ACCESSING AND DEACCESSING TOOLS AND METHODS

摘要

Disclosed are tools (40) and methods for assisting in the manual insertion of a needle (30) into a medical device implanted under the skin of a patient, and for assisting in the manual removal of the needle from this implanted medical device. The same tool (40) may be used for both accessing and deaccessing the needle, or a special tool (40) may be used for just assisting in the insertion of the needle into the implanted medical device. This special tool (40) includes a holder section with a pair of fork elements spaced apart a distance which is slightly greater than the width of the implanted medical device. The tool for assisting in the manual removal of the needle from the implanted medical device includes an elongated body having a handle section, and an enlarged guard section with an elongated slot extending from an edge of the guard section into the guard section, terminating at an internal portion of the guard section. The guard section of this tool is transparent, and preferably has indicia thereon which assist aligning the tool with the implanted medical device during needle accessing. The handle section and guard section may be detachable, and the guard section may include a depression on its underside which overlies the implanted medical device when the guard is placed in position for accessing or deaccessing the needle.