226 having means for protecting the interior of the access site from damage due to the insertion of a needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/0241 having means for filtering
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/0244 having means for detecting an inserted needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3523 using telemetric means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3561 local, e.g. within room or hospital
• 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 5/14276 specially adapted for implantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16827 controlling delivery of multiple fluids, e.g. sequencing, mixing or via separate flow-paths infusion of multiple fluids without using a controller A61M5/1407

Abstract

Implantable infusion devices configured to improve fill and evacuation procedures. Such implantable infusion devices may, for example, include palpable landmarks that allow the clinician to locate a fill port through tactile examination. Needle detection methods are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method, comprising the steps of:

communicating with an implanted infusion device that includes first and second reservoir compartments, a first fluid transfer device operably connected to at least one of the first and second reservoir compartments, first and second fill ports respectively operably connected to the first and second reservoir compartments, and first and second needle detectors respectively associated with the first and second fill ports;

instructing the implanted infusion device to actuate the first and second needle detectors;

receiving needle detection data;

presenting an indication of the amount of time that the needle detectors will remain actuated; and

in response to a needle being detected by one of the first and second needle detectors, providing an indication as to which fill port the needle is located in.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of providing an indication comprises displaying fill port and/or reservoir information associated with the fill port that the needle is located in.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the information includes infusible substance information.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first fluid transfer device is operably connected to the first reservoir compartment and the implantable infusion device includes a second fluid transfer device operably connected to the second reservoir compartment.

5. An implantable infusion device, comprising:

an infusion device housing;

a header carried by the infusion device housing;

first and second reservoir compartments associated with the infusion device housing;

a first fluid transfer device operably connected to at least one of the first and second reservoir compartments;

first and second fill ports associated with the infusion device housing and respectively operably connected to the first and second reservoir compartments; and

wherein the infusion device housing includes a first palpable landmark adjacent to the first fill port, and the first palpable landmark is located in spaced relation to the header;

wherein the infusion device housing defines a generally curved perimeter; and

wherein the first palpable landmark comprises a discontinuity in the generally curved perimeter.

6. An implantable infusion device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the infusion device housing includes a second palpable landmark adjacent to the second fill port.

7. An implantable infusion device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the first and second palpable landmarks face in different directions.

8. An implantable infusion device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the discontinuity comprises an indentation in the generally curved perimeter.

9. An implantable infusion device as claimed in claim 5, further comprising:

first and second needle detectors respectively associated with the first and second fill ports.

10. An implantable infusion device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the first fluid transfer device is operably connected to the first reservoir compartment, the implantable infusion device further comprising:

a second fluid transfer device operably connected to the second reservoir compartment.

11. An implantable infusion device as claimed in claim 10, further comprising:

a first delivery lumen operably connected to the first fluid transfer device; and

a second delivery lumen operably connected to the second fluid transfer device.

12. An implantable infusion device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the first and second delivery lumens are located within a single catheter.

13. An implantable infusion device as claimed in claim 5, further comprising:

a reservoir and a pressure transmissive partition located within the reservoir, the first and second reservoir compartments being located within the reservoir on opposite sides of the pressure transmissive partition.

14. An implantable infusion device, comprising:

an infusion device housing having a curved outer perimeter and a first palpable landmark that defines a discontinuity in the curved outer perimeter;

first and second reservoir compartments associated with the infusion device housing;

a first fluid transfer device operably connected to at least one of the first and second reservoir compartments; and

first and second fill ports associated with the infusion device housing and respectively connected to the first and second reservoir compartments such that fluid passing through the first fill port enters the first reservoir and fluid passing through the second fill port enters the second reservoir;

wherein the first fill port is located on the first palpable landmark.

15. A method, comprising the steps of:

communicating with an implanted infusion device that includes first and second reservoir compartments, a first fluid transfer device operably connected to at least one of the first and second reservoir compartments, first and second fill ports respectively operably connected to the first and second reservoir compartments, and first and second needle detectors respectively associated with the first and second fill ports;

instructing the implanted infusion device to actuate the first and second needle detectors;

receiving needle detection data; and

in response to a needle being detected by one of the first and second needle detectors, displaying fill port information associated with the fill port that the needle is located in and displaying the name of the infusible substance stored in the reservoir that is connected to the fill port that the needle is located in.

16. A method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the first fluid transfer device is operably connected to the first reservoir compartment and the implantable infusion device includes a second fluid transfer device operably connected to the second reservoir compartment.