Vascular access port with physiological sensor

Abstract

A combined vascular access port and physiologic parameter monitoring device. The vascular access port and the monitoring device may be connected by a cooperative geometry. The vascular access port and the monitoring device may be implanted at the same time and in the same anatomical location (e.g., subcutaneous pocket). The monitoring device may include a telemetry unit that transmits physiological measurement data to a local data collection system (e.g., carried by the patient or located in the patient's home), which may re-transmit the data to a remote data collection system (e.g., located at a physician's office or clinic) via a suitable communication link.

1 . A vascular access port and sensor system, comprising: 
 a vascular access port including a portal housing; and    a physiological sensor device disposed adjacent the vascular access port, the sensor device including a sensor and a sensor housing, wherein the sensor housing and the portal housing define cooperative geometries.    
   
   
       2 . The vascular access port and sensor system of  claim 1 , wherein the vascular access port contains an internal reservoir with first and second openings, a self-sealing septum disposed in the first opening, and a catheter extending from the portal housing, the catheter defining a lumen extending therethrough in fluid communication with the reservoir via the second opening.  
   
   
       3 . The vascular access port and sensor system of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor device includes a pressure sensor.  
   
   
       4 . The vascular access port and sensor system of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor device includes a temperature sensor.  
   
   
       5 . The vascular access port and sensor system of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor device includes an impedance sensor.  
   
   
       6 . The vascular access port and sensor system of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor device includes a blood gas sensor.  
   
   
       7 . The vascular access port and sensor system of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor device includes an ECG sensor.  
   
   
       8 . The vascular access port and sensor system of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor device includes a plurality of sensors.  
   
   
       9 . The vascular access port and sensor system of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor housing is fixedly connected to the portal housing.  
   
   
       10 . The vascular access port and sensor system of  claim 9 , wherein the sensor housing is integrally formed with the portal housing.  
   
   
       11 . The vascular access port and sensor system of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor housing is releasably connected to the portal housing.  
   
   
       12 . The vascular access port and sensor system of  claim 11 , wherein the sensor housing interlocks with the portal housing.  
   
   
       13 . The vascular access port and sensor system of  claim 11 , wherein the cooperative geometries are defined by a connector extending from the sensor housing and the portal housing.  
   
   
       14 . The vascular access port and sensor system of  claim 13 , wherein the connector defines a lumen extending therethrough.  
   
   
       15 . The vascular access port and sensor system of  claim 14 , wherein the lumen of the connector is in fluid communication with the internal reservoir.  
   
   
       16 . The vascular access port and sensor system of  claim 1 , further comprising a telemetry unit connected to the sensor device.  
   
   
       17 . The vascular access port and sensor system of  claim 16 , wherein the sensor generates a sensor signal as a function of a physiological parameter, and wherein the telemetry unit generates a transmission signal as a function of the sensor signal.  
   
   
       18 . The vascular access port and sensor system of  claim 17 , further comprising a local data collection system having a communication link with the telemetry unit.  
   
   
       19 . The vascular access port and sensor system of  claim 18 , further comprising a remote data collection system having a communication link with the local data collection system.  
   
   
       20 . A vascular access port and sensor system, comprising: 
 a vascular access port including a portal housing containing an internal reservoir with first and second openings, a self-sealing septum disposed in the first opening, a catheter extending from the portal housing, the catheter defining a lumen extending therethrough in fluid communication with the reservoir via the second opening, and a first connector connected to the portal housing; and    a pressure sensor device disposed adjacent the vascular access port, the sensor device including a pressure sensor disposed in a sensor housing, a pressure transmission catheter extending from the sensor housing and being in fluid communication with the pressure sensor, and a second connector connected to the sensor housing;    wherein the first and second connectors define cooperative geometries.    
   
   
       21 . The vascular access port and sensor system of  claim 20 , wherein the first and second connectors define mating geometries.  
   
   
       22 . The vascular access port and sensor system of  claim 20 , wherein the first and second connectors define interlocking geometries.  
   
   
       23 . The vascular access port and sensor system of  claim 20 , wherein the sensor housing and the portal housing are releasably connected.  
   
   
       24 . The vascular access port and sensor system of  claim 20 , wherein the sensor housing and the portal housing are fixedly connected.  
   
   
       25 . The vascular access port and sensor system of  claim 20 , further comprising a telemetry unit connected to the sensor device.  
   
   
       26 . The vascular access port and sensor system of  claim 25 , wherein the pressure sensor generates a sensor signal as a function of blood pressure, and wherein the telemetry unit generates a transmission signal as a function of the sensor signal.  
   
   
       27 . A surgical method of implanting a vascular access port and a sensor device, comprising: 
 providing a vascular access port including a portal housing containing an internal reservoir with first and second openings, a self-sealing septum disposed in the first opening, and a catheter connected to the portal housing, the catheter defining a lumen extending therethrough in fluid communication with the reservoir via the second opening;    providing a physiological sensor device including a sensor and a sensor housing;    surgically forming a subcutaneous pocket through an incision;    introducing the catheter of the vascular access port into a vascular lumen;    placing the portal housing is the subcutaneous pocket;    placing the sensor device in the subcutaneous pocket; and    surgically closing the incision.    
   
   
       28 . The surgical method of  claim 27 , wherein the sensor device is placed adjacent the vascular access port.  
   
   
       29 . The surgical method of  claim 27 , wherein the sensor housing and the portal housing define cooperative geometries, and wherein the cooperative geometries are placed immediately adjacent each other.  
   
   
       30 . The surgical method of  claim 27 , wherein the sensor housing and the portal housing define interlocking geometries, and wherein the interlocking geometries are interlocked with each other.  
   
   
       31 . The surgical method of  claim 27 , wherein the sensor housing and the portal housing are releasably connected to each other.  
   
   
       32 . The surgical method of  claim 27 , wherein the sensor housing and the portal housing are fixedly connected to each other.  
   
   
       33 . The surgical method of  claim 27 , further comprising: 
 providing a telemetry unit connected to the sensor device; and    placing the telemetry unit in the subcutaneous pocket.    
   
   
       34 . A medical treatment method, comprising: 
 providing a vascular access port including a portal housing containing an internal reservoir with first and second openings, a self-sealing septum disposed in the first opening, and a catheter connected to the portal housing, the catheter defining a lumen extending therethrough in fluid communication with the reservoir via the second opening;    providing a physiological sensor device including a sensor and a sensor housing;    implanting the vascular access port and the sensor device;    administering a therapeutic agent through the vascular access port; and    monitoring a physiological measure using the sensor device.    
   
   
       35 . The medical treatment method of  claim 34 , further comprising: 
 changing the administration of the therapeutic agent as a function of the monitored physiological measure.    
   
   
       36 . The medical treatment method of  claim 34 , further comprising: 
 providing a telemetry unit connected to the sensor device;    implanting the telemetry unit;    wherein the sensor device generates a sensor signal as a function the physiological measure; and    wherein the telemetry unit generates a transmission signal as a function the sensor signal.    
   
   
       37 . A sensor device for use with a vascular access port including a portal housing having a geometry, the sensor device comprising: 
 a sensor housing;    a physiological sensor disposed in the sensor housing;    wherein the sensor housing defines a geometry that is cooperative with the geometry of the portal housing.    
   
   
       38 . The sensor device of  claim 37 , further comprising a telemetry unit carried by the sensor housing.  
   
   
       39 . A vascular access port for use with a sensor device including a sensor housing having a geometry, the vascular access port comprising: 
 a portal housing containing an internal reservoir with first and second openings;    a self-sealing septum disposed in the first opening; and    a catheter extending from the portal housing, the catheter defining a lumen extending therethrough in fluid communication with the reservoir via the second opening;    wherein the portal housing defines a geometry that is cooperative with the sensor housing.