Low Profile Venous Access Port Assembly

Abstract

A venous access port assembly ( 10 ) having a housing base ( 28 ) with a discharge stem ( 16 ), a septum ( 14 ) and a cap ( 36 ). An interior reservoir ( 22 ) is defined by a well ( 30 ) in the housing base and the bottom surface of the septum, and a passageway ( 20 ) extends from the reservoir through the discharge stem ( 16 ). The cap ( 36 ) is secured to the housing base ( 28 ) and securely retains the septum in the assembly ( 10 ), compressing an annular flange ( 44 ) of the septum against a septum seat ( 46 ) of the housing base. Horizontal ribs on the interior of the cap snap into complementary grooves on the side wall of the housing base to mechanically lock together the cap and housing base during curing of the solvent bonding agent. The cap ( 48 ) is mechanically secured to the housing base ( 28 ) as well as being bonded thereto. Crush ribs ( 72 ) on the interior surface ( 68 ) of the cap ( 36 ), precisely center the cap about the housing base during assembly and compensating for manufacturing tolerances.

1 . A venous access port assembly, comprising:
 a housing having a discharge port extending from a distal end of the port assembly, a needle-penetrable septum and a cap securable to the housing and retaining the septum securely in the assembly,   wherein an upper surface of a housing base of the housing includes a septum seat onto which a seating flange of the septum is seated, and   wherein the discharge port comprises a discharge stem with a pair of axially spaced ridges that facilitate mechanical connection to a catheter.   
     
     
         2 . The venous access port assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a least one ridge of the pair of axially spaced ridges is rounded. 
     
     
         3 . The venous access port assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a least one ridge of the pair of axially spaced ridges is annular. 
     
     
         4 . The venous access port assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the housing further comprises a recess provided on each side of the discharge port to facilitate insertion of the discharge stem into a catheter lumen of the catheter. 
     
     
         5 . The venous access port assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the cap further comprises a base flange extending radially outward, the base flange having a distal opening. 
     
     
         6 . The venous access port assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the housing base and the cap snap-fit together. 
     
     
         7 . The venous access port assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a housing top surface that is a seat for a flange of the septum to rest thereon. 
     
     
         8 - 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A venous access port assembly, comprising:
 a housing having a discharge port extending from a distal end of the port assembly;   a needle-penetrable septum;   a cap securable to the housing and retaining the needle-penetrable septum securely in the assembly, the cap further comprising a tab-receiving recess; and   a base tab located adjacent a bottom surface of the housing base, and on a side opposite the discharge stem, that facilitates the appropriate orientation of the housing base to the cap during assembly, by cooperation with the tab-receiving recess,   wherein an upper surface of a housing base of the housing includes a septum seat onto which a seating flange of the septum is seated, and   wherein the discharge port comprises a discharge stem with a pair of axially spaced ridges that facilitate mechanical connection to a catheter.   
     
     
         11 . The venous access port assembly of  claim 10 , wherein at least one ridge of the pair of axially spaced ridges is rounded. 
     
     
         12 . The venous access port assembly of  claim 10 , wherein at least one ridge of the pair of axially spaced ridges is annular. 
     
     
         13 . The venous access port assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the housing further comprises a recess provided on each side of the discharge port to facilitate insertion of the discharge stem into a catheter lumen of the catheter. 
     
     
         14 . The venous access port assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the cap further comprises a base flange extending radially outward, the base flange having a distal opening. 
     
     
         15 . The venous access port assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the housing base and the cap snap-fit together. 
     
     
         16 . A venous access port assembly, comprising:
 a housing having a discharge port extending from a distal end of the port assembly;   a needle-penetrable septum comprising flattened top surface, an annular seating flange, and rounded ridges disposed on at least one of an upper seating flange surface and a lower seating flange surface;   a cap securable to the housing and retaining the needle-penetrable septum securely in the assembly, the cap further comprising a tab-receiving recess,   wherein the housing has a top surface that is a seat for the annular seating flange, and   wherein the discharge port comprises a discharge stem with a pair of axially spaced ridges that facilitate mechanical connection to a catheter.   
     
     
         17 . The venous access port assembly of  claim 16 , wherein at least one ridge of the pair of axially spaced ridges is rounded. 
     
     
         18 . The venous access port assembly of  claim 16 , wherein at least one ridge of the pair of axially spaced ridges is annular. 
     
     
         19 . The venous access port assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the housing further comprises a recess provided on each side of the discharge port to facilitate insertion of the discharge stem into a catheter lumen of the catheter. 
     
     
         20 . The venous access port assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the cap further comprises a base flange extending radially outward, the base flange having a distal opening. 
     
     
         21 . The venous access port assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the housing base and the cap snap-fit together.