Implantable Access Port With Movable Needle Entrance for Straight Flow

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vascular access devices suffer from complications such as vessel thrombosis, infections, hemolysis, and difficulty in cleaning due to perpendicular needle insertion, limited fluid flow rates, and discomfort due to skin stress, especially in long-term applications like hemodialysis.

Innovation Solution

An implantable access device with a movable needle entrance and locking mechanism that allows for a straight fluid path, preventing accidental actuation, and incorporates a flexible socket to prevent tissue pinching, ensuring bi-stable operation and enhanced comfort.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a perpendicular needle insertion and 90° bend in the fluid flow path are used, then the needle can be introduced into the port chamber, but this causes hemolysis and makes it difficult to clear thrombosis

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveneedle insertionVSAvoidhemolysis and thrombosis clearance difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the traditional perpendicular needle insertion approach by providing a needle entrance that is movable relative to the port body. When actuated, the needle entrance moves to align with the outlet opening, creating a substantially straight fluid flow path without 90° bends. This inversion of the insertion geometry eliminates hemolysis and facilitates thrombosis clearance while maintaining ease of needle access.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Device complexity

If the needle entrance is fixed relative to the port body, then the device structure is simple, but the needle cannot be moved closer to the skin for patient comfort

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice structureVSAvoidpatient comfort during treatment

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the needle entrance movable relative to the port body through a valve mechanism. The needle entrance can be moved from an unactuated position to an actuated position where it aligns with the outlet opening, allowing the needle to be positioned closer to the skin surface for patient comfort. The locking means ensure the movable needle entrance remains stable in each position, balancing complexity with operational benefit.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the needle entrance is movable to enable straight fluid flow, then hemolysis is prevented, but the device complexity increases due to valve mechanism and locking means

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehemolysis preventionVSAvoidvalve mechanism and locking means

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies self-service through a needle-activated valve mechanism. When a needle is inserted into the movable needle entrance, the needle itself actuates the valve mechanism to move the needle entrance into alignment with the outlet opening. The locking means are automatically activated by the needle insertion, eliminating the need for separate actuation mechanisms and reducing overall device complexity while maintaining hemolysis prevention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

4Object-affected harmful factors

If a flexible socket is added to prevent tissue pinching, then tissue damage is reduced, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetissue pinching and growthVSAvoidflexible socket component

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies flexible shells by incorporating a flexible socket between the movable needle entrance and the port body. This flexible socket prevents tissue from being pinched during the movement of the needle entrance, protecting surrounding tissue from damage and preventing tissue growth into the moving parts. The flexible material accommodates the movement while maintaining a barrier against tissue intrusion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Data Source

PatentUS12616825B2Implantable access device for accessing the vascular system of a human or animal body, particularly subcutaneously implantable access port

Publication Date: 2026.05.05 PFM MEDICAL AG

AI summary

Implantable access device for accessing the vascular system of a human or animal body, particularly subcutaneously implantable access port, comprising: a port body with at least one outlet opening connected or connectable to a catheter for accessing the vascular system of the human or animal body, a needle entrance with at least one inlet opening for receiving a needle, wherein the needle entrance is connected to the port body and movable relative to the port body between a first, unactuated operating condition and a second, actuated operating condition, and locking means for locking the needle entrance in the first, unactuated operating condition and in the second, actuated operating condition, wherein the locking means are activated by inserting the needle into the needle entrance and applying a predetermined movement to needle entrance via the inserted needle and/or by applying a predetermined movement to the needle entrance via the inserted needle and removing the needle from the needle entrance.