Systems and Methods for Radiographically Identifying an Access Port

Abstract

A power-injectable access port can include a power-injectable access port cap including an opening and a power-injectable access port base including a reservoir corresponding to the opening. The power-injectable access port can further include a septum corresponding to the reservoir. The septum can include a bottom surface covering the reservoir and a top surface extending through the opening in the power-injectable access port cap. The power-injectable access port can include a radiopaque identification feature indicating that the power-injectable access port is suitable for power injection. The radiopaque identification feature can be a suspension of a radiopaque material in a silicone material positioned on an outer surface of the power-injectable access port base. The radiopaque identification feature can have a thickness protruding from the outer surface of the power-injectable access port base such that it is perceivable by sight and touch prior to subcutaneous implantation of the power injectable access port.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A power-injectable access port, comprising:
 a power-injectable access port cap including an opening;   a power-injectable access port base including a reservoir corresponding to the opening in the power-injectable access port cap;   a septum corresponding to the reservoir, the septum comprising a bottom surface covering the reservoir and a top surface extending through the opening in the power-injectable access port cap; and   a radiopaque identification feature indicating that the power-injectable access port is suitable for power injection, the radiopaque identification feature:
 comprising a suspension of a radiopaque material in a silicone material; 
 positioned on an outer surface of the power-injectable access port base; 
 having a thickness protruding from the outer surface of the power-injectable access port base such that it is perceivable by sight and touch prior to subcutaneous implantation of the power injectable access port; and 
 observable via imaging technology subsequent to subcutaneous implantation of the power-injectable access port. 
   
     
     
         2 . The power-injectable access port according to  claim 1 , wherein the radiopaque identifier is positioned on the outer surface of the power-injectable access port base under the reservoir. 
     
     
         3 . The power-injectable access port according to  claim 1 , wherein the radiopaque identification feature comprises one or more alphanumeric characters. 
     
     
         4 . The power-injectable access port according to  claim 3 , wherein the one or more alphanumeric characters include the letters “C” and “T”. 
     
     
         5 . The power-injectable access port according to  claim 4 , wherein the imaging technology includes x-ray imaging technology. 
     
     
         6 . The power-injectable access port according to  claim 5 , wherein the power-injectable access port cap and the power-injectable access port base each comprise a bio-compatible plastic material. 
     
     
         7 . The power-injectable access port according to  claim 6 , wherein opposing sides of the power-injectable access port cap and the power-injectable access port base are concave. 
     
     
         8 . The power-injectable access port according to  claim 1 , wherein the radiopaque material is selected from the group consisting of tungsten, barium, titanium, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The power-injectable access port according to  claim 1 , wherein opposing sides of the power-injectable access port cap and the power-injectable access port base are concave. 
     
     
         10 . A power-injectable access port, comprising:
 a power-injectable access port cap including a first opening and a second opening;   a power-injectable access port base including a first reservoir corresponding to the first opening and a second reservoir corresponding to the second opening in the power-injectable access port cap;   a first septum corresponding to the first reservoir, the first septum comprising a bottom surface covering the first reservoir and a top surface extending through the first opening in the power-injectable access port cap;   a second septum corresponding to the second reservoir, the second septum comprising a bottom surface covering the second reservoir and a top surface extending through the second opening in the power-injectable access port cap;   a first radiopaque identification feature indicating that the power-injectable access port is suitable for power injection, the first radiopaque identification feature:
 comprising a suspension of a radiopaque material in a silicone material; 
 positioned on an outer surface of the power-injectable access port base below the first reservoir; 
 having a thickness protruding from the outer surface of the power-injectable access port base such that it is perceivable by sight and touch prior to subcutaneous implantation of the power injectable access port; and 
 observable via imaging technology subsequent to subcutaneous implantation of the power-injectable access port; and 
   a second radiopaque identification feature indicating that the power-injectable access port is suitable for power injection, the second radiopaque identification feature:
 comprising a suspension of a radiopaque material in a silicone material; 
 positioned on an outer surface of the power-injectable access port base below the second reservoir; 
 having a thickness protruding from the outer surface of the power-injectable access port base such that it is perceivable by sight and touch prior to subcutaneous implantation of the power injectable access port; and 
 observable via imaging technology subsequent to subcutaneous implantation of the power-injectable access port. 
   
     
     
         11 . The power-injectable access port according to  claim 1 , wherein one of the first radiopaque identification feature and the second radiopaque identification feature comprises one or more alphanumeric characters. 
     
     
         12 . The power-injectable access port according to  claim 11 , wherein the one or more alphanumeric characters include the letters “C” and “T”. 
     
     
         13 . The power-injectable access port according to  claim 12 , wherein the imaging technology includes x-ray imaging technology. 
     
     
         14 . The power-injectable access port according to  claim 13 , wherein the power-injectable access port cap and the power-injectable access port base each comprise a bio-compatible plastic material. 
     
     
         15 . The power-injectable access port according to  claim 14 , wherein opposing sides of the power-injectable access port cap and the power-injectable access port base are concave. 
     
     
         16 . The power-injectable access port according to  claim 10 , wherein the radiopaque material is selected from the group consisting of tungsten, barium, titanium, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The power-injectable access port according to  claim 10 , wherein each of the first radiopaque identification feature and the second radiopaque identification feature comprises one or more alphanumeric characters. 
     
     
         18 . The power-injectable access port according to  claim 17 , wherein the one or more alphanumeric characters include the letters “C” and “T”. 
     
     
         19 . The power-injectable access port according to  claim 18 , wherein the power-injectable access port cap and the power-injectable access port base each comprise a bio-compatible plastic material. 
     
     
         20 . The power-injectable access port according to  claim 19 , wherein opposing sides of the power-injectable access port cap and the power-injectable access port base are concave.