JAMES A KNOL, MD
Radiology in Ann Arbor, MI

5053013, Oct 1, 1991

Jun 18, 1990

7/539793

William D. Ensminger - Ann Arbor MI
James A. Knol - Ann Arbor MI
James C. Andrews - Ann Arbor MI

The Regents of the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor MI

A61M 5178

604167

In infusion port for implantation within a patient for providing repeated access to specific tissue within a patient and communicating with the tissue by an internal implanted catheter. The infusion port in accordance with this invention includes a housing having a funnel shaped inlet orifice which terminates in a reduced diameter guide passageway. Installed within the housing is an articulating catheter valve such as a leaflet valve assembly. The housing communicates with an exit passageway which is attached to an internal outflow catheter coupling the infusion port to a specific tissue within the patient. In use, a needle is used to penetrate the patient's skin and contacts the entrance orifice of the infusion port. The entrance orifice guides the needle point into alignment with and into the guide passageway. The guide passageway targets a small portion of the articulating catheter valve which can be in the form of a leaflet valve assembly.

5256146, Oct 26, 1993

Oct 11, 1991

7/775045

William D. Ensminger - Ann Arbor MI
James C. Andrews - Ann Arbor MI
James A. Knol - Ann Arbor MI

A61M 2900

604104

A patient implantable vascular catheterization system incorporating an anchoring element for maintaining the tip of an implanted catheter at a desired position within a blood vessel. The anchoring element comprises a deformable element such as a coiled wire or one or more expandable legs. The anchoring element is caused to assume a streamlined or compressed condition through placing it within an introducer catheter to facilitate placement or removal of the implanted catheter. Once positioned, the introducer catheter is retracted allowing the anchoring element to expand into engagement with the blood vessel. A material to induce occlusion of the blood vessel through clotting can be incorporated into the anchoring element.

5226879, Jul 13, 1993

Jan 10, 1992

7/818626

William D. Ensminger - Ann Arbor MI
James A. Knol - Ann Arbor MI
James C. Andrews - Ann Arbor MI
John J. Mastroeni - Pinckney MI

A61M 1100

604 93

An infusion device which permits transcutaneous access to an implanted catheter for use in introducing an external filament such as a optical fiber, external catheter, guide wire or rigid needle. In accordance with this invention the device includes a valve assembly including a first valve element defining an aperture with a sealing member which is normally to engage and seal against the aperture. The sealing element is made from a hard material such as a metal. Upon introduction of a rigid external introducer such as a needle, the needle directly contacts the sealing member plug unsealing it from the valve element aperture which then closes against the external element. The device enables repeated access using a sharp introduced element such as a needle without it contacting soft sealing elements which could be degraded by such repeated access.

5180365, Jan 19, 1993

Feb 15, 1991

7/654661

William D. Ensminger - Ann Arbor MI
James A. Knol - Ann Arbor MI
James C. Andrews - Ann Arbor MI

A61H 1100

604 93

An infusion port designed for the introduction of a catheter for fluid infusion or removal or other flexible filaments within a patient. The infusion port is buried subcutaneously and accessed using a needle which introduces the filament. The infusion port has means to prevent the introducing needle from being inserted past a certain point within the port whereas the introduced flexible element can be inserted beyond that point and is caused to be forced through an articulating valve. The valve of this disclosure features enhancements in its sealing ability and in some embodiments provides a differing level of frictional engagement with the filament upon insertion versus withdrawal. The infusion port of this invention also has design features which provide a relatively small distance between the surface of the skin and the position of the articulating catheter valve through which the introduced filament passes.

5356381, Oct 18, 1994

Nov 24, 1993

8/158042

William D. Ensminger - Ann Arbor MI
James A. Knol - Ann Arbor MI
James C. Andrews - Ann Arbor MI

A61M 1100

604 93

An access port (10) for implantation adapted for providing repeated access to specific tissue within a patient and communicating with the tissue by an internal implanted catheter (52). The access ports according to this invention incorporate an enlarged entrance orifice (13) with a funnel shaped internal cavity that narrows down to a reduced diameter passageway (18). An articulating catheter valve (24) is provided within the passageway which normally prevents the flow of fluids through the valve but which can be penetrated by an external introduced filament (32) such as a catheter. After implantation, an external filament (32) is introduced into the port (10) and guided by the passageway into registry with the catheter valve (24). Continued feeding of the filament (32) causes the filament to pass through the valve (24). Thereafter, with a catheter (32) inserted, therapeutic agents can be infused into the patient, or body fluids can be withdrawn.

5057084, Oct 15, 1991

Mar 1, 1990

7/487541

William D. Ensminger - Ann Arbor MI
James A. Knol - Ann Arbor MI
James C. Andrews - Ann Arbor MI

The Regents of the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor MI

A61M 5178

604167

An infusion part for implantation adapted for providing repeated access to specific tissue within a patient and communicating with the tissue by an internal implanted catheter. The infusion ports according to this invention incorporate an enlarged entrance orifice with a funnel shaped internal cavity which narrows down to a reduced diameter passageway. An articulating catheter valve is provided within the passageway which normally prevents the flow of fluids through the valve but can be penetrated by an external introduced filament such as a catheter. After implantation, an external filament which is fed through an incision in the patient as is guided by the port internal cavity into registry with the catheter valve. Continued feeding of the filament causes the catheter to pass through the valves. Thereafter, when a catheter is inserted, therapeutic agents infused within the patient, or body fluids can be withdrawn.