The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 15, 1997
Filed:
Oct. 14, 1994
Chun K Lui, Monroeville, PA (US);
Louis Goode, Evans City, PA (US);
Cook Pacemaker Corporation, Leechburg, PA (US);
Abstract
A noninvasive, perforate, self-centering locator (10) facilitates engagement of a needle or cannula with a vascular access device (44) of the type having a subcutaneously implanted infusion port (46) and an infusion chamber (48) contained in the infusion port (46), the infusion chamber (48) being covered by a septum (52). The locator (10) is exemplified by a port stabilizer ring (12) having a central opening (18) with an interior diameter greater than the diameter of the septum (52) but less than the greatest diameter of the infusion port (46). The stabilizer ring (12) or other embodiment of the locator (10) is pressed on the skin (45) over the site of the infusion port (46), and simultaneously visually locates the septum (52) for the user while stabilizing the infusion port (46) with respect to the skin (45) and underlying tissues, permitting ready penetration of the skin (45) and septum (52) by a needle or cannula (58). The locator (10) most conveniently includes a radial split, such as the split (20) of the stabilizer ring (12), permitting withdrawal without interfering with any needle or cannula (58) engaged with the chamber (48) of the infusion port (46). The stabilizer ring (12) or other embodiment of the locator (10) preferably includes a circular, oval or arc-like planar annulus (14), and a ramp (16) extending inwardly from the planar annulus (14). Methods of using the noninvasive, perforate, self-centering locator (10) to facilitate engagement of a needle or cannula (58) with an implanted vascular access device (44) are also disclosed.