Venous access port assembly and methods of assembly and use

Abstract

An implantable venous access port for a catheter. The port assembly (100) includes a body (102), a septum (134) for needle insertion, a discharge port (150) having a passageway (154) and to which a catheter proximal end (202) is connected, and a proximal port (170) with a proximal passageway (172,116) that is in line with the discharge port passageway (154). A chamber (118) of the port body (102) fluidly connects the proximal port passageway and the discharge port passageway, and a proximal septum (174) traverses and seals the proximal passageway (172,116). An entry cannula (190) is insertable into the proximal opening and penetrates the proximal septum (174) and extends to the discharge port passageway (154) enabling a guide wire (198) to be inserted therethrough after the port (100) has been connected to the catheter (200), whereafter the entire assembly is implantable into a patient over the guide wire. A method of over-the-wire venous port placement is disclosed, and also a method for assembling the port.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and constitute part of this specification, illustrate the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, and, together with the general description given above and the detailed description given below, serve to explain the features of the invention. In the drawings:

FIGS. 1 and 2 are isometric views from forward and rearward of the implantable port of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of the port of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are fully exploded and partially assembled views of the port of FIGS. 1 to 3;

FIGS. 6 and 7 are top and side elevation views of the port of FIGS. 1 to 5;

FIGS. 8 and 9 are cross-sectional views taken along lines 8-8 and 9-9 of FIGS. 6 and 7, respectively;

FIGS. 10 and 11 are isometric views of the port of FIGS. 1 to 9 showing an entry cannula;

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing the entry cannula of FIGS. 10 and 11 inserted into the port;

FIGS. 13 and 14 are isometric views of a catheter proximal end about to be assembled to the port of FIGS. 1 to 12 (FIG. 13), and fully assembled thereto (FIG. 14);

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of the assembled port of FIG. 14 which also shows a guide wire inserted therethrough;

FIGS. 16 and 17 are enlarged sectional views of a second embodiment of proximal port closure arrangement shown exploded and assembled, respectively; and

FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view of a dual chamber port housing embodiment for being implanted over a guide wire.

Claims

1. A venous access port for use with a catheter that is to be inserted intravascularly in a patient, comprising: a port assembly having a body, at least one septum for infusion by needle, a discharge port for connection with a catheter proximal end and having at least one passageway therethrough, a proximal port having a passageway therethrough, at least one chamber with which the at least one septum is associated establishing fluid communication with a respective at least one discharge port passageway and with the proximal port passageway, and a proximal port closure traversing the proximal port passageway,wherein the proximal port is in line with the discharge port enabling a guide wire to extend linearly through the at least one chamber from the proximal port, through the proximal port closure, through the at least one chamber and into and through the at least one passageway of the discharge port into the catheter,whereby the venous access port is adapted to be placed into a patient over the guide wire after connection of the catheter proximal end thereto and insertion of the guide wire therethrough.

2. The venous access port of claim 1, wherein the proximal port closure is a proximal septum.

3. The venous access port of claim 1, wherein the proximal port closure at least includes a valve.

4. The venous access port of claim 1, further including at least a second chamber.

5. The venous access port of claim 1, further including an entry cannula insertable into the proximal port and through the proximal port closure, through the at least one chamber and extending to the discharge port, facilitating insertion of a guide wire through the venous access port by being inserted into and through the entry cannula and into the at least one discharge port passageway and into the catheter proximal end.

6. The venous access port of claim 1, wherein the septum associated with the at least one chamber is disposed in an opening in the top of the body and includes a peripheral flange underlying a periphery of the body opening, and wherein the port assembly further includes a support member disposed within the port body and supporting the at least one septum.

7. The venous access port of claim 6, wherein the support member includes a peripheral top portion engageable at least with the peripheral flange of the septum, the peripheral top portion defining a clearance through which a needle is insertable through the septum into the at least one chamber.

8. The venous access port of claim 6, wherein the port body includes an upper portion and a lower portion that upon assembly together define the at least one chamber and define openings leading to the at least one discharge port passageway and to the proximal port closure, the openings being generally aligned with each other and with the discharge port passageway.

9. The venous access port of claim 8, wherein the support member further includes supporting sections supportingly engageable with a support surface defined by the lower body portion.

10. The venous access port of claim 9, wherein the support surface peripherally surrounds the at least one chamber and is substantially sealingly joined to a complementary surface of the upper body portion upon assembly.

11. The venous access port of claim 10, wherein the upper body portion includes a downwardly extending peripheral ridge cooperable with a complementary upwardly extending peripheral ridge of the lower body portion to enhance the joint between the upper and lower body portions upon assembly.

12. The venous access port of claim 11, wherein the upwardly extending peripheral ridge is outwardly of the downwardly extending peripheral ridge.

13. The venous access port of claim 8, wherein the discharge port is defined by a distal cap affixable to a distal end of the port body upon assembly.

14. The venous access port of claim 13, wherein the discharge port includes at least one annular protrusion circumferentially around an outer surface thereof, facilitating assured connection of a catheter proximal end therearound and thereto.

15. The venous access port of claim 14, wherein the at least one annular protrusion comprises an annular barb.

16. The venous access port of claim 14, wherein the discharge port includes a plurality of the annular protrusions.

17. The venous access port of claim 13, wherein the upper body and the lower body portions define distally extending semicylindrical sections that together cooperate to define upon port assembly a circular distal flange that is received into a proximal opening of the distal cap, assisting the securing together of the upper and lower body portions upon assembly.

18. The venous access port of claim 17, wherein the connection of the distal cap to the circular distal flange is a force fit.

19. The venous access port of claim 8, wherein the proximal port includes a proximal cap affixable to a proximal end of the port body.

20. The venous access port of claim 19, wherein the proximal cap includes a distally extending annular flange that engages and supports the proximal port closure member, retaining the proximal port closure in the port assembly.

21. The venous access port of claim 20, wherein the upper body and the lower body portions define proximally extending semicylindrical sections that together cooperate to define upon port assembly a circular proximal flange that is received into a distal opening of the proximal cap, assisting the securing together of the upper and lower body portions upon assembly.

22. The venous access port of claim 1, wherein the port body includes an upper portion and a lower portion that upon assembly together define the at least one chamber and define openings leading to the at least one discharge port passageway and to the proximal port closure member, the openings being generally aligned with each other and with the at least one discharge port passageway.

23. A venous access port for use with a catheter that is to be inserted intravascularly in a patient, comprising: a port assembly having a body comprising upper and lower housing portions, at least one septum for infusion by needle, a discharge port for connection with a catheter proximal end and having at least one passageway therethrough, at least one chamber with which the at least one septum is associated establishing fluid communication with a respective at least one discharge port passageway, and a septum support at least independent of the upper housing portion and at least supported by the lower housing portion, with a peripheral top portion in compressive support with a peripheral flange of the septum upon assembly of the port.

24. The venous access port as set forth in claim 23, wherein the septum support member further includes supporting sections at least supportingly engageable with a support surface defined by the lower housing portion.

25. The venous access port as set forth in claim 24, wherein the support surface peripherally surrounds the at least one chamber and is substantially sealingly joined to a complementary surface of the upper housing portion upon assembly.

26. The venous access port as set forth in claim 25, wherein the upper housing portion includes a downwardly extending peripheral ridge cooperable with a complementary upwardly extending peripheral ridge of the lower body portion to enhance the joint between the upper and lower housing portions upon assembly.

27. A method of assembling a venous access port, comprising the steps of: providing an upper port body portion and a complementary lower port body portion having respective distal and proximal semicylindrical flanges that upon assembly define respective circular distal and proximal flanges;providing a distal cap and a proximal cap having respective proximal and distal openings complementary to the circular distal and proximal flanges; andaffixing the distal cap and proximal cap to the circular distal and proximal flanges respectively by being placed thereover.

28. A method of placing a venous access port into a patient, comprising the steps of: providing a venous port assembly having at least a proximal port passageway, a distal port passageway and at least one chamber in fluid communication with the proximal port passageway and the distal port passageway;connecting a catheter proximal end to the venous port assembly in fluid connection with the distal port passageway;inserting a guide wire through the proximal port passageway, through the at least one chamber, through the distal port passageway, through the catheter and into vasculature of a patient; andplacing the venous port assembly and catheter connected thereto into a patient over the guide wire.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising the steps of: providing an entry cannula;inserting the entry cannula through the proximal port passageway and through the at least one chamber and to the distal port passageway; andinserting the guide wire into and through the entry cannula to extend through the at least one chamber, the distal port passageway and into the catheter.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising the steps of: providing a proximal port closure member traversing the proximal port passageway; andinserting a distal cannula end of the entry cannula through the proximal port closure member to extend through the at least one chamber.