Vascular access port

Abstract

An access port, wherein the access port may include a body having an exterior surface and a chamber defined therein, a bore defined in the body providing fluid communication between the chamber and the exterior surface, a needle in fluid communication with the chamber, a passage defined in the body providing communication between the chamber and the exterior surface, a seal secured within the passage, and an actuator in communication with the needle, configured to move the needle relative to the passage or move the passage relative to the needle.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An access port, comprising:
 an access port body;   an access port needle contained within the access port body; and   a septum covering at least a portion of the access port body;   wherein said access port body is configured to collapse from an expanded position to a collapsed position to expose said needle outside said access port body and configured to expand from said collapsed position to said expanded position to house said needle within said access port body; and said needle is arranged within said access port body to extend through said septum when said access port body collapses from said expanded position to said collapsed position.   
     
     
         22 . The access port system of  claim 21 , wherein said needle is coupled within said access port body to inhibit removal of said needle from said access port body. 
     
     
         23 . The access port system of  claim 22 , wherein said needle is mechanically coupled within said access port body. 
     
     
         24 . The access port system of  claim 21 , wherein said needle is fixed within said access port body. 
     
     
         25 . The access port system of  claim 21 , wherein said needle is fixed to said access port body. 
     
     
         26 . The access port system of  claim 21 , wherein said needle includes a replaceable needle tip. 
     
     
         27 . The access port system of  claim 21 , wherein said access port body comprises a first portion and a second portion, and wherein at least one of said first portion and said second portion move relative to one another to collapse said access port body from said expanded position to said collapsed position and expand said access port body from said collapsed position to said expanded position. 
     
     
         28 . The access port system of  claim 27 , wherein at least one of said first portion and said second portion slide relative to one another to collapse said access port body from said expanded position to said collapsed position and expand said access port body from said collapsed position to said expanded position. 
     
     
         29 . The access port system of  claim 21 , wherein said needle is arranged within said access port body to penetrate outwardly through skin of said subject from within said subject when said access port is implanted in said subject. 
     
     
         30 . The access port system of  claim 21 , further comprising a catheter coupled to said access port. 
     
     
         31 . The access port system of  claim 21 , wherein said access port body and said needle are configured such that said needle is completely contained within said access port body when said access port body is in said expanded position. 
     
     
         32 . The access port system of  claim 21 , further comprising an actuator configured to collapse said access port body to expose said needle outside said access port body and configured to expand said access port body to contain said needle within said access port body. 
     
     
         33 . The access port system of  claim 32 , wherein said actuator is configured to collapse said access port body from said expanded position to said collapsed position. 
     
     
         34 . The access port system of  claim 32 , wherein said actuator is configured to expand said access port body from said collapsed position to said expanded position. 
     
     
         35 . The access port system of  claim 32 , wherein said access port includes said actuator. 
     
     
         36 . The access port system of  claim 32 , wherein said actuator is at least partially contained within said access port body. 
     
     
         37 . The access port system of  claim 32 , wherein said actuator is completely contained within said access port body. 
     
     
         38 . The access port system of  claim 32 , wherein said actuator comprises a mechanical actuator. 
     
     
         39 . The access port system of  claim 38 , wherein said mechanical actuator comprises a spring. 
     
     
         40 . The access port system of  claim 32 , wherein said actuator comprises an electrical actuator. 
     
     
         41 . The access port system of  claim 40 , wherein said electrical actuator comprises at least one of a motor, a linear traveler, a processor, a memory, a communication device, a transmitter, a receiver, a transceiver and a power supply. 
     
     
         42 . The access port system of  claim 32 , wherein said actuator comprises a wireless electrical actuator which communicates wirelessly with said access port.