IMPLANTABLE VASCULAR ACCESS PORT WITH DUAL, HIGH-FLOW TRANS-CHAMBER AND LOW-FLOW, ACCESS, AND NEEDLE LOCK FOR HIGH-FLOW

Abstract

A vascular access port has a single unitary septum, included in an upper wall of the port body. The septum has an arched or curved portion extending at least partially down a side of the port body opposite the outlet port and covering the lateral access zone or straight-line-access aperture to the outlet port/aperture.

Claims

1. An implantable vascular access port comprising a port body and at least one hollow outlet tube attached to the port body, said port body including: a lower or floor wall; an upper wall opposed thereto; at least one sidewall extending between said upper wall and said lower or floor wall; at least one internal chamber defined by said lower or floor wall, said upper wall and said at least one sidewall; and at least one outlet aperture formed in said at least one sidewall thereof in communication with said at least one internal chamber, said upper wall comprising a single unitary septum opposite said bottom wall and at least partially opposite said outlet aperture, said upper wall being provided with a first access zone and a second access zone spaced from one another, said second access zone defining a perpendicular- or vertical-access path or direction extending through said single unitary septum and substantially perpendicularly to said upper wall and said lower or floor wall, said first access zone defining a straight-line-access path or direction extending to said at least one outlet aperture through said single unitary septum and said at least one internal chamber at an angle between 0? and about 70? with respect to the lower or floor wall, said single unitary septum being coextensive with at least both said first access zone and said second access zone, said single unitary septum being made of self-sealing penetrable material designed for repeated piercing by access needles, said at least one hollow outlet tube being in fluid communication with said at least one internal chamber and said at least one outlet aperture.

2. The implantable vascular access port of claim 1 wherein said single unitary septum is provided on an upper surface with at least one palpable formation that enables tactile differentiation between said first access zone and said second access zone.

3. The implantable vascular access port of claim 2 wherein said at least one palpable formation includes two endless formations.

4. The implantable vascular access port of claim 3 wherein said two endless formations are circular or oval ridges or beads.

5. The implantable vascular access port of claim 1, further comprising at least one exoskeletal shield member extending over said single unitary septum.

6. The implantable vascular access port of claim 5 wherein said at least one exoskeletal shield member takes the form of one or more overarching webs.

7. The implantable vascular access port of claim 1 wherein said single unitary septum has an arched, curving, or bent geometry.

8. The implantable vascular access port of claim 1 wherein said single unitary septum is fastened to an upper edge of said sidewall along a closed perimeter.

9. The implantable vascular access port of claim 1 wherein said upper wall further comprises a rigid exoskeleton roof atop said single unitary septum, said rigid exoskeleton roof being provided with two apertures respectively defining said first access zone and said second access zone.

10. The implantable vascular access port of claim 9 wherein said rigid exoskeleton roof is disposed in parallel with said single unitary septum.

11. The implantable vascular access port of claim 10 wherein said rigid exoskeleton roof is disposed at a uniform distance from said single unitary septum.

12. The implantable vascular access port of claim 10 wherein said rigid exoskeleton roof and said single unitary septum are fastened to an upper edge of said sidewall along a closed perimeter.

13. The implantable vascular access port of claim 9 wherein said single unitary septum has an arched, curving, or bent geometry.

14. The implantable vascular access port of claim 1 wherein one of said port body and said at least one hollow outlet tube is provided with at least one male or female locking element for cooperating with at least one female or male locking element, respectively, on a needle cannula to removably lock the cannula to said at least one outlet tube or said port body so that the cannula communicates with a lumen of said outlet tube.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0053] FIG. 1 is a sagittal cross-section view of an access port apparatus according to a prior art design.

[0054] FIG. 2 is coronal cross-sectional view of the access port apparatus of the access port of FIG. 1, taken along the line II-II therein, along a vertical plane, orthogonal to the plane of FIG. 1.

[0055] FIG. 3 is a sagittal cross-section view of a saucerized or conical access port chamber apparatus according to a prior art design containing a specialized curved pencil point access needle, which in turn contains a distal side hole along the apex of the curved needle.

[0056] FIG. 4 is a sagittal cross-section view of a prior art design similar to that of FIG. 3, also showing a guide wire being slidably inserted through the needle apparatus and into a catheter.

[0057] FIG. 5 is a top plan view of an access port apparatus according to a selected illustrative embodiment of the present invention with one perpendicular-access septum and one straight-line-access septum with an overall oval shape to the port body.

[0058] FIG. 6 is a midline sagittal cross-section view of the access port apparatus of FIG. 5, taken along the line VI-VI therein.

[0059] FIG. 7 is a midline sagittal cross-section view of the access port apparatus of FIG. 5, with a standard curved Huber needle inserted through a perpendicular-access port septum and associated aperture.

[0060] FIG. 8 is a midline sagittal cross-section view of the access port apparatus of FIG. 5, with a straight Huber needle or Seldinger needle inserted through a straight-line-access septum and associated aperture, also showing a guide wire being slidably inserted through the needle toward the opening of a tubular catheter attachment site, which protrudes from the port body.

[0061] FIG. 9 is a coronal cross-sectional view of the access apparatus in FIG. 5, taken along the line IX-IX therein, along a vertical plane, which is orthogonal to that of FIG. 6, and showing the directed conical shape of the port chamber toward the opening of the tubular catheter attachment site.

[0062] FIG. 10 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the access apparatus in FIG. 6, taken along the line X-X therein, along a horizontal plane, which is orthogonal to that of FIG. 6.

[0063] FIG. 11 is a horizontal cross-sectional view similar to that of FIG. 10, also showing a straight Huber needle or Seldinger needle inserted through a horizontal port septum or aperture with a guide wire being slidably inserted through the needle into an outlet stem or tube and attached single lumen catheter.

[0064] FIG. 12 is a top view of a double lumen access port apparatus according to a selected illustrative embodiment of the present invention with two perpendicular-access septa and two straight-line-access septa or apertures with an overall oval or elliptic frusto-conical shape to the port body.

[0065] FIG. 13 is a sagittal cross-section view of the access port apparatus of FIG. 12, taken along line XIII-XIII in FIG. 15.

[0066] FIG. 14 is a coronal cross-sectional view of the access apparatus of FIGS. 12 and 13, taken along the line XIV-XIV in FIG. 12, along a vertical plane, which is orthogonal to the drawing plane of FIG. 13, and showing a directed conical shape of the port chamber toward the two semicircular openings of the double lumen tubular catheter attachment site.

[0067] FIG. 15 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the access apparatus of FIGS. 12-14, taken along the line XV-XV in FIG. 13, along a horizontal plane, which is orthogonal to the drawing plane of FIG. 13, also showing an attached double lumen catheter.

[0068] FIG. 16 is a horizontal cross-sectional view similar to that of FIG. 15, also showing two straight Huber needles or Seldinger needles inserted through two separate straight-line-access port septa or apertures with guide wires being slidably inserted through the respective needles into the two halves of a double lumen catheter.

[0069] FIG. 17 is a top view of an access port apparatus according to a selected illustrative embodiment of the present invention with one perpendicular-access septum and one straight-line-access septum with an overall frusto-conical shape to the port body.

[0070] FIG. 18 is a midline sagittal cross-section view of the access port apparatus of FIG. 17, taken along the line XVIII-XVIII therein.

[0071] FIG. 19 is a coronal cross-sectional view of the access apparatus in FIG. 17, taken along the line XIX-XIX therein, along a vertical plane, which is orthogonal to that of FIG. 18, and showing the directed conical shape of the port chamber toward the opening of the tubular catheter attachment site.

[0072] FIG. 20 a horizontal cross-sectional view of the access apparatus in FIG. 18, taken along the line XX-XX therein, along a horizontal plane, which is orthogonal to that of FIG. 18, also showing an attached single lumen catheter.

[0073] FIG. 21 is a horizontal cross-sectional view similar to that of FIG. 20, also showing a straight Huber needle or Seldinger needle inserted through a straight-line-access port septum or aperture with a guide wire being slidably inserted through the needle into a single lumen catheter.

[0074] FIG. 22 is a diagram of a generic patient's central venous access system according to a prior art design.

[0075] FIG. 23 is a diagram of a generic patient's central venous access system according to a prior art design with a biofilm or fibrin sheath coating the intravascular portion of the catheter tip.

[0076] FIG. 24 is a diagram of a generic patient's central venous access system according to a prior art design, similar to FIG. 23, showing positioning of a loop snare over the catheter and fibrin sheath.

[0077] FIG. 25 is a diagram of a generic patient's central venous access system according to a prior art design, similar to FIG. 24, showing the procedure related complication of a free intravascular catheter fragment which may occur without the inventive device described herein.

[0078] FIG. 26 is a diagram of a generic patient's central venous access system according to a prior art design, showing a flipped or malpositioned catheter.

[0079] FIG. 27 is a diagram of a central venous access system in accordance with the present invention, demonstrating advancement of a loop snare over a wire, placed through the port horizontal septum, in preparation for fibrin sheath stripping, commensurate with the method described herein.

[0080] FIG. 28 is a diagram of a central venous access system in accordance with the present invention, similar to FIG. 27, demonstrating further advancement of a loop snare over a wire, placed through the port straight-line-access septum, and subsequently over a catheter coated with a fibrin sheath, ideally positioned to perform fibrin sheath stripping, commensurate with the method described herein.

[0081] FIG. 29 is a diagram of a central venous access system in accordance with the present invention, similar to FIG. 28, demonstrating loop snare removal of a fibrin sheath over a wire, placed through the straight-line-access port septum, commensurate with the method described herein.

[0082] FIG. 30 is a diagram of a central venous access system in accordance with the present invention, similar to FIG. 28, demonstrating how the position of a broken catheter fragment can be removed in a controlled manner, over a wire placed through the straight-line-access port septum, preventing the complication of a free intravascular fragment shown in FIG. 25, commensurate with the method described herein.

[0083] FIG. 31 is a diagram of a central venous access system in accordance with the present invention, showing a flipped catheter tip, and a wire being advanced into the straight-line-access port septum in preparation for catheter repositioning, commensurate with the method described herein.

[0084] FIG. 32 is a diagram of a central venous access system in accordance with the present invention, similar to FIG. 31, showing a repositioned catheter tip performed utilizing a wire placed through the straight-line-access port septum, with the wire shown exiting from the end of the catheter, commensurate with the method described herein.

[0085] FIG. 33 is a diagram of a central venous access system in accordance with the present invention, similar to FIG. 32, showing a repositioned catheter tip performed utilizing a wire placed through the straight-line-access port septum, with the wire now haven been withdrawn back into the catheter, commensurate with the method described herein.

[0086] FIG. 34 is a schematic side elevational view of a non-coring needle and cannula assembly and a cross-sectional view of an outlet tube formed with cooperating snap-lock fit formations, utilizable in any of the vascular access ports disclosed herein.

[0087] FIG. 35 is a schematic side elevational view of another implantable vascular access port in accordance with the present invention with frusto-conical body and frusto-conical (shown) or cylindrical chamber.

[0088] FIG. 36 is a schematic side elevational view of an implantable vascular access port similar to that of FIG. 35, showing an alternative more superior or higher positioning of inlet or lateral aperture and outlet stem.

[0089] FIG. 37 is partially a schematic side-elevational view of a further implantable vascular access port in accordance with the present invention, showing a frusto-conical port body and an ovoid or ellipsoid chamber.

[0090] FIG. 38 is a schematic side elevational view of an implantable vascular access port similar to that of FIG. 37, showing a tangential outlet tube relative to an ovoid or ellipsoid port chamber and a conical-skin-covered external inwardly tapering recess or palpable depression, forming the lateral access aperture with inner septum.

[0091] FIG. 39 is a schematic side elevational view of an implantable vascular access port similar to that of FIG. 38, showing a bent or doubly angled outlet tube.

[0092] FIG. 40 is partially a schematic side-elevational view of yet another implantable vascular access port in accordance with the present invention, showing a frusto-conical port body and frusto-conical (shown) or cylindrical chamber and an inferiorly angled outlet stem.

[0093] FIG. 41 is a schematic side elevational view of an implantable vascular access port similar to that of FIG. 40, showing a modified frusto-conical port body shape and lateral access aperture with an inferiorly angled outlet stem.

[0094] FIG. 42 is a schematic side elevational view of an implantable vascular access port similar to that of FIG. 41, showing an ellipsoidal internal chamber with an inferiorly angled outlet stem.

[0095] FIG. 43 is a schematic side elevational view of an implantable vascular access port body similar to that of FIG. 42, showing a tangential outlet stem and access aperture relative to an ellipsoidal port chamber with an inferiorly angled outlet stem.

[0096] FIG. 44 is a schematic horizontal cross-sectional view of another implantable dual-chamber vascular access port in accordance with the present invention.

[0097] FIG. 45 is a detail of FIG. 44, on a larger scale, showing annular beads inside respective passageways in a port body wall, for reversibly locking a stylet needle cannula to the port body to enable fluid communication between the passageways and respective channels in a dual-flow outlet tube.

[0098] FIG. 46 is a schematic perspective view of a generic vascular access port in accordance with the present invention, showing areas of different degrees of radio-opacity or -translucence to facilitate use under fluoroscopic guidance.

[0099] FIG. 47 is a schematic partial cross-sectional view of a dual chamber vascular access port with dual outlet tubes, pursuant to the present invention.

[0100] FIG. 48 is a diagram of an outlet tube for a dual chamber vascular access port, showing two lumens each with a distal end having a D-shaped cross-section (semi-cylindrical) and a proximal end with a circular cross-section.

[0101] FIG. 49 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view of another vascular access port in accordance with the invention.

[0102] FIG. 50 is a schematic top plan view of the vascular access port of FIG. 49.

[0103] FIG. 51 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view of a further vascular access port in accordance with the invention.

[0104] FIG. 52 is a schematic top plan view of the vascular access port of FIG. 51.

[0105] FIG. 55 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view of yet another vascular access port in accordance with the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0106] As used herein the terms perpendicular-access and straight-line-access refer to respective angles of placement or insertion of a needle through a skin surface into a vascular access port implanted beneath that skin surface. The term perpendicular-access signifies a direction of needle placement or insertion that is substantially, or at least mostly, perpendicular to a floor surface of an internal chamber of the access port as well as the skin overlying the perpendicular-access septum of the port (in contradistinction to the skin covering sidewalls of the port which may be sloped or angled). A perpendicular-access aperture in a port body as described herein is covered by a penetrable flexible septum located close to the skin surface for routine clinical access. Concomitantly, a perpendicular-access aperture is located in an upper surface of an implantable vascular port, next to the skin surface, and may be termed a top access aperture.

[0107] Ideally, a perpendicular-access needle insertion line or direction is oriented 90? relative to the floor surface of a port body internal chamber or the lower wall of the port body. However, in practice the needle insertion direction may deviate from 90? by an angle of 10? to 20? from the exact perpendicularity.

[0108] Concomitantly the term straight-line access signifies a direction of needle placement or insertion that is at least partially parallel to the floor or lower wall of the implanted vascular access port, or inclined with respect to that floor or lower wall preferably at an angle of less than about 40? but possibly up to about 70?. The port sidewall, as well as the skin covering the port sidewall, may be sloped, or angled relative to the floor of the port body. A straight-line-access aperture is configured for placement or penetration of a needle preferably in parallel with, or in near parallel relation to, the (preferably flat) port floor. However, a straight-line access path, exemplarily for high-flow-rate access applications such as apheresis and dialysis, may be inclined by an angle of up to about 70? relative to the lower wall of the port body. The straight-line access path is collinear with the outlet tube on the opposite side of the port body to facilitate trans-chamber needle engagement in the outlet tube. The outlet tube or the port body is provided with a reversible needle locking mechanism for the performance of the high flow procedures such as apheresis and dialysis as well as stable needle positioning for the performance of other methods described herein.

[0109] A vascular access port body is contemplated herein to denote a housing or casing made of a material resistant to penetration by a medical needle. The body of a vascular access port is provided with openings or apertures through which a needle may be inserted. A lateral access aperture or straight-line access aperture is used herein to denote an opening so positioned in a port body as to enable a straight-line access to the outlet tube on the opposite side of the port chamber. While a lateral access port is typically disposed in a sidewall of a port body, the word lateral as used herein denotes an access port or aperture as being to the side of a routine-maintenance access port in a top or upper wall of a vascular access port body. Accordingly a lateral access port may be located in the upper wall of a vascular access port body, laterally of a main or routine access aperture. However, it is contemplated that a lateral access port, to effectively facilitate certain applications, such as high-flow venous access for dialysis and apheresis defines a straight-line access path oriented between 0 and about 70 degrees from the horizontal lower wall of the port body and concomitantly the floor surface of the pertinent internal chamber, collinear with the outlet tube on the opposite side of he port chamber.

[0110] A lateral access aperture or straight-line access aperture in a port body as described herein is covered by a penetrable flexible septum located close to the skin surface for enabling fluoroscopic repositioning of a previously placed, undesirably migrated intravascular port and/or an associated catheter tip by advancement of a needle through the lateral sidewall- or straight-line-access aperture, then through said port body, into the outlet stem, and subsequently advancing a steerable wire through the needle into an attached catheter under fluoroscopy.

[0111] The term outwardly tapering chamber extension is used herein to denote a recess or ancillary cavity within a port body that communicates on an inner side with a main internal port chamber and that forms an outlet aperture communicating with an outlet tube configured to extend into a vein of a patient upon implantation or deployment of the associated vascular access port into a patient. The outlet aperture may be defined as the entirety of the recess or ancillary cavity between the internal chamber proper and the outlet tube or may be limited, in the alternative, to one plane, such as the upstream end or the downstream end of the recess or cavity. In the present disclosure, it is the last alternative that is generally contemplated.

[0112] The term inwardly tapering recess is used herein to denote a depression, concavity, or recess extending through a port body from an outer surface thereof to an internal cavity of the port body. The depression, concavity, or recess has a transverse dimension (width, diameter) that is less on the inner side than the outer side. The depression, concavity, or recess may be hemispherical, ovoid, elliptical, hyperbolic, etc., and have a concomitantly circular cross-section or may be pyramidal with a polygonal cross-section. Other tapering geometries may be utilized as well. The inwardly tapering recess within the port body typically comprises the lateral access aperture, provided at an inner end with a self-sealing septum or membrane for needle penetration at its junction with the inner chamber wall.

[0113] The word needle and the term needle assembly as used herein with reference to high-flow vascular access applications such as apheresis and dialysis denotes a non-coring access needle assembly comprising an outer cannula and a sharp inner stylet traversing a longitudinal lumen of the cannula. The cannula and corresponding pointed inner stylet can be either cylindrical or semi-cylindrical (with a D-shaped transverse cross-section) depending on the shape of the lumen of the corresponding outlet tube. A semi-cylindrical cannula and stylet shape is required for one double lumen port described herein (see, e.g., FIG. 15) while a cylindrical needle may be utilized for the various single lumen versions and another double lumen embodiment with outwardly angled lateral access apertures (see FIG. 44). The stylet and cannula are preferably made of a metal or alloy material. The cannula is formed proximate a distal end with an annular groove or one or more beads, optionally annular, for cooperating in a reversible snap-lock fit with a resilient bead or groove projecting from an inner surface of an outlet tube or of a tubular passageway inside the wall of a port body of an implantable vascular access port as described herein. The stylet is used to puncture a self-sealing membrane or septum and is removed from the cannula once the cannula is releasably locked to an outlet tube or port body passageway.

[0114] A port body of a vascular access port as described herein is preferably made for the most part of an at least partially radio-opaque material. Ideally the material is not completely opaque so as to enable visualization of the internal chamber and a needle's progress through the chamber toward the outlet aperture during a vascular access procedure. The port body may have small portions, for instance, along edge regions surrounding the lateral access, top access, and outlet apertures, which have a perceptibly different radio-opacity than the main portion of the port body to facilitate visual detection of the apertures and septa during access procedures. Typically, but not necessarily, the septa are made of a radiolucent material. In another version the port body of a vascular access port as described herein is preferably made for the most part of a radiolucent material so as to enable visualization of a needle's progress through the chamber toward the outlet aperture during a vascular access procedure. The edges surrounding the lateral access, top access, and outlet apertures, of said radiolucent port body are at least partially radiopaque. Typically again, but not necessarily, the septa are made of a radiolucent material.

[0115] An implantable vascular port apparatus or device 52 as depicted in FIGS. 5-11 includes a main port body 56 having an internal chamber 54 formed therein. The main port body 56 may have various shapes including but not limited to frusto-conical, elliptic frusto-conical, teardrop shaped, torpedo shaped, horseshoe shaped, and ovoid. The port body 56 and port chamber 54 may be of similar or differing shapes respectively. Possible chamber shapes include but are not limited to cylindrical, frusto-conical, elliptic frusto-conical, ellipsoidal, and spheroidal. FIGS. 5-11 depict an elliptic frusto-conical port body 56 and port chamber 54. The main port body 56 has two penetrable septa 58 and 60 extending across and closing respective apertures 158 and 160: a perpendicular- or top-access septum 58 in aperture 158 similar to conventional ports as well as a novel straight-line- or lateral sidewall-access septum 60 in aperture 160 primary for the performance of various interventions to facilitate initial port placement, port catheter repositioning, maintenance of secondary port patency, port removal, high-flow applications, and port exchange. The radiolucent septa 58 and 60 are formed from a resiliently deformable material such as silicone elastomer. The perpendicular- or top-access and straight-line- or lateral sidewall-access septa 58 and 60 each include a respective thickened central portion 41a and 41b as shown in FIGS. 6-9 and a thinner edge portion or flange 43a and 43a for placement in a respective circumferential channel or groove 45a and 45b, to anchor the septa in place in the main port body 56. The main port body 56 is formed from a biocompatible material, such as titanium alloy or other biocompatible corrosion-resistant metal, or from a biocompatible plastic. A titanium liner may be used along a floor or bottom surface 62 of the port chamber 54 when plastic is utilized for the port body 56.

[0116] In one version of an implantable vascular access port, the port body 56 and port chamber 54 are wider on the side containing the straight-line-access septum 60 in order to accommodate it and facilitate needle placement from various angles of approach, in contradistinction to an opposite side of port body 56 containing a hollow outlet tube 64, which may be more narrow or tapered. A sufficiently wide straight-line-access port aperture may also be formed in a standard frusto-conical port body without the need for widening the side of the port containing the straight-line-access aperture.

[0117] The straight-line- or lateral sidewall-access aperture 160 may be of various shapes and sizes assuming a round, oval, or rectangular configuration for example; if the port body and chamber assumes a frusto-conical configuration the straight-line-access aperture is slanted or curved. A wider straight-line-access aperture may allow for easier needle placement from different needle skin puncture locations and angles of approach. In another version the straight-line-access aperture 160 may be narrower and therefore less dependent on port body shape, allowing for precise alignment of the straight-line-access septum 60 with a port chamber outlet aperture 66. A narrower straight-line-access aperture 160 may be more difficult to target or enter but can be precisely aligned with the exiting port chamber outlet aperture 66, facilitating placement of a straight-line-access needle 72 and subsequently a slidable wire 74 through it, into the outlet aperture 66 and an attached catheter 70.

[0118] In one version the port body is relatively radiopaque while the respective silicone covered top access and lateral sidewall apertures are radiolucent. The edges of the at least partially radiopaque port body 56 surrounding a more narrow precisely aligned radiolucent straight-line- or lateral sidewall-access aperture 160 may be made even more radiopaque than the port body in order to better guide placement of the access needle through the straight-line-access septum 60 under direct fluoroscopic guidance; this modification may be of value regardless of aperture size. The disadvantage of accessing a small straight-line-access aperture 160 may therefore be overcome with the use of accentuated radiopaque port body markers along it edges, thereby enabling fluoroscopic needle placement while at the same time exploiting the advantage of more precise alignment of the straight-line-access aperture 160 with the port chamber outlet aperture 66. Outlet aperture 66 is configured to be radiolucent similarly to the respective access apertures to facilitate fluoroscopic cannulation with a needle or wire; similarly the outlet aperture 66 may have accentuated, at least partially radiopaque, rims or edges for needle guidance. In another version the port body is radiolucent with radiopaque edges or rims along the similarly radiolucent top and lateral sidewall access apertures along with the outlet aperture, thereby similarly guiding needle placement under fluoroscopy into or through any of the aforementioned apertures. The port chamber outlet aperture 66 may be surrounded by an inner surface of the internal chamber 54 having a straight conical or funnel-like shape and defining an outwardly tapering chamber extension (as opposed to a curved funnel) to help facilitate the placement of a slidable wire 74 through a straight access needle 72 placed through the straight-line-access septum 60, to facilitate entrance of the wire 74 into the hollow outlet tube 64 and subsequently the proximal catheter 70 (FIGS. 8-11). Alternatively the needle may directly engage a channel in the port body 56 adjacent to the outlet aperture 66 or the outlet stem 64 prior to wire advancement.

[0119] The straight conical outlet aperture or outwardly tapering chamber extension 66 shown in FIGS. 6-9 is located flush with the floor or bottom surface 62 of the internal chamber 54 of port body 56. Alternatively the straight conical chamber outlet aperture 66 may be centered at a midpoint between a top or upper surface 68 and the floor or bottom surface 62 of the port chamber 54 or anywhere in between, its precise location being preferably aligned with the location of the straight-line- or lateral sidewall-access aperture 160. The perpendicular-access aperture 158 for routine clinical use is shown in FIG. 7 with a curved Huber access needle in place for injecting medicines, into the internal port chamber 54, the medicines then passing through the port chamber outlet aperture 66, the hollow outlet tube 64, and finally the proximal catheter 70. The main port body 56 may have one or more round or oval eyelets 78 formed along its margins, particularly along a peripheral or circumferentially extending foot 79, to allow suturing of the port apparatus 52 to the underlying soft tissues within a surgically created subcutaneous pocket. These eyelets 78 may or may not be filled with silicone elastomeric material.

[0120] In a double lumen implantable vascular access port 252 (FIGS. 12-16) two internal port chambers 254 are separated by a midline divider or partition 282 and exhibit respective perpendicular- or top-access apertures 258 and respective straight-line-access or lateral sidewall apertures 260. The port 252 includes a main port body 256 that is elliptic frusto-conical in configuration in one version and has four penetrable septa, namely two perpendicular-access septa 258 over respective apertures 258, similar to conventional double ports, as well as two straight-line-access or lateral sidewall septa 260 over respective apertures 260, primarily for the performance of various interventions to facilitate port placement, port repositioning, maintenance of secondary port patency, port removal, and port exchange. The septa (258 and 260) are formed from a resiliently deformable material such as silicone elastomer. The construction of the respective perpendicular- and straight-line-access septa (258 and 260) may include a thickened central portion 241 as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 and a thinner edge portion 243 for placement in a circumferential channel or groove 245, to anchor the septa in place in the main port body 256. The main port body 256 is formed from a biocompatible material, such as titanium alloy or other biocompatible corrosion-resistant metal, or from a biocompatible plastic. A titanium liner (not separately depicted) may be used along floors or bottom surfaces 262 of the port chambers 254 when plastic is utilized for the port body 256.

[0121] The straight-line-access apertures 260 may be of various shapes and sizes assuming a round, oval, or rectangular configuration for example; if the port body 256 and chambers 254 assume an elliptic frusto-conical configuration, external and internal body surfaces not separately labeled have a surface curvature along multiple dimensions. Where straight-line-access apertures 260 and associated septa 260 are provided with a larger width (parallel to the floor or bottom surfaces 262), easier needle placement from different angles of approach is possible. In another version of the double lumen implantable vascular access port 252, the straight-line-access apertures 260 may be narrower and therefore relatively independent of port body shape, allowing for more precise alignment of the straight-line-access apertures 260 with respective port chamber outlet apertures 266. Narrower parallel-access apertures 260 are more difficult to target or enter but may be precisely aligned in the horizontal and or vertical planes with the exiting port chamber semicircular outlet apertures 266, facilitating placement of straight-line-access needles 272 and subsequently slidable wires 274 into the semicircular outlet apertures 266, and into the respective sides of an attached double lumen catheter 284, having a midline divider or partition 253. Alternatively the needles 272 may directly engage the outlet apertures 266 prior to wire advancement. A special needle design consisting of a semicircular or D shaped cannula and a semicircular yet pointed stylet may be required in order to directly engage the semicircular outlet aperture 266. A traditional rounded cannula with pointed stylet (Seldinger needle) may likely be adequate to direct a wire into the outlet aperture (s) without directly seating the needle into the semicircular outlet aperture. High flow applications such as apheresis and dialysis require direct needle engagement, coupled with a reversible locking mechanism (no back flow), into the respective halves of the semicircular outlet tubes, necessitating the use of corresponding semicircular cannula and semicircular pointed inner stylet.

[0122] The edges (not separately designated) of the radiopaque port body 256 surrounding more narrow precisely aligned straight-line radiolucent access apertures 260 may be made more radiopaque than the port body 256 in order to better enable placement of the access needles 272 through the straight-line-access septa 260 under direct fluoroscopic guidance, this modification being of value regardless of aperture size. The disadvantage of accessing a small straight-line-access aperture 260 may therefore be overcome with the use of accentuated radiopaque port body markers along the otherwise radiolucent aperture edges, thereby enabling fluoroscopic needle placement while at the same time exploiting the advantage of precise alignment of the straight-line-access apertures 260 with the port chamber outlet apertures 266. The radiopaque midline divider or partition 282 of the double lumen port apparatus 252 helps guide access needles 272 during placement through the two respective straight-line-access apertures 260 by fluoroscopy as well as by a palpable subcutaneous ridge 283 formed by the upper edge of the midline divider/partition 282 (FIGS. 12, 15, and 16).

[0123] Insertions or deployments of the straight-line-access needles 272 adjacent to respective sides of the midline divider 282 simultaneously align the straight-line-access needles with the respective semicircular outlet apertures 266 (FIGS. 15 and 16). A special needle design (not shown) consisting of a semi-cylindrical cannula and semi-cylindrical pointed stylet may be used to directly engage the semicircular outlet aperture, to enable temporary locking of the cannula to the port body and outlet tube particularly for high-flow procedures. High-flow applications such as apheresis and dialysis require direct needle engagement, coupled with a reversible locking mechanism (no back flow), into the respective halves of the semicircular outlet tubes, necessitating the use of corresponding semicircular cannula and semicircular pointed inner stylet.

[0124] Alternatively, to enable use of conventional cylindrical needle assemblies with a double lumen vascular access port in accordance with the present invention, the vascular access port may be provided with (1) dual outlet tubes having cylindrical lumens, as discussed hereinafter with reference to FIG. 47, (2) a dual-flow outlet tube with a proximal end portion having two cylindrical lumens and a distal end portion having semi-cylindrical lumens, as described below with reference to FIG. 48, and (3) a thickened port body wall 277 (FIG. 15) having two cylindrical lumens 281 and 283 communicating with semi-cylindrical lumens 263 in outlet tube 264. Cylindrical lumens 281 and 283 are provided with annular snap-lock beads, as discussed herein, for releasably retaining stylet-needle cannulas particularly for high-flow procedures. Cylindrical lumens 281 and 283 may have proximal portions that extend parallel to partition 282 to facilitate the receiving of needle assemblies. Alternatively, straight-line or lateral access apertures 260 may be disposed at greater distances from partition 282, as shown in FIG. 44, to enable proper co-linear insertion of needles into lumens 281 and 283.

[0125] Port chamber outlet apertures 266 may be radiolucent in an otherwise at least partially radiopaque port body to facilitate needle or wire cannulation. Alternatively the outlet apertures 266 may be provided with radiopaque edges in an otherwise radiolucent port body in order to facilitate cannulation with a needle or wire. The port chamber outlet apertures 266 may be provided with respective straight conical or funnel-like guiding surfaces (defining outwardly tapering chamber extensions) on the respective downstream sides of internal chambers 254 (half or partial funnel in double lumen version on either side of the midline divider 282) to help facilitate the placement of slidable wires 274 through straight access needles (either cylindrical or semi-cylindrical) 272 placed through the straight-line-access septa 260, to facilitate entrance of the wires 274 or needles of semicircular cross-sections 272 into respective lumens 263 of a double lumen hollow outlet tube 264 and subsequently into respective halves 285 of a proximal double lumen catheter 284, compartmentalized by the midline catheter divider 253. (FIG. 16). The straight conical outlet apertures or outwardly tapering chamber extension 266 (half or partial funnel in double lumen version on either side of the midline divider/partition 282) shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 are located flush with the floors 262 of the port chambers 254. Alternatively the straight conical chamber outlet apertures 266 may be centered at a midpoint between top or upper surfaces 268 and the floor or bottom surfaces 262 of the port chambers 254 or anywhere in between, the precise locations being preferably aligned with the locations of the straight-line-access apertures 260. The respective perpendicular-access apertures 258 for routine clinical use are accessed with a curved Huber needle (shown in FIG. 7 for a single lumen port) for injecting medicines, which may then enter the port chambers 254, then the port chamber outlet apertures 266, subsequently entering the respective side of the double lumen hollow outlet tube 264, and finally the respective halves of the proximal double lumen catheter 284, separated by the midline divider/partition 253. The double lumen outlet tube 264 contains a midline groove 251, which accepts the midline divider 253 of the double lumen catheter 284 (FIGS. 12, 15, and 16). The main port body 256 may have one or more round or oval eyelets 278 formed at spaced locations in an outwardly and circumferentially extending foot 279 to allow suturing of the double lumen implantable vascular access port 252 to the underlying soft tissues within a surgically created subcutaneous pocket. These eyelets 278 may or may not be filled with silicone elastomeric material.

[0126] Another single lumen implantable vascular access port apparatus 352, shown in FIGS. 17-21 includes a main port body 356 having a hollow chamber 354 formed therein. A main port body 356 has two penetrable apertures (358 and 360) including a perpendicular- or top-access aperture 358 and a straight-line- or lateral-access aperture 360 covered or bridged by respective septa 358 and 360. Perpendicular-access aperture 358 allows conventional port access while novel straight-line-access aperture 360 enables or facilitates performance of various interventions to facilitate initial port placement, port catheter repositioning, maintenance of secondary port patency, port removal, and port exchange. In this implantable vascular access port apparatus 352, the main port body 356 is frusto-conical, the main port chamber 354 is cylindrical, frusto-conical or preferably ellipsoidal, an ellipsoidal or spheroidal port chamber design fosters circular motion and mixing of the injected fluids minimizing dead space within the chamber. Acute edges and corners result in sudden directional changes in fluid flow through the port chamber creating dead zones, cell shearing, platelet activation and clotting. A frusto-conical body 356 may surround a cylindrical, frusto-conical or preferably ellipsoidal port chamber 354 as shown in FIG. 17, however, the port body 356 may assume differing shapes including but not limited to a frusto-conical, elliptic frusto-conical, horseshoe shaped, teardrop shaped, torpedo shaped, or ovoid to reduce friction during port exchange, one of the envisioned methods or procedures made possible by the invention, yet retain the desirable non-turbulent flow characteristics of an ellipsoidal or spheroid (true sphere or oblate sphere) port chamber 354 (not shown). In another version the radiolucent lateral access aperture 360 is constructed of an inwardly tapering recess or palpable depression in the port body, allowing for access needle placement into the straight-line-access septum, which may no longer be located along the periphery of the port body 356, but more centrally abutting the port chamber (not shown). The port chamber 354 and port body 356 therefore may be of similar or differing shapes respectively. The septa (358 and 360) are formed from a resiliently deformable material such as silicone elastomer. The perpendicular- and straight-line-access septa 358 and 360 include thickened central portions 341 and 342 as shown in FIGS. 18 and 19 and thinner edge portions 343 and 344 for placement in circumferential channels or grooves 345 and 346 to anchor the septa 358 and 360 in place in the main port body 356. The main port body 356 is formed from a biocompatible material, such as titanium alloy or other biocompatible corrosion-resistant metal, or from a biocompatible plastic. A titanium liner (not shown) may be used along a floor or bottom 362 of the port chamber 354 when plastic is utilized for the port body 356. The straight-line-access aperture 360 may be of various shapes and sizes assuming a round, oval, or rectangular configuration for example; in a frusto-conical implantable vascular access apparatus 352 the straight-line-access septum 360 is in part curved FIGS. 17 and 20. A wider straight-line-access aperture may allow for easier needle placement from different skin puncture site locations and angles of approach. In another version the straight-line-access port aperture 360 may be narrower and therefore less dependent on port body shape, allowing for precise alignment of the straight-line-access port septum 360 with the port chamber outlet aperture 366. A narrower straight-line-access aperture 360 may be more difficult to target or enter but can be precisely aligned in the horizontal and or vertical planes with the exiting port chamber outlet aperture 366, facilitating placement of a straight-line-access needle 372 and subsequently a slidable wire 374 there through, into the outlet aperture 366, outlet stem 364, and an attached catheter 370 (FIG. 21). The edges of the radiopaque port body 356 surrounding a more narrow precisely aligned straight-line-access aperture 360 may be made even more radiopaque than the port body 354 in order to better enable placement of the access needle into and through the straight-line-access septum 360 under direct fluoroscopic guidance, this modification being beneficial regardless of aperture size. The disadvantage of accessing a small straight-line-access aperture 360 may therefore be overcome with the use of accentuated radiopaque port body markers along the edges of the aperture, thereby enabling fluoroscopic needle placement while at the same time exploiting the advantage of more precise alignment of the straight-line-access aperture 360 with the port chamber outlet aperture 366. The port chamber outlet aperture 366 may be located in a straight conical or funnel-like shape or outwardly tapering chamber extension (as opposed to a curved funnel) of the respective wall of the internal chamber 354 to help facilitate the placement of the slidable wire 374 through the straight access needle 372 as placed through the straight-line-access septum 360, to facilitate entrance of the needle 372 or wire 374 into the hollow outlet tube 364 and subsequently the proximal catheter 370 (FIGS. 19-21). Alternatively, the needle may directly engage a channel in the port body 356 adjacent to the outlet aperture 366 or the outlet stem prior to wire advancement. The straight conical outlet aperture (outwardly tapering chamber extension) 366 shown in FIGS. 19-21 is located flush with the floor or bottom surface 362 of the port chamber 354. Alternatively the straight conical chamber outlet aperture 366 may be centered at the midpoint between a top surface 368 and the floor surface 362 of the port chamber 354 or anywhere in between, its precise location preferably being aligned with the horizon-access aperture 360. The perpendicular-access aperture 358, for routine clinical use, is shown in FIG. 7 with a curved Huber access needle in place for injecting medicines, which may then enter the port chamber 354, then the port chamber outlet aperture 366, subsequently the hollow outlet tube 364, and finally the proximal catheter 370. The main port body 356 may have one or more round or oval eyelets 378 formed along its margins, particularly, along an outwardly and circumferentially extending foot 379, to allow suturing of the port or vascular access apparatus 352 to the underlying soft tissues within a surgically created subcutaneous pocket. These eyelets 378 may or may not be filled with silicone elastomeric material.

[0127] A generic port apparatus 20 such as that illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 is shown in FIG. 22 surgically implanted into the subcutaneous soft tissues of the upper chest wall with the proximal catheter attached to the port body 22, the catheter 36 is shown entering right the internal jugular vein 88, with the distal tip of the catheter 36 positioned in the central venous system, either the superior vena cava (SVC) or the right atrium (RA). FIG. 23, similar to FIG. 22, shows a generic port apparatus 20, with a fibrin sheath 90 or biofilm surrounding the distal intravascular portion of the catheter 36, resulting in catheter malfunction, either complete catheter occlusion or at a minimum an inability to aspirate blood from the catheter, precluding ones ability to confirm appropriate needle position within the port chamber, and thus safe conditions for the instillation of fluids or medicine. FIG. 24, similar to FIG. 23, shows a generic port apparatus 20, with a fibrin sheath 90 or biofilm surrounding the distal intravascular portion of the catheter 36, resulting in catheter malfunction. An intravascular loop snare 92 exiting from a catheter 94 placed from a femoral vein puncture is shown surrounding the port catheter 36 and fibrin sheath 90, immediately prior to tightening the snare in preparation for striping off the fibrin sheath from the catheter, an established procedure in the medical field. FIG. 25, similar to FIG. 24, shows a generic port apparatus 20, after fibrin sheath stripping with a loop snare 92 demonstrating a known complication of such a procedure, which is catheter fragmentation with a resultant intravascular loose body 96. FIG. 26, similar to FIG. 22, shows a generic port apparatus 20, with a catheter 36 having a flipped or migrated aberrant catheter tip in the internal jugular vein, resulting in catheter dysfunction and an undesirable location to inject medicines, also predisposing to venous thrombosis, a known complication of central venous ports. This aberrant catheter position can be remedied by snaring the distal end of the catheter in a similar fashion to that of FIG. 24 for fibrin sheath formation, thereby repositioning the catheter tip in the superior vena cava or right atrium; alternatively the port may be surgically revised.

[0128] FIG. 27 shows an improved fibrin sheath stripping procedure according to the present invention, utilizing the vascular port apparatus 52 described above with reference to FIGS. 5-11. The main port body 56 has two penetrable septa 58 and 60 covering respective apertures 158 and 160, with perpendicular-access septum or aperture 58 similar to that of conventional ports and with straight-line-access septum 60 primarily for the performance of various interventions to facilitate initial port placement, maintenance of secondary port patency, port removal, and port exchange. A slidable wire such as a polytetrafluoroethylene-coated guide wire, sold by the Terumo medical corporation under the trademark GLIDEWIRE or other suitable wire is inserted through a straight Huber needle or Seldinger needle via the straight-line-access port aperture 160, through the catheter 36 in order to secure the fibrin sheath 90 and help prevent catheter fragmentation from fibrin sheath stripping. An intravascular loop snare 92 exiting from a catheter 94 placed from a femoral vein puncture is shown surrounding the wire 74 in preparation for striping off the fibrin sheath from the catheter. FIG. 28, similar to FIG. 27, shows the port apparatus 52 in accordance with the present invention, with a fibrin sheath 90 or biofilm surrounding the distal intravascular portion of the catheter 36, resulting in catheter malfunction. An intravascular loop snare 92 exiting from a catheter 94 placed from a femoral vein puncture is shown surrounding the port catheter 36 and fibrin sheath 90, immediately prior to tightening the snare in preparation for striping off the fibrin sheath from the catheter 36. FIG. 29, similar to FIG. 28, shows subsequent safe removal of the fibrin sheath 90, with reduced risk of catheter fragmentation, from the port catheter 36 with the loop snare 92, over the wire 74 placed via the straight-line-access aperture 60. FIG. 30, similar to FIG. 29, shows safe removal of a catheter fragment 96 via a loop snare 92, since the fragment is secured on the wire 74 placed through the straight-line-access aperture 160, a known complication of fibrin sheath stripping, pursuit to the current invention. The catheter fragment 96 can then be safely removed after it is snared on the wire via the femoral vein access site trough a vascular sheath.

[0129] FIG. 31 shows a port apparatus 52 pursuant to the current invention with a flipped or migrated aberrant catheter tip in the internal jugular vein 88, resulting in catheter dysfunction and an undesirable location to inject medicines, also predisposing to venous thrombosis, a known complication of central venous ports. A wire 74 is shown being placed into the straight-line-access port aperture 60 into the port catheter 36 prior to exiting the distal end of the catheter. The aberrant catheter position can be remedied by advancing a slidable wire 74 through the catheter, thereby repositioning it in the superior vena cava or right atrium, in accordance with the invention described herein as shown in FIG. 32.

[0130] A wire placed through the straight-line-access aperture and subsequently the catheter as shown in FIG. 32 may be used to dislodge intraluminal blockages or thrombus in order to restore catheter patency. FIG. 33, similar to FIG. 32, shows partial wire withdrawal after catheter recanalization or dislodgement of the intraluminal thrombus from the catheter. FIG. 32 also demonstrates how various tools such as a microbrush or microballon may be advanced through the port apparatus in order to disrupt and dislodge an attached fibrin sheath or thrombus as an alternative procedure and method to that described for FIGS. 27-30.

[0131] A wire 74 placed through the straight-line-access aperture 60 and subsequently the catheter 36 as shown in FIG. 32 may facilitate initial catheter 36 placement into the central venous system, particularly if friction or kinking is encountered during catheter 36 advancement through a peel-away sheath, that is typically used in order to advance the catheter into the central venous system. Wire advancement may also be beneficial if a redundant loop of catheter develops in the subcutaneous tissues, after initial catheter 36 placement and peel away sheath removal, with only a small portion of the catheter in the venous system, thereby securing the catheter 36 in the venous system and increasing catheter 36 pushability such that the loop can be eliminated.

[0132] FIG. 32 also demonstrate how wire 74 advancement may help prevent inadvertent transection of the catheter during port removal increasing ones ability to palpate the catheter in order to avoid cutting it, also preventing complete transection by its presence within the catheter lumen; in the unlikely event of a complete transection the loose fragment may be secured on the wire allowing fragment 96 retrieval as demonstrated in FIG. 30.

[0133] FIG. 32 also demonstrates how placement of a long enough wire through the straight-line-access aperture through the catheter into the central venous system may allow for exchange of a malfunctioning port apparatus 52, after making an incision in the skin and freeing it from any surrounding scar tissue, for a new assembled vascular port apparatus 52 of a similar length over the wire. Exchange of a malfunctioning port apparatus 52 over a wire may require an incision near the straight-line-access aperture incorporating the access needle 72 (FIG. 21) and may be facilitated by peel-away sheath placement into the subcutaneous port pocket and catheter tunnel over the wire, after removal of the original malfunctioning port apparatus 52, thereby reducing friction for placement of the new port apparatus 52. The port apparatus may be exchanged for a like Portacath apparatus 52 or a new tunneled vascular apparatus such as a Hickman catheter or plasmapheresis catheter.

[0134] FIG. 34 depicts a large-bore (19 to 14 gauge) non-coring needle assembly 466, either circular or semi-circular in transverse cross-section, for high flow access applications, for instance, for apheresis or dialysis, together with a hollow outlet tube 464 (either round or semicircular in cross-section) that may serve as the hollow outlet tube in any of various single (round outlet tube) or dual access (semicircular or round outlet tube lumen) implantable vascular ports described herein, such as outlet tubes 64, 264, 364, 522, 534, 538, 550, 582, 600. Non-coring access needle assembly (round or semicircular) 466 may comprise a sharp inner stylet 466a with an outer cannula 466b, stylet 466a traversing a longitudinal lumen 466c of the cannula. Outlet port or stem 464 is provided along an inner surface with at least one annular bead or ridge 468 that inserts into an annular groove or indentation 470 in an outer surface 472 of cannula 466b to lock the cannula to the outlet port in high flow applications. Bead 468 and groove 470 form a snap-lock fit that anchors cannula 466b in place and additionally provides tactile resistive and or vibratory feedback to the operator during a deployment or coupling procedure; the operator can sense in part through sound and in part through resistance to further forward motion or retraction, that bead 468 is seated in groove 470. A reversible snap-lock mechanism such as bead 468 and groove 470 may therefore minimize or eliminate the need for fluoroscopic guidance during horizontal or lateral access or straight-line access needle placement (0 to 70 degrees relative to the port floor). Seating of cannula 466b at the desired location within the length of outlet tube 464 is facilitated by the tactile, vibratory, and auditory feedback generated by the snap-fit mechanism. Different size annular beads or ridges (e.g., of different heights) may be staggered along the length of the outlet tube 464, from small (proximal) to big (distal), to accommodate and form a tight fit around more than one size needle diameter, anchoring or engaging a larger gauge needle more proximally in the outlet tube and smaller diameter needles more distally, most applicable in an outlet tube of a uniform or nearly uniform diameter throughout its length. Alternatively, the annular beads or ridges can be of the same size or height but may accommodate different needle diameters because of an overall step-wise tapering of the inner diameter or inner surface of the outlet tube 464 from big (proximal) to small (distal), thereby forming a tight fit around more than one size needle diameter, anchoring or engaging a larger gauge needle more proximally in the outlet tube and smaller diameter needles more distally. Of course, the locations of bead 468 and groove 470 may be reversed: bead 468 may be formed on cannula 466b and groove 470 along an inner surface 474 of tubular outlet port 464. Multiple annular beads 468, 468, 468 may be formed along inner surface 474, spaced from one another, to accommodate stylet needle assemblies 466, 466, 466 with cannulas 468b, 468b, 468 of different diameters or gauges. In that case, inner surface 474 of outlet tube 464 may exhibit longitudinally staggered sections, 474, 474, and 474 of respective diameters increasing in diameter in a proximal direction, that is, from a free end 464a of port 464 toward the respective port chamber. Typically needle stylet 466a is made of stainless steel while cannula 466b and/or outlet tube 466 is made of an at least partially resilient polymeric material, facilitating the snap-lock cooperation and formation of a seal.

[0135] Alternatively, multiple mutually spaced annular grooves 470 may be provided along outer surface 470 of cannula 466b. In another variation, needle assembly 466 and inner surface 474 of outlet port 464 may be formed with multiple co-acting pairs of beads and grooves all of the same diametric or radial dimensions but axially spaced from one another along the lengths of the needle assembly and the outlet port. The snap-lock coupling of bead 468 and groove 470 serves to not only maintain the high-flow cannula 466b fixed to the respective vascular port 52, 252, 352, but to facilitate coupling operations and to closely fit the cannula to the inner surface 474 of the respective outlet tube 64, 264, 364 to prevent back flow. The horizontal- or lateral sidewall-access aperture as disclosed herein enables straight-line large bore needle-assembly cannula access to the outlet tube 464, 64, 264 364 and the outlet tubes of all the vascular port devices disclosed herein, for enabling maximal flow rates relative to the perpendicular- or top-access aperture which has greater frictional loss and turbulence related to flow through the capacious chamber with the needle access at 90 degrees.

[0136] A number of options are available when utilizing the port device described herein for high flow access procedures such as apheresis or dialysis: two separate single lumen ports with one serving as the venous access and the second for the venous return; single lumen port placement, with the port serving as a venous access and use of peripheral intravenous cannulation for the venous return; or placement of a dual lumen port with both venous access and return capabilities. The snap-lock needle mechanism also facilitates and supports stable advancement of a wire or other endoluminal device through the horizontal or lateral or straight-line access needle for the performance of the various methods and procedures described herein, which facilitate port placement, maintenance of secondary patency including fibrin sheath stripping and microbrush/microballon utilization, port catheter repositioning, port removal, and port exchange, all enabled by the horizontal access aperture.

[0137] A snap-lock needle mechanism as contemplated herein may typically include male and female elements as depicted in FIG. 34. The outlet tube may be made of resilient polymeric material that enhances the operability of the snap-lock mechanism. The outlet tube may be further tapered distal to the snap-lock mechanism to accommodate a smaller intravascular catheter (which is fitted over the distal outlet tube tip with a locking collar) as needed.

[0138] FIG. 35 depicts an implantable vascular port apparatus or device 502, which includes a frusto-conical main port body 506 having a frusto-conical internal chamber 504 formed therein. The main port body 506 has a sidewall 508 with a conical outer surface 510. The port body 506 and port chamber 504 may be of similar or differing shapes and or sizes respectively. FIG. 35 shows a frusto-conical port chamber 504 and frusto-conical outer port body 506. The main port body 506 has two penetrable septa 512 and 514 extending across and closing respective apertures 516 and 518. Aperture 516 is a perpendicular-access aperture similar to that of conventional ports, while aperture 518 constitutes a straight-line-access aperture primarily for high-flow applications and the performance of various interventions to facilitate initial port placement, port catheter repositioning, maintenance of secondary port patency, port removal, and port exchange. The septa 512 and 514 are formed from a resiliently deformable material such as silicone elastomer. The mounting of the septa 512 and 514 to the port body 506 may be as described above. The port body 506 is formed from a biocompatible material, such as titanium alloy or other biocompatible corrosion-resistant metal, or from a biocompatible plastic. A titanium liner may be used along a floor or bottom surface 520 of port chamber 504 when plastic is utilized for the port body 506. Access aperture 518 and an outlet tube 522, with an inner end defining an outlet aperture 524, is located midway between a lower wall or floor 526 and an upper wall 528 of port body 504.

[0139] A vascular access port 502 shown in FIG. 36 is the same as the port 502 of FIG. 35, and the reference numerals designating various component parts are the same. However, in the port of FIG. 35, access aperture 518, outlet aperture 524 and outlet tube 522 are located closer to upper wall 528 than to lower wall or floor 526.

[0140] A vascular access port 530 depicted in FIG. 37 is similar to the access ports 502 and 502 of FIGS. 35 and 36. Except for the different reference numerals as shown, port 530 exhibits the same structural features as ports 502 and 502. Instead of a frusto-conical internal chamber 504, port 530 has an ovoid or ellipsoidal internal chamber 532. An outlet tube 534 joins chamber 532 substantially normal to the internal surface of the chamber. In contrast, a modified vascular access port device 536 illustrated in FIG. 38 has an outlet tube 538 that is connected tangentially to the ovoid or ellipsoidal internal port chamber 532, minimizing turbulent flow within the chamber. Port device 536 exhibits another feature that may be incorporated into any of the port devices disclosed herein, namely, a frusto-conical, conical or hemisphere shaped recess (inwardly tapering recess) 537, within the port body comprising the lateral access aperture, provided at an inner end with a self-sealing septum or membrane 539 for needle penetration at its junction with the inner chamber wall. Recess 537 has an edge 537 at an outer end that facilitates tactile detection via palpation of a patient's dermal and underlying tissues (palpable depression). Recess 537 typically has a frusto-conical surface (not separately designated), although other shapes may be used.

[0141] As illustrated in FIG. 39, an implantable vascular port apparatus or device 540 includes a main port body 541 having a frusto-conical outer surface 543 and an ovoidal or ellipsoidal internal chamber 548. Internal chamber 548 is formed with an outlet aperture 546 through which the internal chamber is in communications with a bent, double angled, or snaking outlet tube 542, such that it ultimately exits the port flush or nearly flush with the port floor. Outlet tube 546 has an upstream portion 544 contiguous or continuous with outlet aperture 546 and a downstream portion 550 preferably disposed at or near a lower wall 547 of port body 541.

[0142] Port body 541 (FIG. 39) has two penetrable septa, an upper or top septum 553 for perpendicular low-flow access and a lateral septum 554 for transverse straight-line access utilizable in high-flow applications. Septa 553 and 554 extend across and cover respective apertures 551 and 552. Septa 553 and 554 are formed from a resiliently deformable material such as silicone elastomer. The mounting of the septa 553 and 554 to the port body 541 may be as described above. The port body 541 is formed from a biocompatible material, such as titanium alloy or other biocompatible corrosion-resistant metal, or from a biocompatible plastic. A titanium liner may be used along a floor or bottom surface 548 of internal chamber 548 when plastic is utilized for the port body 541.

[0143] Port apparatus or device 540 (FIG. 39) facilitates straight-line needle deployment in that both the access aperture 552 and the outlet aperture 546 are located near the upper end of the port device. Upstream portion 544 of outlet tube 542 is co-linear with access aperture 552 and its associated septum 554. The disposition of the downstream portion 550 of outlet tube 542 at the bottom or lower wall 547 of the port device minimizes or eliminates tilting of the device by a catheter connected to outlet tube 542.

[0144] FIG. 40 depicts an implantable vascular port apparatus or device 560, which includes a frusto-conical main port body 562 having a frusto-conical internal chamber 564 formed therein. The main port body 562 has a sidewall 566 with a conical outer surface 568. The main port body 562 has two penetrable septa 570 and 572 extending across and closing respective apertures 574 and 576. Aperture 574 is a perpendicular-access aperture similar to that of conventional ports, while aperture 576 constitutes a straight-line-access aperture primarily for high-flow applications and the performance of various interventions to facilitate initial port placement, port catheter repositioning, maintenance of secondary port patency, port removal, and port exchange. The septa 570 and 572 are formed from a resiliently deformable material such as silicone elastomer. The mounting of the septa 570 and 572 to the port body 562 may be as described above. The port body 562 is formed from a biocompatible material, such as titanium alloy or other biocompatible corrosion-resistant metal, or from a biocompatible plastic. A titanium liner may be used along a floor or bottom surface 578 of port chamber 564 when plastic is utilized for the port body 562. Access aperture 576 is located at an upper end of sidewall 566, while an outlet aperture 580 is disposed lower down along sidewall 566. An outlet tube 582 communicating with internal chamber 564 via outlet aperture 580 is inclined downwardly, co-linear with a straight-line insertion path 583 for a needle extending from access aperture 576 to outlet aperture 580. The design facilitates entrance into the straight-line access aperture 576 relative to the skin surface while at the same time minimizing tilting of the port by the weight of the exiting catheter.

[0145] FIG. 41 depicts an implantable modified frusto-conical vascular access port 584 with a downwardly inclined needle insertion path 585 similar to that of the frusto-conical port 560. Port 584 has a different external geometry with a skewed conical sidewall 586 having a straight-line access aperture 588 and associated septum 590 directed at an angle for facilitating access. The skewed conical sidewall 586 may further facilitate entrance into the straight-line access aperture 588 relative to the skin surface while at the same time minimizing tilting of the port by the weight of the exiting catheter. Otherwise, port 584 exhibits the same structural feature as port 560, including the geometry of the internal chamber 564.

[0146] FIG. 42 depicts a modified frusto-conical vascular access port 584 similar to port 584 of FIG. 41 but with an ovoid or ellipsoidal internal chamber 592, while FIG. 43 shows a modified frusto-conical vascular port 594, similar to port 584 of FIG. 42, with an upper sidewall portion having two mutually inclined facets 596 and 597 at an upper end and a steep angle access aperture 598, relative to the port floor, located in that curved sidewall portion. Port 594 also has a slanted and tangentially oriented outlet tube 600 relative to the ovoid or ellipsoidal inner chamber 592, optimizing flow dynamics within the chamber.

[0147] FIG. 44 illustrates a double lumen implantable vascular access port 602 with two internal port chambers 604, 605 separated by a midline divider or partition 606 with two perpendicular-access apertures (not shown) and two straight-line-access apertures 616 and 618. The port 602 includes a main port body 610 that is elliptic frusto-conical or oblate spherical in configuration and that has four penetrable septa, namely two perpendicular-access septa (not shown) covering respective apertures (not shown), similar to conventional double ports and the other double lumen port pursuant to the invention described herein (FIG. 12), as well as two straight-line-access septa 612 and 614 over apertures 616 and 618, primarily for high-flow applications and for the performance of various interventions to facilitate port placement, port repositioning, maintenance of secondary port patency, port removal, and port exchange. The septa 612, 614 are formed from a resiliently deformable material such as silicone elastomer and may include a thickened central portion (not illustrated), anchored or mounted as described above.

[0148] Needle insertion paths 620 and 622 from apertures 616, 618 and septa 612, 614 to round outlet apertures 624 and 626 at the upstream sides of semi-cylindrical outlet tubes 628 and 630 are straight lines preferably angled in towards one another, so as to provide space outside septa 612, 614 for manipulating two needles simultaneously, if necessary. Also straight-line insertion paths 620 and 622 may be angled downwardly (as illustrated in FIGS. 40-43) to place the access apertures 616, 618 closer to the skin surface to thereby facilitate aperture locating and needle deployment. Such a double lumen vascular access port may be used in carrying out an apheresis or dialysis procedure. Each round outlet aperture may transition into respective semicircular outlet tube lumens. In another version each round outlet aperture may transition into two separate round parallel or near parallel outlet tubes and outlet tube lumens, perhaps necessitating less inward angling of the needle insertion pathways. The separate outlet stems may be attached to separate intravascular catheters in this alternative device version.

[0149] As depicted in more detail in FIG. 45, port body 610 of the double lumen implantable vascular access port 602 of FIG. 44 has passageways or channels 632 and 634 that extend in a sidewall 636 of the port body from respective outlet apertures 624 and 626 to respective lumens 638 and 640 of outlet tubes 628 and 630. Passageways 632 and 634 are provided with inwardly projecting annular beads 642 and 644 that cooperate with annular grooves on a round stylet needle cannula (see FIG. 34 and associated description) to reversibly lock the needle cannulas to the port body 610 for high flow applications. The double lumen composite outlet tube 628, 630 contains a midline groove or slit 645 (not visible in FIG. 44), which accepts a midline divider (253, see FIGS. 15 and 16) of a double lumen catheter (28, FIGS. 15 and 16).

[0150] As illustrated in FIG. 46, an implantable vascular access port 646 representative of any port described herein may be provided with varying degrees of radio-opacity or radio-translucency to facilitate access under fluoroscopic guidance. A major portion 648 of a port body 650 has a first predetermined degree of radio-opacity. A lateral access aperture 652 and its associated septum 654, as well as an outlet aperture 656 and optionally a top access aperture 658 and its associated septum 660, exhibit a second predetermined degree of radio-opacity. The port body may be provided with edge regions 662, 664 and optionally 666 that extend about and define lateral-access aperture 652, outlet aperture 656 and top access aperture 658, respectively, the edge regions 662, 664, 666 having a third predetermined degree of radio-opacity. At least one of the second and the third predetermined degrees of radio-opacity differs substantially from the first predetermined degree of radio-opacity. In other words, the radio-opacity (concomitantly radio-translucence) of the different apertures 652, 656 and 658 vary so as to enable fluoroscopic visualization. Thus lateral access aperture 652 and outlet aperture 656 may be readily localized visually during a needle insertion procedure particularly for high-flow applications such as apheresis and dialysis. Radio-opacity may vary between essentially zero (radio-translucence) and essentially 100% (completely radio-opaque). The degrees of radio-opacity are understood as qualitative in that each degree of radio-opacity can lie within a numerical or percentage range but where the degrees differ for enhancing visualization, the respective ranges of radio-opacity do not overlap. Thus the various physical features are fluoroscopically distinguishable. It is to be understood that the radio-opacity of lateral access aperture 652 and top (vertical) access aperture 658 is the same as, and determined by, the radio-opacity of the associated septum 654 and 660.

[0151] As illustrated in FIG. 47, a double lumen vascular access port 670 has two internal chambers 672, 674 separated by a divider or partition 676 as discussed herein above with reference to FIG. 44. A port body wall 678 has two cylindrical channels 680, 682 defining respective outlet apertures (not separately designated) and provided with respective annular resilient beads 684, 686 for insertion in snap-lock fits into grooves on outer surfaces of stylet-needle assembly cannulas (not shown). Two separate outlet tubes 688 and 690 are attached to or integral with port body wall 678 with lumens 692 and 694 coaxial and communicating with respective channels 680, 682. In a modification of the embodiment of FIG. 47, the snap-lock beads 684, 686 may be provided in the outlet tube lumens 692 and 694 rather than in channels 680, 682.

[0152] As depicted in FIG. 48, an outlet tube 700 for use with dual lumen vascular access port 252 in place of double lumen hollow outlet tube 264 (FIGS. 12-16) includes two lumens 702, 704 each with a distal end 706, 708 having a D-shaped cross-section and a proximal end portion 710, 712 with a circular cross-section. Proximal end portions 710, 712 are formed internal with inwardly projecting annular beads 714, 716 for removable insertion in annular grooves in cannulas (not shown) of respective stylet needle assemblies (not shown). Between each distal end 706, 708 and the respective proximal end portion 710, 712, the respective lumen, 702, 704 is formed with a transition section (not separately designated) including a half surface 718, 720 that gradually morphs from a linear configuration at distal end 706, 708 to a semi-circular profile at proximal end portion 710, 712. Thus outlet tube 700 accommodates cylindrical needle cannulas at an inner or proximal end and a conventional bifurcated catheter (see 284 in FIG. 15) at an outer or distal end. Outlet tube 700 may taper from a wider proximal end at the port body to a smaller diameter at the distal end where the intravascular catheter is joined to the outlet tube.

[0153] FIGS. 49 and 50 depict an implantable vascular port apparatus or device 802, which includes a main port body 804 having an internal chamber 806 therein that may be frusto-conical or ovoidal (egg-shaped). The main port body 804 has a sidewall 808 with an outer surface 810 that may be conical, or ovoidally curved. The main port body 804 has an upper wall in the form of a single unitary septum 811 and fastened to an upper edge 812 of sidewall 808 along a closed perimeter. Septum 811 is provided on an upper surface with a pair of formations, particularly circular or oval ridges 814 and 816, which define respective needle access apertures 818 and 820. Aperture 818 serves as an access zone or location for relatively low-flow procedures such as the instillation of medications and blood extraction, where a needle is inserted along a vertical path 822 through septum 811 and mainly perpendicular to a lower floor 824 of port body 804. Aperture 820 serves as an access zone or location for needle insertion through septum 811 and along a partially horizontal path 826 oriented at an acute angle to floor 824 (the angle being between 0 and 70 degrees relative to the floor) and extending toward an outlet port 828 in sidewall 808. Septum 811 may be flat or ideally arched, curving, or bent so as to facilitate a partially horizontal angle of approach or access zone for aperture 820. Aperture 820 is used primarily for high-flow applications and the performance of various interventions to facilitate initial port placement, port catheter repositioning, maintenance of secondary port patency, port removal, and port exchange. The septum 811 is formed from a resiliently deformable material such as silicone elastomer. Access-point-defining ridges 814 and 816 may have shapes other than circular, such as oval or square. Alternatively a single linear or curvilinear bifurcating formation such as a ridge or bead (not shown) may extend across the upper surface of septum 811 from side to side dividing the septum into a routine low-flow access zone or area and a high-flow at least partially horizontal access zone or area.

[0154] FIGS. 51 and 52 illustrate an implantable vascular port apparatus or device 840, in which a main port body 842 is provided atop a single unitary septum 844 with a rigid exoskeleton roof 846 with two apertures 848 and 850 respectively defining a vertical access zone or location and a partially horizontal access zone or location. Port body 842 including septum 844 encloses an internal chamber 852 that may be frusto-conical or ovoidal (egg-shaped). The rigid exoskeleton roof 846 creates palpable depressions defining the respective apertures 848 and 850 respectively over the curving septum 844. The main port body 842 has a sidewall 854 with an outer surface 856 that may be conical or ovoidally curved. Aperture 848 serves as an access zone or location for relatively low-flow procedures such as the instillation of medications and blood extraction, where a needle is inserted along a vertical path 858 through the single unitary septum 844 mainly perpendicular to a lower floor 860 of port body 842. Aperture 850 serves as an access zone or location for needle insertion along a partially horizontal path 862 oriented at an acute angle between 0 and 70 degrees relative to floor 860 and extending through septum 844 to an outlet port 864 in sidewall 854.

[0155] Aperture 850 is used primarily for high-flow applications and the performance of various interventions to facilitate initial port placement, port catheter repositioning, maintenance of secondary port patency, port removal, and port exchange. The septum 844 is formed from a resiliently deformable material such as silicone elastomer. Access-point-defining apertures 848 and 850 may have shapes other than circular, such as oval or square.

[0156] Implantable vascular ports 802 and 840 are preferentially provided with various features described above with respect to other embodiments of the invention. Most significantly, the outlet tubes 828 and 864 or the bodies of the ports 802 and 840 incorporate locking elements that cooperate with corresponding elements on a needle cannula to reversibly lock the needle cannula to the port 802, 840 for high flow procedures such as apheresis and dialysis as well as stable needle positioning for the performance of other methods described herein. The locking elements may take the form of one or more beads or ridges 468 (see FIG. 34) on either the port or the cannula that releasably snap into respective annular grooves or indentations 470 in a cannula 466b or port to lock the cannula to the port 802, 840 in high flow applications. The locking mechanism may be a force- or friction-fit, for instance, with the cannula and outlet port having tapered co-engaging surfaces and a material such as a rubber layer that exhibits a high friction coefficient.

[0157] As indicated above with reference to all vascular access ports described herein, ports 802 and 840 are preferably made for the most part of an at least partially radio-opaque material. For instance, port 840 may have small portions exemplarily at edge regions of the exoskeletal shell surrounding the apertures 848 and 850 and at the outlet tube 864, which have a perceptibly different radio-opacity than the main portion of the port body to facilitate visual detection of the apertures during access procedures. Further options as to radio-opacity are described above with reference to all vascular access ports described herein. In port 802, the ridges or beads 814 and 816 surrounding the apertures or needle access areas 818 and 820 may be provided with relatively radio-opaque coatings or elements.

[0158] In addition, sidewalls 808 and 854 may be provided with conical or funnel-like needle-guide surfaces surrounding the inlets to outlet tubes 828 and 864 inside internal chambers 806 and 852 and defining outwardly tapering chamber extensions to help facilitate the placement of a wire (e.g., 74) through a straight access needle (e.g., 72) placed through septum 811, 844 at needle access aperture, location or area 820, 850 to facilitate entrance of the wire (74) into the hollow outlet tubes 828, 864 and subsequently a proximal catheter (see 70)(FIGS. 8-11).

[0159] Chambers 806 and 852 may have any shape suitable for the applications of the ports 802 and 840, including those described herein with reference to other embodiments, such as frusto-conical, ovoid or ellipsoidal. Port devices 802 and 840 may be used to implement any of the treatment methods described hereinabove.

[0160] FIG. 53 illustrates an implantable vascular port apparatus or device 802 similar to port apparatus or device 802 of FIGS. 49 and 50. Port apparatus or device 802 accordingly includes a main port body 804 having an internal chamber 806 therein that may be frusto-conical or ovoidal (egg-shaped). The main port body 804 has a sidewall 808 with an outer surface 810 that may be conical, or ovoidally curved. The main port body 804 has an upper wall in the form of a single septum 811 and fastened in an aperture 812 of sidewall 808 along a closed perimeter particularly by means of projections 880 and 882 that insert into recesses 884 and 886. Septum 811 is provided on an upper surface with a pair of circular or oval ridges 814 and 816 that define respective needle access apertures 818 and 820. Aperture 818 serves as an access zone or location for relatively low-flow procedures such as the instillation of medications and blood extraction, where a needle is inserted along a vertical path 822 mainly perpendicular to a lower floor 826 of port body 804. Aperture 820 serves as an access zone or location for insertion of a needle 888 (and optionally a guide wire 894) along a partially horizontal path 824 oriented at an acute angle to floor 826 and extending toward an outlet port 828 in sidewall 808. Septum 811 is arched, curving, or bent so as to facilitate a partially horizontal angle of approach or access zone for aperture 820. Aperture 820 is used primarily for high-flow applications and the performance of various interventions to facilitate initial port placement, port catheter repositioning, maintenance of secondary port patency, port removal, and port exchange. The septum 811 is formed from a resiliently deformable material such as silicone elastomer. Access-point-defining ridges 814 and 816 may have shapes other than circular, such as oval or square. Alternatively a single linear or curvilinear bifurcating bead (not shown) may extend across the upper surface of septum 811 from side to side dividing the septum into a routine low-flow access area and a high-flow at least partially horizontal access area. Outlet port or tube 828 is provided along an inner surface 889 with one or more recesses or projections 890 that cooperate with projections or recesses in an outer surface of needle or needle cannula 888 to temporarily lock the needle or needle cannula to the port body 804. An exoskeletal shield, exemplarily in the form of one or more overarching webs 892, is part of port body 804, provided for preventing excessive application of weight to septum 811. Internal; chamber 806 is defined by curving inner surfaces 811 of septum 811 and 826 of lower floor 826. Port body 804 is provided in lower floor 826 with apertures 826 for suturing the port body to connective tissues of a patient.

[0161] The dual access zones or locations of a vascular access port as described herein may be implemented with various structures and thus defined in different ways. The access zones, locations, or areas can be defined by respective apertures or holes in the port body and provided with associated individual septums. Alternatively, the port body may have a single large aperture or hole covered by a single large septum, with the access zones, locations, or areas defined by one or more protuberances such as ridges on an upper side and/or upper lateral side of the vascular access port. The septum or septums can have flat, curving, or arching configurations depending on the surrounding port body shape or shell. The preferred septum material of silicone is malleable or bendable allowing for curving or arching septum configurations. In the case of a single aperture and a single large septum the first and second access zones may be defined by palpable raised circular or oval ridge lines, bumps, or other palpable elements on the silicone septum to enable a user to identify the access zones, locations, or areas under the skin of the patient by palpation or the application of tactile pressure. Alternatively a raised fa?ade or exoskeleton may be provided over portions of the septum and attached to the port body, to help create palpable areas of indentation or depression, contiguous with raised surrounding edges of the contiguous port body.