A method of using a power-injectable port includes obtaining the power-injectable access port, attaching a catheter to an outlet stem of the power-injectable access port, and implanting the power-injectable access port and the catheter into a patient. The method further includes identifying the power-injectable access port following the implanting, and in accordance with the identification, inserting a distal end of a needle through the septum and into the reservoir, and injecting contrast media through the needle at a rate of at least one milliliter per second. The power-injectable access port includes a housing, a septum, a reservoir, and an outlet stem in fluid communication with the reservoir. The power-injectable access port is rated for injection of contrast media at a flow rate of at least 1 milliliter per second. The power-injectable access port is structured for operation at a pressure in the reservoir of at least 35 psi.

An access port for subcutaneous implantation is disclosed. Such an access port may comprise a body for capturing a septum for repeatedly inserting a needle therethrough into a cavity defined within the body. Further, the access port may include at least one feature structured and configured for identification of the access port subsequent to subcutaneous implantation. Methods of identifying a subcutaneously implanted access port are also disclosed. For example, a subcutaneously implanted access port may be provided and at least one feature of the subcutaneously implanted access port may be perceived. Further, the subcutaneously implanted access port may be identified in response to perceiving the at least one feature.

A method of performing a power injection procedure, including taking an x-ray of a subcutaneously implanted access port in a patient to determine whether the access port includes a radiographic feature indicating that the access port is suitable for flowing fluid at a rate of at least about 1 milliliter per second through the access port. The access port defines one or more fluid reservoirs, each fluid reservoir accessible through a cannula-penetrable septum. The method further includes identifying the indicating radiographic feature on the x-ray, and in accordance with the presence of the indicating feature on the x-ray, flowing a fluid through the access port at a rate of at least about 1 milliliter per second.

A venous access port assembly (10) having a housing base (22) with a discharge stem (16), a septum (14), a cap (20) and an interior reservoir (26). The port assembly (10) is provided with X-ray discernable indicia (60,62) to identify an attribute of the assembly (10) after its implantation and clearly appear on an X-ray of the patient in a manner informing the radiologist or technologist and the medical practitioner of that particular attribute. The indicia are cutouts (60,62) through a reservoir lining (50) of radiopaque material such as metal where the cutouts have narrow slot width are in the form of one or more sets of alphabetical letters such as CT in the lining's side wall (52) or bottom wall (54).

A method of using a power-injectable port includes obtaining the power-injectable access port, attaching a catheter to an outlet stem of the power-injectable access port, and implanting the power-injectable access port and the catheter into a patient. The method further includes identifying the power-injectable access port following the implanting, inserting a distal end of a needle through the septum and into the reservoir, and injecting contrast media through the needle at a rate of at least one milliliter per second. The power-injectable access port includes a housing, a septum, a reservoir, and an outlet stem in fluid communication with the reservoir. The power-injectable access port is rated for injection of contrast media at a flow rate of at least 1 milliliter per second. The power-injectable access port is structured for operation at a pressure in the reservoir of at least 35 psi.

A method of performing a power injection procedure, including taking an x-ray of a subcutaneously implanted access port in a patient to determine whether the access port includes a radiographic feature indicating that the access port is suitable for flowing fluid at a rate of at least about 1 milliliter per second through the access port. The access port defines one or more fluid reservoirs, each fluid reservoir accessible through a cannula-penetrable septum. The method further includes identifying the indicating radiographic feature on the x-ray, and in accordance with the presence of the indicating feature on the x-ray, flowing a fluid through the access port at a rate of at least about 1 milliliter per second.

A venous access port assembly having a housing base with a discharge port, a septum, and a cap, with an interior reservoir. The housing base is provided with X-ray discernable indicia to identify an attribute of the assembly after its implantation and clearly appear on an X-ray of the patient in a manner informing the radiologist or technologist and the medical practitioner of that particular attribute. Such indicia can be depicted as cutouts through a disc of radiopaque material where the cutouts are in the form of alphabetical letters such as CT, or can be a set of discrete elements of radiopaque material, that are affixed along the bottom surface of the housing base or embedded within the thickness of the bottom housing wall.

A venous access port assembly having a housing base with a discharge port, a septum, and a cap, with an interior reservoir. The housing base is provided with X-ray discernable indicia to identify an attribute of the assembly after its implantation and clearly appear on an X-ray of the patient in a manner informing the radiologist or technologist and the medical practitioner of that particular attribute. Such indicia can be depicted as cutouts through a disc of radiopaque material where the cutouts are in the form of alphabetical letters such as CT, or can be a set of discrete elements of radiopaque material, that are affixed along the bottom surface of the housing base or embedded within the thickness of the bottom housing wall.

A venous access port assembly (10) having a housing base (28) with a discharge port (16), a septum (14) and a cap (48). An interior reservoir (22) is defined by a well (30) in the housing base and a bottom (62) of the septum, and a passageway (20) extends from the reservoir through the discharge port (16). The housing base (28) is provided with radiopaque markings (60) on the bottom wall (44) thereof, including radiopaque indicia (70) that identify an attribute of the assembly (10) after its implantation and clearly appear on an X-ray of the patient in a manner informing the radiologist or technologist and the medical practitioner of that particular attribute.

A septum for a port is provided, the septum having a top wall and a side wall. The side wall can include a pressure-activated valve element for regulating the flow of fluid across the valve. The curvature of the side wall and the geometry of the sidewall and the housing can be tailored to bias the valve element to open at different pressures during infusion and aspiration. The side wall can also include an extended portion that can function as a suture wing for securing the port within a port pocket.