Medical access ports, transfer devices and methods of use thereof

Abstract

An access port system, comprising an implantable access port, the access port including an access port body, an access port needle and a fluid flow passage provided within the body and the needle; wherein the needle is fully containable within the body, and the needle is exposable outside the body; wherein the needle is arranged within the body to penetrate outwardly of the subject from within the subject when the access port is implanted in the subject; wherein, when the needle is exposed outside the body, the fluid flow passage is open to a flow of a fluid within the access port in at least a direction entering the access port through the needle and thereafter exiting the access port from the body; and wherein the assess port includes at least one sensor configured to detect the fluid within the fluid flow passage.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An access port system, comprising:
 an implantable access port configured to be implanted into a subject, the access port including an access port body, a first access port needle and a fluid flow passage provided within the access port body and the first access port needle;   wherein the first access port needle is fully containable within the access port body, and the first access port needle is exposable outside the access port body;   wherein the first access port needle is arranged within the access port body to penetrate outwardly of the subject from within the subject when the access port is implanted in the subject; and   wherein the first access port needle includes a first needle shaft and a first removable needle tip that removably closes a distal end of the first needle shaft.   
     
     
         2 . The access port system of  claim 1 , wherein the first removable needle tip is configured to dilate the subject to reduce injury. 
     
     
         3 . The access port system of  claim 2 , wherein the first removable needle tip has a pointed tip. 
     
     
         4 . The access port system of  claim 1 , wherein the first removable needle tip is removably coupled to the first needle shaft by threaded engagement. 
     
     
         5 . The access port system of  claim 1 , wherein the access port further includes at least one of a seal and a septum, and the first access port needle is arranged within the access port body to extend through at least one of the seal and the septum when the first access port needle penetrates outwardly of the subject. 
     
     
         6 . The access port system of  claim 1 , further comprising a first catheter coupled to the access port. 
     
     
         7 . The access port system of  claim 1 , wherein the access port further comprises a second access port needle; wherein the fluid flow passage is provided within the access port body and the first and second access port needles; the second access port needle is fully containable within the access port body, and the second access port needle is exposable outside the access port body; wherein the second access port needle is arranged within the access port body to penetrate outwardly of the subject from within the subject when the access port is implanted in the subject; wherein the second access port needle includes a second needle shaft and a second removable needle tip that removably closes a distal end of the second needle shaft. 
     
     
         8 . The access port system of  claim 5 , further comprising a first indwelling catheter and a second indwelling catheter, wherein the first access port needle couples to the first indwelling catheter and the second access port needle couples to the second indwelling catheter. 
     
     
         9 . A medical device, comprising:
 an access port system, including:
 an implantable access port configured to be implanted into a subject, the access port including an access port body, an access port needle and a fluid flow passage provided within the access port body and the access port needle; 
 wherein the access port needle is fully containable within the access port body, and the access port needle is exposable outside the access port body; 
 wherein the access port needle is arranged within the access port body to penetrate outwardly of the subject from within the subject when the access port is implanted in the subject; and 
 wherein the access port needle includes a needle shaft and a removable needle tip that closes a distal end of the needle shaft; 
   a fluid infusion and/or extraction apparatus, including:
 an elongated tubular housing member, comprising a needle tip holder that is configured to remove the removable needle tip from the access port needle; 
   wherein the removable needle tip is configured to couple to the fluid infusion and/or extraction apparatus.   
     
     
         10 . The medical device of  claim 9 , wherein the needle tip holder is also configured to install the removable needle tip to the needle shaft. 
     
     
         11 . The medical device of  claim 10 , wherein the needle tip holder is configured to rotate when installing or removing the needle tip. 
     
     
         12 . The medical device of  claim 10 , wherein the needle tip holder is formed of an elastically compressible/deformable material. 
     
     
         13 . The medical device of  claim 12 , wherein the elastically compressible/deformable material is rubber. 
     
     
         14 . The medical device of  claim 10 , wherein a distal end of the needle tip holder is provided with an elastically compressible/deformable annular ring. 
     
     
         15 . The medical device of  claim 10 , wherein the needle tip holder is formed of a material that is porous. 
     
     
         16 . The medical device of  claim 10 , wherein the needle tip holder may be formed of a magnetic material. 
     
     
         17 . A medical device, comprising:
 an access port system, including:
 an implantable access port configured to be implanted into a subject, the access port including an access port body, first and second access port needles and a fluid flow passage provided within the access port body and the first and second access port needles; 
 wherein the first and second access port needles are fully containable within the access port body, and the first and second access port needles are exposable outside the access port body; 
 wherein the first and second access port needles are arranged within the access port body to penetrate outwardly of the subject from within the subject when the access port is implanted in the subject; and 
 wherein the first and second access port needles include a first and second needle shafts and a first and second removable needle tips that close a distal end of the first needle shaft and a distal end of the second needle shaft; 
   a fluid infusion and/or extraction apparatus, including:
 an elongated first and second tubular housing members, wherein the first tubular housing member comprises a first needle tip holder that is configured to remove the first removable needle tip, and the second tubular housing member comprises a second needle tip holder that is configured to remove the second removable needle tip; 
   wherein the first and second removable needle tips are configured to couple to the fluid infusion and/or extraction apparatus.   
     
     
         18 . The medical device of  claim 17 , wherein the first and second needle tip holders are also configured to install the first and second removable needle tips to the first and second needle shafts. 
     
     
         19 . The medical device of  claim 17 , wherein the first and second removable needle tip holders are configured to rotate when installing or removing the first and second removable needle tips. 
     
     
         20 . The medical device of  claim 17 , wherein the fluid infusion and/or extraction apparatus further comprises an elongated first and second tubular fluid infusion and/or extraction members, and each of the first and second tubular fluid infusion and/or extraction members comprises a lumen.