Apparatus for delivery of therapeutic and/or diagnostic agents

Abstract

A system for delivery of therapeutic and/or diagnostic agents into a living body includes a port assembly having a cannula extending from the mounting side, a port opening away from the mounting side and a resilient barrier between the port and the cannula. An access hub includes a connector positionable at the port for opening the resilient barrier. The access hub is movable in the port assembly, is engaged therewith through a resilient ring coupling and forms a seal with the resilient barrier, reducing the amount of volume to be primed. Inserters, both disposable and reusable, include the cannula insertion member as part of the assembly. A spring loaded port driver is operatively mounted within the housing with movement controlled by a latch. The driver includes a seat for receipt of a port assembly. The cannula insertion member is nonremovably fixed in a socket in the port driver in the disposable assembly. In the reusable inserter, the cannula insertion member is slidably mounted within a socket associated with the latch. Slidable movement is limited by locking shoulders. The socket is split and may be splayed to release the cannula insertion member following use.

1 . An inserter for a port assembly, comprising 
 a. a housing including 
 (1) a bore therethrough,  
 (2) a stop in the bore;  
   b. a latch movably positioned in the bore against the stop;    c. a port driver slidably mounted in the bore and including 
 (1) a seat for receiving the port assembly and  
 (2) a cannula insertion member retained by the port driver;  
   d. a spring operatively between the housing and the port driver, the latch being selectively engageable with the port driver in a first position with the spring in a stressed state and disengaged with the port driver in a second position.    
     
     
         2 . The inserter of  claim 1 , the first and second positions being angularly displaced in the housing.  
     
     
         3 . The inserter of  claim 1 , the cannula insertion member being fixed relative to the seat.  
     
     
         4 . An inserter for a port assembly, comprising 
 a. a housing including 
 (1) a bore therethrough,  
 (2) a stop in the bore;  
   b. a port driver slidably mounted in the bore and including 
 (1) a seat for receiving the port assembly and  
 (2) a cannula insertion member retained by the port driver;  
 (3) a socket for slidably retaining the cannula insertion member by the port driver;  
   c. a latch movably positioned in the bore against the stop;    d. a spring operatively between the housing and the port driver, the latch being selectively engageable with the port driver in a first position with the spring in a stressed state and disengaged with the port driver in a second position.    
     
     
         5 . The inserter of  claim 4 , the socket for slidably retaining the cannula insertion member being split along the passageway.