Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
164 words
A device, for use with a medical implant having a port, for locating the port after implantation of said medical implant in a patient, said device comprising: a magnetic field source adapted to be disposed in a patient in whom said medical implant is implanted at a known spatial position relative to said port; a fixture plate movable across the skin of the patient, said fixture plate having a hemispherical recess therein; and indicator means, movably mounted in said fixture plate and positionally responsive to a magnetic field from said magnetic field source, for providing an extracorporeally perceptible indication when said fixture plate is in a defined spatial relationship to said magnetic field source for extracorporeally identifying a position of said port in said patient, said indicator means comprising an axially magnetized spherical body mounted in said recess for substantially free rotation therein, said axially magnetized spherical body having a marking thereon identifying the position of said spherical body relative to said fixture plate.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
164 words
A device, for use with a medical implant having a port, for locating the port after implantation of said medical implant in a patient, said device comprising: a magnetic field source adapted to be disposed in a patient in whom said medical implant is implanted at a known spatial position relative to said port; a fixture plate movable across the skin of the patient, said fixture plate having a hemispherical recess therein; and indicator means, movably mounted in said fixture plate and positionally responsive to a magnetic field from said magnetic field source, for providing an extracorporeally perceptible indication when said fixture plate is in a defined spatial relationship to said magnetic field source for extracorporeally identifying a position of said port in said patient, said indicator means comprising an axially magnetized spherical body mounted in said recess for substantially free rotation therein, said axially magnetized spherical body having a marking thereon identifying the position of said spherical body relative to said fixture plate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said magnetic field source comprises an axially permanently magnetized tube adapted to be disposed surrounding said port.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
A device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said port has at least one tube communicating therewith, and wherein said axially permanently magnetized tube comprises a recess adapted for receiving said at least one tube therethrough.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
53 words
A device claimed in claim 1 wherein said port has a center axis, and wherein said magnetic field source comprises a bar-magnet adapted to be disposed behind said port with said port between said bar magnet and the exterior of the patient, and having poles aligned with said center axis of said port.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said spherical body is magnetized in a same direction throughout its volume.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said spherical body comprises a spherical body of non-magnetic material with a permanent bar magnet disposed along a diameter of said non-magnetic spherical body.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
65 words
A device as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a spherical shell mounted on said fixture plate in which said spherical body is disposed, said spherical shell having an inner radius which is larger than a radius of said spherical body so that a space exists between said spherical body and an interior of said spherical shell, and said space being filled with a liquid.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
A device as claimed in claim 7 wherein said spherical body has a density, and wherein said liquid has a density not less than said density of said spherical body.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
A device as claimed in claim 7 wherein said spherical body has a density, and wherein said liquid has a density substantially higher than said density of said physical body for causing said spherical body to float substantially centrally in said interior of said spherical shell.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
A device as claimed in claim 7 wherein said spherical body has a plurality of projections extending therefrom for preventing extended surface contact between said spherical body and the interior of said spherical shell.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
A device as claimed in claim 7 wherein said spherical shell has a plurality of inwardly extending projections therein for preventing extended surface contact between said spherical body and the interior of said spherical shell.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
58 words
A device as claimed in claim 7 wherein said spherical shell has an upper half which is transparent and having a centrally disposed first mark at a top of said upper half, and wherein said spherical body has a second mark thereon, said fixture plate being disposed opposite said port when said first and second marks are aligned.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
155 words
A device, for use with a medical implant having a port, for locating the port after implantation of said medical implant in a patient, said device comprising: a magnetic field source adapted to be disposed in a patient in whom said medical implant is implanted at a known spatial position relative to said port; a fixture plate movable across the skin of the patient, said fixture plate having an opening therein; indicator means, movably mounted in said fixture plate and positionally responsive to a magnetic field from said magnetic field source, for providing an extracorporeally perceptible indication when said fixture plate is in a defined spatial relationship to said magnetic field source for extracorporeally identifying a position of said port in said patient; a holder for said indicator means removably disposed in said opening; and a cannula guide fittable into said opening upon removal of said indicator means after locating the position of said port.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
155 words
A device, for use with a medical implant having a port, for locating the port after implantation of said medical implant in a patient, said device comprising: a magnetic field source adapted to be disposed in a patient in whom said medical implant is implanted at a known spatial position relative to said port; a fixture plate movable across the skin of the patient, said fixture plate having an opening therein; indicator means, movably mounted in said fixture plate and positionally responsive to a magnetic field from said magnetic field source, for providing an extracorporeally perceptible indication when said fixture plate is in a defined spatial relationship to said magnetic field source for extracorporeally identifying a position of said port in said patient; a holder for said indicator means removably disposed in said opening; and a cannula guide fittable into said opening upon removal of said indicator means after locating the position of said port.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
37 words
A device as claimed in claim 13 further comprising a cannula insertable through said cannula guide, said cannula having a small diameter end portion and a remainder having a larger diameter than said small diameter end portion.