Electronically enhanced access port for a fluid filled implant

Abstract

The present invention provides for an access port configured to detect its tilt within the body to facilitate a physician's access thereto. The access port can include a tilt detector to detect tilt datum, and a display screen to display the tilt of the access port. In addition, the tilt detector and the display screen can indicate whether the access port is flipped or not. The tilt detector can include an accelerometer to aid in determining the tilt of the access port.

1 . An access port for connecting to a gastric band for the treatment of obesity, the gastric band suitable for laparoscopic placement around the stomach of a patient to create a stoma, the access port comprising:
 a housing defining a cavity and comprising a penetrable septum defining an outer wall of the housing;   a conduit configured to carry fluid between the penetrable septum and an inflatable portion of the gastric band; and   a tilt detector coupled to the housing and configured to determine an orientation of the housing relative to a surface of a skin of the patient.   
     
     
         2 . The access port of  claim 1 , wherein the tilt detector is a 3-axis accelerometer. 
     
     
         3 . The access port of  claim 1 , wherein the gastric band is a hydraulically adjustable gastric band. 
     
     
         4 . The access port of  claim 1 , wherein the tilt detector is further configured to communicate a tilt datum to an external control unit via RF telemetry, and wherein the external control unit is configured to display the tilt datum. 
     
     
         5 . The access port of  claim 1 , wherein the tilt detector is powered by kinetic energy created by body motion stored onto a capacitor. 
     
     
         6 . The access port of  claim 1 , wherein the tilt detector is powered by an implanted fuel cell. 
     
     
         7 . The access port of  claim 1 , wherein the tilt detector is powered by an implanted power source powered by chemistry of the body. 
     
     
         8 . The access port of  claim 1 , wherein the tilt detector is powered by an implanted power source powered by temperature change. 
     
     
         9 . The access port of  claim 1 , wherein the tilt detector is powered by implanted batteries that can be recharged by direct contact. 
     
     
         10 . The access port of  claim 1 , wherein the tilt detector is inductively powered. 
     
     
         11 . The access port of  claim 1 , further comprising a sensor located in the housing, the sensor detecting a parameter. 
     
     
         12 . The access port of  claim 11 , wherein the parameter is selected from a group consisting of a pressure, a fill volume, a stress, a strain, a linear measurement, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The access port of  claim 11 , wherein the sensor is a pressure sensor. 
     
     
         14 . The access port of  claim 13 , further comprising a plate element positioned between the penetrable septum and the pressure sensor to guard the pressure sensor against a needle damaging it. 
     
     
         15 . An access port for connecting to a gastric band for the treatment of obesity, the gastric band suitable for laparoscopic placement around the stomach of a patient to create a stoma, the access port comprising:
 a penetrable septum defining an outer wall of a housing;   a conduit configured to carry fluid between the penetrable septum and an inflatable portion of the gastric band; and   a tilt detector coupled to the housing and configured to detect a tilt direction of the housing relative to a body portion of the patient and a degree tilt of the housing relative to a surface of a skin of the patient.   
     
     
         16 . The access port of  claim 15 , further comprising a pressure sensor in fluid communication with a fluid within the gastric band and configured to monitor a pressure of the fluid and generate a pressure value signal. 
     
     
         17 . An access port for connecting to a gastric band for the treatment of obesity, the gastric band suitable for laparoscopic placement around the stomach of a patient to create a stoma, the access port comprising:
 a penetrable septum defining an outer wall of a housing;   a conduit configured to provide fluid communication between the penetrable septum and the gastric band; and   a pressure sensor in fluid communication with a fluid within the gastric band and configured to monitor a pressure of the fluid, generate a pressure value signal, and communicate the pressure value signal to an external control unit via RF telemetry.   
     
     
         18 . An access port for connecting to a gastric band for the treatment of obesity, the gastric band suitable for laparoscopic placement around the stomach of a patient to create a stoma, the access port comprising:
 a penetrable septum defining an outer wall of a housing;   a conduit configured to provide fluid communication between the penetrable septum and the gastric band; and   a tilt detector coupled to the housing and configured to detect a tilt datum indicating a tilt direction of the access port relative to a body portion of the patient and a degree tilt of the access port relative to a surface of a skin of the patient.   
     
     
         19 . The access port of  claim 18 , further comprising an external control unit configured to receive via RF telemetry the tilt datum and the location of the access port and to display the tilt datum and the location of the access port. 
     
     
         20 . The access port of  claim 18 , wherein the tilt detector is a 3-axis accelerometer. 
     
     
         21 . A method of determining a contact between a needle of a syringe and an implanted access port comprising:
 detecting vibration data using the implanted access port; and   analyzing the vibration data to determine whether the syringe has contacted the implanted access port.   
     
     
         22 . A method of determining an insertion of a needle of a syringe into an implanted access port comprising:
 tilting the needle of the syringe;   determining tilt datum of the implanted access port; and   analyzing the tilt datum to determine whether the implanted access port is tilted when the needle of the syringe is tilted.