Reinforced Septum For An Implantable Medical Device

Abstract

An access port includes an access port body and a needle-penetrable septum. The access port body can be of integral single-piece construction, and can define a reservoir aligned with an access opening. The access port body can further define an annular groove between the reservoir and the opening. The annular groove can have a diameter greater than a diameter of the access opening and a diameter of the reservoir. The needle-penetrable septum can include an upper portion disposed in the access opening and an annular flange disposed in the annular groove. The annular flange can extend radially outward from a lower portion of the septum, and can have a diameter greater than a diameter of the upper portion of the septum. The needle-penetrable septum can further include an annular reinforcement structure disposed within the annular flange.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An access port, comprising:
 an access port body of integral single-piece construction;   a reservoir defined in the access port body, the reservoir aligned with an access opening in the access port body;   an annular groove defined in the access port body between the reservoir and the opening, the annular groove having a diameter greater than a diameter of the access opening and a diameter of the reservoir; and   a needle-penetrable septum, comprising:
 an upper portion disposed in the access opening; 
 an annular flange disposed in the annular groove, the annular flange extending radially outward from a lower portion and having a diameter greater than a diameter of the upper portion; and 
 an annular reinforcement structure disposed within the annular flange. 
   
     
     
         2 . The access port according to  claim 1 , wherein the diameter of the annular groove is greater than the diameter of the annular flange. 
     
     
         3 . The access port according to  claim 1 , wherein the annular reinforcement structure is a cord formed from shape memory material. 
     
     
         4 . The access port according to  claim 1 , wherein the annular reinforcement structure includes a plurality of discrete segments. 
     
     
         5 . The access port according to  claim 1 , wherein the annular reinforcement structure is a continuous annular cord including a circular cross sectional shape, and is substantially non-resilient along an annular axis thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The access port according to  claim 5 , wherein the continuous annular cord comprises a memory shape material and is capable of assuming a first shape configuration during placement of the annular flange in the groove, and a second shape configuration after at least partial placement of the annular flange in the groove.