Fast Clear Port Reduces Priming Volume via Segmented Chambers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional subcutaneously implantable access ports have a large priming volume, which hinders efficient clearance of fluids, including medications, due to their size and design, necessitating a reduction in priming volume while maintaining ease of use and functionality.

Innovation Solution

The development of fast clear ports with a multi-chambered vascular access port design, featuring a housing with a divided fluid receptacle, a port stem, and a septum, along with a base mat and hydrophobic coatings, to reduce the priming volume and enhance fluid clearance by minimizing fluid exchange between chambers and using materials that facilitate needle penetration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If a conventional single-chamber access port design is used, then the device structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the priming volume is large which hinders efficient fluid clearance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepriming volumeVSAvoiddevice structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The fluid receptacle is divided into multiple chambers (first chamber, second chamber, third chamber) that are fluidly connected to the port stem. This segmentation reduces the priming volume in each individual chamber while maintaining overall functionality, as fluid can be efficiently cleared from the smaller chambers compared to a single large chamber

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Quantity of substance

If the access port size is reduced to decrease priming volume, then fluid clearance is improved, but the ease of locating and injecting into the port is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepriming volumeVSAvoidease of locating and injecting

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The multi-chamber design allows the overall receptacle volume to be distributed across multiple smaller chambers, reducing priming volume while the external housing dimensions can be maintained at conventional sizes for easy localization and needle insertion

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The septum is configured to cover the fluid receptacle and provide a standardized access point that maintains ease of needle penetration and injection, while the internal chamber configuration optimizes priming volume independently of the external access characteristics

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Productivity

If a multi-chamber design is implemented to reduce priming volume, then fluid clearance kinetics are enhanced, but the manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid clearance kineticsVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The receptacle is segmented into multiple chambers with fluid communication pathways to the port stem, enabling enhanced fluid clearance kinetics through reduced individual chamber volumes while using standard manufacturing techniques for creating the chamber divisions and fluid pathways

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Productivity

If the fluid receptacle volume is reduced to improve clearance efficiency, then the fluid exchange rate increases, but the ability to accommodate sufficient medication volume is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid exchange rateVSAvoidmedication volume capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The multi-chamber configuration provides multiple separate fluid compartments that can collectively hold sufficient medication volume while each individual chamber maintains a small priming volume for efficient exchange, allowing simultaneous optimization of both capacity and clearance rate

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple chambers are fluidly connected to the same port stem and catheter system, merging their volumes for total medication capacity while maintaining small individual chamber sizes for efficient fluid exchange kinetics

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The fast clear port design significantly reduces the priming volume, allowing for efficient delivery and withdrawal of fluids with reduced fluid requirements, improved needle penetration, and enhanced fluid clearance kinetics, while maintaining ease of use and implantability.

Implementation Method 1

The base mat may have a hydrophobic surface which may enhance clearance of fluid from within the receptacle

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydrophobic effect: Hydrophobe

Implementation Method 2

The chambers are configured so that as fluids are infused or aspirated from the system, only fluid in the accessed chamber are exchanged, as differential fluid pressures are not created to cause fluid to flow in the other chamber(s)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure gradient: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentUS11160966B2Fast clear port

Publication Date: 2021.11.02 CR BARD INC

AI summary

Described herein are implantable ports including a housing with a fluid receptacle, a port stem in fluid communication with the fluid receptacle, and a septum covering the fluid receptacle. The ports may be configured to reduce the priming volume by including a plurality of fluid-locked chambers and/or one or more base mats. The ports may also include a hydrophobic coating on one or more surfaces thereof.