Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
134 words
In a subcutaneous venous access system of a port device defining a chamber with a septum for allowing a needle input into the chamber and a catheter output from the chamber: a needle assembly having a shaft section and a point, means for allowing the non-coring entry of the needle point through skin and the septum and which, when seated in the chamber, has a shaft segment which extends through the septum and into the chamber; and means for providing a changed outside diameter portion of the outside surface of the shaft in said segment; whereby said needle assembly may be seated into the chamber of the port device and said changed diameter section serve to prevent or reduce the possibility of said needle being unintentionally removed from the chamber and septum during use.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
134 words
In a subcutaneous venous access system of a port device defining a chamber with a septum for allowing a needle input into the chamber and a catheter output from the chamber: a needle assembly having a shaft section and a point, means for allowing the non-coring entry of the needle point through skin and the septum and which, when seated in the chamber, has a shaft segment which extends through the septum and into the chamber; and means for providing a changed outside diameter portion of the outside surface of the shaft in said segment; whereby said needle assembly may be seated into the chamber of the port device and said changed diameter section serve to prevent or reduce the possibility of said needle being unintentionally removed from the chamber and septum during use.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said changed diameter is achieved by an increasing diameter wall portion in said shaft segment of said needle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
The system of claim 2, wherein said increased-diameter wall portion is achieved with a smooth, streamlined outer surface transition above and below said portion and the outside diameter of the shafts varies from a minimum to a maximum which, is at least maximum approximately twice the minimum diameter.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 2, wherein said increased diameter section is created by a ballooning outward of the outer wall portion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
62 words
The system of claim 4, wherein said ballooning is selectably achieved by providing an elastic outer wall segment of said shaft at said portion, means defining a secondary fluid path through the needle shaft between said portion and a location remote from the needle point, and means for providing a second fluid pressure input into said secondary path at said remote location.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
The system of claim 5, wherein said secondary pressure input includes a second septum, and the pressure may be increased or decreased to balloon out or retract said elastic wall segment by injecting a fluid through a removable needle into said second septum.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 2, wherein said increased diameter section is reversably formed by spring action.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
50 words
The system of claim 7, wherein said needle apparatus includes a central stylet which is sized and shaped to pass through the needle shaft and which when fully inserted causes the increased diameter section to reduce its diameter and when removed permits it to spring outward to increase its diameter.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
47 words
The system of claim 1, wherein a plurality of successive changed diameter outer surface portions are formed along the length of the shaft in said section, to form a row of ridges which are gripped by said septum when the needle is properly seated in said port.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 9 wherein the diameter of the ridges is at least approximately twice the minimum diameter between the ridges.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
135 words
A needle apparatus for use with a subcutaneous venous access device of a type having a needle entry septum of a predetermined thickness and a chamber thereunder of a set depth under the septum, comprising: a needle shaft defining a fluid passageway to a needle point, said shaft having a section from the point rearward of a length equal to this set depth and the predetermined thickness, said shaft having an approximately constant diameter over the majority of its length; a non-coring needle point formed at the end of said shaft; and means for providing a different outside surface configuration of said shaft at said section for aiding in releasably securing the needle apparatus in said device when said needle point is driven into and through said septum and into said chamber for a distance.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
135 words
A needle apparatus for use with a subcutaneous venous access device of a type having a needle entry septum of a predetermined thickness and a chamber thereunder of a set depth under the septum, comprising: a needle shaft defining a fluid passageway to a needle point, said shaft having a section from the point rearward of a length equal to this set depth and the predetermined thickness, said shaft having an approximately constant diameter over the majority of its length; a non-coring needle point formed at the end of said shaft; and means for providing a different outside surface configuration of said shaft at said section for aiding in releasably securing the needle apparatus in said device when said needle point is driven into and through said septum and into said chamber for a distance.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
The needle apparatus of claim 11, wherein said means for providing a different outside configuration provides a series of successive ridges along at least a portion of the length of said section.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
43 words
The needle apparatus of claim 11, wherein said means for providing a change in the outside configuration provides an expanded bulge therein near the point, which bulge is located under the septum when the needle has passed through it and entered the chamber.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The needle apparatus of claim 13, wherein said means includes means for selectively forming and retracting said bulge.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
37 words
The needle apparatus of claim 14, wherein said selectable forming and retracting means is a stylet which is sized to be inserted into said shaft and when so inserted also provides the non-coring feature of the point.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
98 words
The needle apparatus of claim 15, wherein said stylet has a conical point and said needle point has a decreased diameter which mates with said conical point, whereby the stylet when pressed downward to the point presses against the needle point and axially stresses the needle shaft, and the section includes a flexible wall section which forms said bulge when not axially stressed, but which when axially stressed tends to retract, whereby placing and pressing the stylet into the shaft substantially retracts the bulge for insertion and retraction, but removal of the stylet allows the bulge to form.