Venous Access Port with Side Recesses for Subcutaneous Insertion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing venous access port assemblies are difficult to insert into subcutaneous pockets due to lack of ergonomic design, making the procedure cumbersome for practitioners.

Innovation Solution

A venous access port assembly with a shovel-like protuberance and pair of large, shallow recesses on opposite sides, allowing easy grasping and insertion into the subcutaneous pocket, facilitating catheter attachment and palpation post-implantation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a conventional venous access port assembly is used without ergonomic features, then the device structure remains simple, but the ease of insertion into subcutaneous pocket deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of insertionVSAvoiddevice structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is divided into multiple functional recesses (first recess, second recess, third recess) on different surfaces, each serving a specific purpose during insertion and positioning. This segmentation allows the practitioner to apply force in different locations while maintaining a relatively simple overall device structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention adds dimensional features (recesses) to the existing housing structure, transforming a two-dimensional surface into a three-dimensional interface with multiple interaction points. This enables easier grasping and insertion without significantly increasing the overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of operation

If the housing includes multiple recesses for easy grasping and insertion, then the ease of operation improves, but the manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of graspingVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The recesses are strategically positioned on specific surfaces (proximal surface, distal surface, lateral surfaces) of the housing where they are most needed for grasping and insertion. This localized modification approach allows for easier operation while minimizing the impact on overall manufacturing complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of operation

If the proximal end is designed with specific geometry for insertion, then the ease of insertion improves, but the difficulty of locating the septum post-implantation may increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of insertionVSAvoiddifficulty of septum location

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The recesses serve as intermediary features that facilitate both insertion and post-implantation localization. The same geometric features used during insertion remain accessible post-implantation, serving as landmarks to locate the septum and catheter connection points without requiring separate identification features.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS9561358B2Venous access port assembly with push surfaces

Publication Date: 2017.02.07 MEDICAL COMPONENTS INC

AI summary

A venous access port assembly (10) having a housing (12), a septum (14), a discharge stem (16) at a distal end thereof for connection to a catheter (50), and an interior chamber (18). The housing includes a pair of recesses (28) along both sides thereof between the distal end and a proximal port end (24), where the recesses facilitate pushing the assembly by the practitioner into a subcutaneous pocket (104) of a patient (100) for implantation into the pocket.