Assemblies for Identifying a Power Injectable Access Port

Abstract

A method of using a power-injectable port includes obtaining the power-injectable access port, attaching a catheter to an outlet stem of the power-injectable access port, and implanting the power-injectable access port and the catheter into a patient. The method further includes identifying the power-injectable access port following the implanting, and in accordance with the identification, inserting a distal end of a needle through the septum and into the reservoir, and injecting contrast media through the needle at a rate of at least one milliliter per second. The power-injectable access port includes a housing, a septum, a reservoir, and an outlet stem in fluid communication with the reservoir. The power-injectable access port is rated for injection of contrast media at a flow rate of at least 1 milliliter per second. The power-injectable access port is structured for operation at a pressure in the reservoir of at least 35 psi.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of using a power-injectable access port, comprising:
 obtaining the power-injectable access port,
 the power-injectable access port comprising:
 a housing; 
 a septum; 
 a reservoir; and 
 an outlet stem in fluid communication with the reservoir, 
 
 the power-injectable access port rated for injection of contrast media at a flow rate of at least 1 milliliter per second, 
 the power-injectable access port structured for operation at a pressure in the reservoir of at least 35 psi; 
   attaching a catheter to the outlet stem;   implanting the power-injectable access port and the catheter into a patient;   following implanting, identifying the power-injectable access port as being rated for power injection;   in accordance with identifying the power-injectable access port as being rated for power injection, inserting a distal end of a needle through the septum and into the reservoir; and   injecting the contrast media through the needle at a rate of at least one milliliter per second.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the power-injectable access port further comprises a radiopaque feature, and wherein identifying the power-injectable access port following the implanting includes using X-ray to detect the radiopaque feature. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the radiopaque feature is provided by radiopaque material in the septum. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising providing an identification feature separate from the power-injectable access port, wherein identifying the power-injectable access port following the implanting includes visually perceiving the identification feature. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein injecting contrast media includes using an infusion apparatus, and wherein the identification feature is provided on one or more components of the infusion apparatus. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the identification feature is provided on an element selected from the group consisting of a key chain, a bracelet, a wrist band, a sticker provided on a patient's chart, a patient ID card, a label provided on packaging of the power-injectable access port, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein injecting the contrast media through the needle includes inducing a pressure within the reservoir in a range of about 37 psi to about 65 psi. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the needle is constructed to have a burst pressure of at least 100 psi. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the needle is constructed to have a burst pressure of at least 400 psi. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the power-injectable access port is rated for injection of contrast media at a flow rate of between 2 milliliters per second and 5 milliliters per second. 
     
     
         11 . A method of using a power-injectable access port, comprising:
 obtaining the power-injectable access port,
 the power-injectable access port comprising:
 a housing; 
 a septum; 
 a radiopaque feature; 
 a reservoir; and 
 an outlet stem in fluid communication with the reservoir, 
 
 the power-injectable access port rated for injection of contrast media at a flow rate of at least 1 milliliter per second, 
 the power-injectable access port structured for operation at a pressure in the reservoir of at least 35 psi; 
   attaching a catheter to the outlet stem;   implanting the power-injectable access port and the catheter into a patient, resulting in an implanted power-injectable access port;   using X-ray to detect the radiopaque feature;   identifying the implanted power-injectable access port as being rated for power injection via the radiopaque feature;   in accordance with identifying the implanted power-injectable access port as being rated for power injection, inserting a distal end of a needle through the septum and into the reservoir; and   injecting the contrast media through the needle at a rate of at least one milliliter per second.   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the radiopaque feature is provided by radiopaque material in the septum. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising providing an identification feature separate from the power-injectable access port, wherein identifying the implanted power-injectable access port further comprises visually perceiving the identification feature separate from the power-injectable access port. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein injecting contrast media includes using an infusion apparatus, and wherein the identification feature separate from the power-injectable access port is provided on one or more components of the infusion apparatus. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the identification feature separate from the power-injectable access port is provided on an element selected from the group consisting of a key chain, a bracelet, a wrist band, a sticker provided on a patient's chart, a patient ID card, a label provided on packaging of the power-injectable access port, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein injecting the contrast media through the needle includes inducing a pressure within the reservoir in a range of about 37 psi to about 65 psi. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the needle is constructed to have a burst pressure of at least 100 psi. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the needle is constructed to have a burst pressure of at least 400 psi. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the power-injectable access port is rated for injection of contrast media at a flow rate of between 2 milliliters per second and 5 milliliters per second. 
     
     
         20 . A method of using a power-injectable access port, comprising:
 obtaining the power-injectable access port,
 the power-injectable access port comprising:
 a housing; 
 a septum; 
 a reservoir; and 
 an outlet stem in fluid communication with the reservoir, 
 
 the power-injectable access port rated for injection of contrast media at a flow rate of at least 1 milliliter per second, 
 the power-injectable access port structured for operation at a pressure in the reservoir of at least 35 psi; 
   attaching a catheter to the outlet stem;   implanting the power-injectable access port and the catheter into a patient;   following implanting, identifying the power-injectable access port as being rated for power injection;   based on identifying the power-injectable access port as being rated for power injection, inserting a distal end of a needle through the septum and into the reservoir; and   injecting the contrast media through the needle at a rate of at least one milliliter per second.