EP0551017A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Implantable infusion device
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1992-12-31
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2012-12-31
Abstract
Abstract An infusion device which permits transcutaneous access to an implanted catheter for use in introducing an external filament such as a optical fiber, external catheter, guide wire or rigid needle. In accordance with this invention the device includes a valve assembly (34) including a first valve element (36) defining an aperture (38) with a sealing member (40) which is normally to engage and seal against the aperture. The sealing element is made from a hard material such as a metal. Upon introduction of a rigid external introducer such as a needle, the needle directly contacts the sealing member plug (92) unsealing it from the valve element aperture which then closes against the external element. The device enables repeated access using a sharp introduced element such as a needle without it contacting soft sealing elements which could be degraded by such repeated access.
Inventors
- 👤 William Darrel Ensminger
- 👤 James Alan Knol
- 👤 James Carroll Andrews
- 👤 John Ciuseppi Mastroeni
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 09:07
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M39/00; A61M39/02; A61M39/0208; A61M39/06; A61M39/0606; A61M2039/0211; A61M2039/062; A61M2039/0633; A61M2039/064; A61M2039/0653; A61M2039/0666; A61M2039/0686
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
193 words
An implantable patient access port to permit the introduction of a needle for the removal or infusion of a fluid through an implanted catheter or permitting the introduction of a filament such as an external catheter, guide wire or optical fiber, comprising: a housing defining a generally funnel shaped entrance orifice for guiding said needle into a housing entrance passageway, said housing further having an exit passageway with a valve chamber within said housing between said entrance and exit passageways, said housing further having means for connecting said exit passageway to said implanted catheter, an elastomeric valve element positioned within said valve chamber and having an aperture positioned in alignment with said housing entrance passageway, a plug which is normally biased into sealing engagement with said valve element aperture, at least a portion of said plug being formed of a hard material for repeated engagement with said needle, said plug positioned within said valve chamber such that upon insertion of said needle and engagement with said plug said plug is forced to deflect out of sealing engagement with said aperture, and mounting means formed by said housing enabling fastening of said housing subcutaneously.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
13 words
An implantable access port according to Claim 1 wherein said aperture is circular.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
59 words
An implantable access port according to Claim 1 wherein said plug is shaped to extend partially through and expand said valve element aperture when said needle or external filament is not within said housing and wherein said valve element aperture constricts into sealing engagement with said external filament upon said plug being forced from sealing engagement with said aperture.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
An implantable access port according to Claim 1 wherein said plug defines a convex outer surface which engages with said valve element apertures and aids in expanding said valve element aperture.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
An implantable access port according to Claim 1 wherein said housing passageway is oriented with respect to said plug whereby upon introduction of said needle or external filament, said needle or filament contacts said plug and is prevented from contacting said sealing element.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
An implantable access port according to Claim 1 wherein said plug defines a concave central area which is engaged by said needle or external filament.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
53 words
An implantable access port according to Claim 1 wherein said plug is at least partially formed of a metal material defining a hard surface which is contacted by said needle or external filament upon introduction of said needle or external filament and said hard surface resisting being damaged or gouged by said needle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
An implantable patient access port according to Claim 1 wherein said sealing member comprises a disk having plural leaves which join at near the center of said disk to define said plug.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
An implantable access port according to Claim 8 wherein said plug is defined by a plug segment disposed at the center region of each of said leaves.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
An implantable access port according to Claim 8 wherein said sealing means disk is made of metal and wherein said plug segments are formed integrally by said disk.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
An implantable access port according to Claim 8 wherein said plug segments are formed by separate metal elements bonded to a substrate.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
An implantable access port according to Claim 1 wherein said plug is supported by an arm urging said plug into engagement with said valve element aperture.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
An implantable access device according to Claim 1 wherein said plug defines a convex shaped outer surface which engages said valve element aperture with a concave central region for engaging said needle or filament.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
An implantable access device according to Claim 1 further comprising a second elastomeric valve element disposed in engagement with said elastomeric valve element and positioned adjacent said exit passageway.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
An implantable access device according to Claim 14 wherein said second elastomeric valve element comprises a leaflet valve having plural leaves which join near the center of said valve.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
115 words
An implantable access port according to Claim 1 wherein said plug is in the form of a sealing ball element disposed within said valve chamber, and wherein said valve element is disposed in said housing valve chamber defining a ball seat wherein when said ball element rests on said ball seat, fluid flow between said entrance and exit passageways is inhibited, said ball seat positioning said ball such that said needle or filament engages said ball and displaces said ball from sealing contact with said ball seat thereby allowing said needle or filament to enter said exit passageway, said ball being resiliently biased into engagement with said seat when said needle or filament is removed.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
An implantable access device according to Claim 16 wherein said ball seat positions said ball off-center with respect to the longitudinal axes of said entrance and exit passageways.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
An implantable access device according to Claim 16 wherein said ball seat is defined by a piston member which is resiliently biased by an elastomeric biasing member.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
32 words
An implantable access device according to claim 18 wherein said piston member is caused to be displaced toward said entrance orifice upon said ball being displaced allowing passage of said external filament.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
62 words
An implantable access device according to Claim 19 wherein said elastomeric biasing member comprises a bushing having a central passageway through which said needle or external filament passes upon introduction of said needle or filament and wherein compression of said bushing caused by displacement of said ball element causes said central passageway to constrict into sealing engagement with said needle or filament.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
30 words
An implantable access device according to Claim 16 wherein said sealing ball element is formed of a hard material which is not gouged or damaged by engagement by said needle.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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