US5554117A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Implantable access devices
Assignee: Michigan TransTech Corp
•
Filing: 1995-05-15
•
Granted: 1996-09-10
•
Expires: 2015-05-15
Abstract
Abstract An implantable access device which permits the introduction of an external filament such as a catheter, guide wire or optical fiber into a patient for communication with an internal catheter located within the body of the patient. The device includes a housing having an inlet opening, an outlet opening and a passageway communicating between the openings. The inlet opening is generally funnel shaped and guides the external filament into the passageway. A valve assembly normally remains closed prevents the flow of fluids through the passageway. When open, the valve assembly enables the filament to communicate with the internal catheter. The device is provided with a mechanism that limits the extent to which the filament can be inserted through the device. The device also includes a separate perimeter sealing mechanism which seals around the perimeter of an inserted filament as well as a mechanism which accommodates bending of the filament within the device so as to ensure that the filament is properly received within the device. Finally, the device includes features which prevent the filament from engaging the internal catheter in the event the filament does not enter the inlet opening when inserted into the patient.
Inventors
- 👤 William D. Ensminger
- 👤 Robert F. Gavin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 23:19
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M39/00; A61M39/02; A61M39/06; A61M39/0606; A61M39/0208; A61M2039/0036; A61M2039/0081; A61M2039/0211; A61M2039/0214; A61M2039/062; A61M2039/0633; A61M2039/0673; A61M2039/0686
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
208 words
An implantable access device which permits the introduction of a flexible external filament such as a catheter, guide wire or optical fiber into a patient for communication with an internal catheter located within the body of the patient, said device comprising: a housing having portions defining an inlet opening, an outlet opening and a passageway communicating therebetween, said inlet opening being generally funnel shaped and guiding a percutaneously inserted flexible external filament into said passageway, said outlet opening being defined in a discharge nipple which is adapted to have the internal catheter attached thereto, said housing also including support means for supporting said device within the body of the patient; sealing means for sealing around said external filament when present within said device and for inhibiting the flow of fluids through said passageway when said filament is not present within said device; and limiting means within said housing for engaging the flexible filament and limiting the extent to which the flexible filament can be inserted through said device, said limiting means in the form of a reducing diameter passageway section providing a positive stop for the flexible filament during insertion of the flexible filament into said device and preventing the flexible filament from entering into the internal catheter.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
208 words
An implantable access device which permits the introduction of a flexible external filament such as a catheter, guide wire or optical fiber into a patient for communication with an internal catheter located within the body of the patient, said device comprising: a housing having portions defining an inlet opening, an outlet opening and a passageway communicating therebetween, said inlet opening being generally funnel shaped and guiding a percutaneously inserted flexible external filament into said passageway, said outlet opening being defined in a discharge nipple which is adapted to have the internal catheter attached thereto, said housing also including support means for supporting said device within the body of the patient; sealing means for sealing around said external filament when present within said device and for inhibiting the flow of fluids through said passageway when said filament is not present within said device; and limiting means within said housing for engaging the flexible filament and limiting the extent to which the flexible filament can be inserted through said device, said limiting means in the form of a reducing diameter passageway section providing a positive stop for the flexible filament during insertion of the flexible filament into said device and preventing the flexible filament from entering into the internal catheter.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
An implantable access device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said limiting means is located adjacent to said outlet opening.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
An implantable access device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said limiting means is formed in said discharge nipple and within said passageway.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
An implantable access device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said limiting means forms a perimeter seal around the perimeter of the flexible filament when engaged therewith thereby providing said sealing around said external filament.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
An implantable access device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said limiting means is a convergently tapered portion of said passageway.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
An implantable access device as set forth in claim 5 wherein said tapered portion exhibits a taper converging toward said outlet opening.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
An implantable access device as set forth in claim 5 wherein said tapered portion is smoothly tapered.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
An implantable access device as set forth in claim 5 wherein said tapered portion is formed within an insert located within said passageway.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
An implantable access device as set forth in claim 8 wherein said insert is a polymeric, molded insert.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
An implantable access device as set forth in claim 5 wherein said tapered portion is located down stream of said sealing means for inhibiting the flow of fluids through said passageway.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
An implantable access device as set forth in claim 5 wherein said tapered portion is located upstream of said sealing means for inhibiting the flow of fluids through said passageway.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
An implantable access device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said limiting means is a convergently stepped portion of said passageway.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
An implantable access device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said limiting means provides a positive stop which can be felt through the flexible filament during initial engagement of the flexible filament with said limiting means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
An implantable access device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said sealing means for sealing around said external filament is separate and independent from said sealing means for inhibiting the flow of fluids through said passageway.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
52 words
An implantable access device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said sealing means for sealing around said external filament is a reduced diameter portion of said passageway, said reduced diameter portion of said passageway also being said limiting means for limiting the extent to which the flexible filament can be inserted.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
37 words
An implantable access device as set forth in claim 15 wherein said sealing means for sealing around said external filament is separate and independent from said sealing means for inhibiting the flow of fluids through said passageway.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
FR1296652A
Cited
US3288137A
Cited
US3402710A
Cited
US3565078A
Cited
US3699956A
Cited
US4181132A
Cited
US4387879A
Cited
US4190040A
Cited
US4230109A
Cited
US4256102A
Cited
US4810241A
Cited
US4439188A
Cited
US4578061A
Cited
US4430081A
Cited
US4534759A
Cited
WO1983000367A1
Cited
DE3242870A1
Cited
US4464178A
Cited
US4425119A
Cited
US4405320A
Cited
US4447237A
Cited
US4491126A
Cited
US4490137A
Cited
EP0119596A1
Cited
US4581020A
Cited
US4781693A
Cited
EP0134745A1
Cited
US4569675A
Cited
US4543088A
Cited
US4623329A
Cited
US4547194A
Cited
US4634422A
Cited
US4682981A
Cited
US4578063A
Cited
US4650473A
Cited
US4710167A
Cited
US4645495A
Cited
US4929235A
Cited
DE3528878A1
Cited
US4692146A
Cited
US4710174A
Cited
US4673394A
Cited
US4790826A
Cited
US4695273A
Cited
US4712583A
Cited
US4832054A
Cited
GB2192338A
Cited
US4781695A
Cited
US4704103A
Cited
US4781680A
Cited
US5092849A
Cited
US4886501A
Cited
US4842591A
Cited
US4915690A
Cited
US4857062A
Cited
US4978338A
Cited
US4857053A
Cited
US5026344A
Cited
US5045060A
Cited
US5041098A
Cited
US5226879A
Cited
US5057084A
Cited
US5180365A
Cited
US5053013A
Cited
US5263930A
Cited
US5281199A
Cited
US5350360A
Cited
US5352204A
Cited
US5356381A
Cited
US5417656A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-09-10 | 2000-03-11 | 2000-09-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-09-10 | 2004-03-11 | 2004-09-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-09-10 | 2008-03-11 | 2008-09-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |