IMPLANTABLE ACCESS DEVICES

摘要

An implantable access device permits an external filament such as a needle, catheter, guidewire or optical fiber, to be introduced into a patient to enable fluid or other communication between the external filament and an internal catheter within the patient's body. A housing has portions defining inlet and outlet openings and a passageway communicating between the openings. The passageway has inlet and outlet portions. The inlet opening is shaped to guide a percutaneously inserted external filament into the inlet portion of the passageway and the outlet portion of the passageway terminates at the outlet opening and is adapted to have the internal catheter attached thereto. A first seal provides resistance to the flow of fluid through the passageway when the external filament is not present while allowing the flow of fluids through the passageway when the filament is present. A second seal engages and seals about the external perimeter of the external filament when that filament is present in the device.