# US 12,214,151 B1 · Systems, methods, and apparatus for locating subcutaneous access port

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- Number: US 12,214,151 B1
- Document ID: US12214151B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 18/587,202
- Filed: 2024-02-26
- Granted: 2025-02-04
- Earliest claimed: 2023-02-24
- Assignees: Matchstick LLC
- Applicants: Matchstick LLC
- Inventors: Christopher James Franzese; Martin Michael Coyne, III; Alejandra Linares Martinez; Matthew Conner D'Auria
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12214151B1

## CPC

- A61B 5/06: Devices, other than using radiation, for detecting or locating foreign bodies {; Determining position of diagnostic devices within or on the body of the patient}
- A61M 5/427: {Locating point where body is to be pierced, e.g. vein location means using ultrasonic waves, injection site templates}
- A61M 5/20: Automatic syringes, e.g. with automatically actuated piston rod, with automatic needle injection, filling automatically (A61M5/142 takes precedence)
- A61M 39/0208: {Subcutaneous access sites (implantable infusion devices A61M5/14276; transcutaneous access sites A61M39/0247)}
- A61M 39/0247: {Transcutaneous or percutaneous access sites to the inside of the body}
- A61M 39/04: having pierceable self-sealing members
- A61M 2039/0036: {characterised by a septum having particular features, e.g. having venting channels or being made from antimicrobial or self-lubricating elastomer}
- A61M 2039/0205: {for injecting media}
- A61M 2039/0238: {having means for locating the implanted device to insure proper injection, e.g. radio-emitter, protuberances, radio-opaque markers}
- A61M 2039/0261: {Means for anchoring port to the body, or ports having a special shape or being made of a specific material to allow easy implantation/integration in the body}
- A61M 2039/0267: {comprising sensors or electrical contacts}
- A61M 2039/027: {having a particular valve, seal or septum}
- A61M 2205/0216: Materials providing elastic properties, e.g. for facilitating deformation and avoid breaking
- A61M 2205/04: implanted
- A61M 2205/3303: Using a biosensor
- A61M 2205/3306: Optical measuring means
- A61M 2205/3317: Electromagnetic, inductive or dielectric measuring means
- A61M 2205/3327: Measuring
- A61M 2205/3375: Acoustical, e.g. ultrasonic, measuring means
- A61M 2205/3553: remote, e.g. between patient's home and doctor's office
- A61M 2205/3561: local, e.g. within room or hospital
- A61M 2205/3584: using modem, internet or Bluetooth®
- A61M 2205/505: Touch-screens; Virtual keyboard or keypads; Virtual buttons; Soft keys; Mouse touches
- A61M 2205/581: by audible feedback
- A61M 2205/582: by tactile feedback
- A61M 2205/583: by visual feedback
- A61M 2207/00: Methods of manufacture, assembly or production
- A61M 2230/005: Parameter used as control input for the apparatus
- A61M 2230/50: Temperature
- A61M 2230/65: Impedance, e.g. conductivity, capacity
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)}

## Abstract

An apparatus for use with an access port implanted in a living body includes a locator assembly. The locator assembly includes at least one port sensor configured to sense an aspect of the access port, at least one skin sensor configured to sense a proximity of the apparatus to a skin of the living body, and a controller configured to determine a location of the access port based on the aspect sensed by the at least one port sensor, where the controller instructs the at least one port sensor to sense the aspect based on the proximity of the apparatus to the skin as sensed by the at least one skin sensor. The locator assembly also includes an output device configured to provide user feedback, and the controller is further configured to instruct the output device to provide the feedback based on the determined location of the access port.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus for use with an access port implanted in a living body, the apparatus comprising:
a locator assembly including:
at least one port sensor configured to sense an aspect of the access port;
at least one skin sensor configured to sense a proximity of the apparatus to a skin of the living body;
a controller configured to determine a location of the access port based on the aspect sensed by the at least one port sensor,
wherein the controller instructs the at least one port sensor to sense the aspect based on the proximity of the apparatus to the skin as sensed by the at least one skin sensor; and
an output device configured to provide feedback to a user,
wherein the controller is further configured to instruct the output device to provide the feedback to the user based on the determined location of the access port.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:
the controller instructs the at least one port sensor to sense the aspect at a first time interval when the at least one skin sensor indicates that the apparatus is beyond a predetermined threshold from the skin;
the controller instructs the at least one port sensor to sense the aspect at a second time interval when the at least one skin sensor indicates that the apparatus is at or within the predetermined threshold from the skin; and
the first time interval is slower than the second time interval.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the predetermined threshold from the skin corresponds to a height of the access port to account for a prominence of the access port underneath the skin.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the predetermined threshold is between 0.5 and 1.0 inches, inclusive.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The apparatus of claim 2, wherein:
the first and second time intervals correspond to sampling rates of the at least one port sensor;
the first time interval is at or below a frequency of 500 Hz; and
the second time interval is between a frequency of between 750 Hz and 1000 Hz, inclusive.

### Claim 6 (depends on 2)

The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the second time interval increases in frequency as the skin sensor indicates that a distance between the apparatus and the skin decreases.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:
the at least one skin sensor includes a capacitive sensor and a pogo pin;
the capacitive sensor senses the proximity of the apparatus to the skin; and
the pogo pin senses a contact with the skin.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the at least one port sensor includes an ultrasonic sensor.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The apparatus of claim 7, wherein at least one of the capacitive sensor or the pogo pin is electromagnetically shielded with a shielding element to prevent electromagnetic interference (EMI) from the pogo pin from interfering with a sensing of the capacitive sensor.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the controller controls power to the pogo pin to sense a contact with the skin only when the proximity of the apparatus to the skin is within a predetermined threshold.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the predetermined threshold corresponds to a height of the access port to account for a prominence of the access port underneath the skin.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:
the at least one skin sensor includes a capacitive sensor; and
the apparatus includes a structure to prevent interference with a sensing of the capacitive sensor.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the output device includes a visual indicator configured to indicate at least one of a direction or a proximity of the access port relative to the apparatus.

### Claim 14

A method for using an access port implanted under a skin of a living body, comprising:
sensing, with at least one skin sensor of an apparatus, a proximity to the skin;
based on the proximity to the skin, instructing at least one port sensor to sense an aspect of the access port;
sensing, with the at least one port sensor, the aspect of the access port;
determining, by a controller, a location of the access port based on the aspect sensed by the at least one port sensor; and
providing, via an output device, feedback to a user based on the determined location of the access port.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein the sensing the proximity to the skin further comprises:
sensing the aspect at a first time interval when the at least one skin sensor indicates that the apparatus is beyond a predetermined threshold from the skin; and
sensing the aspect at a second time interval when the at least one skin sensor indicates that the apparatus is at or within the predetermined threshold from the skin,
wherein the first time interval is slower than the second time interval.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein the predetermined threshold from the skin corresponds to a height of the access port to account for a prominence of the access port underneath the skin.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein:
the first and second time intervals correspond to sampling rates of the at least one port sensor;
the first time interval is at or below a frequency of 500 Hz; and
the second time interval is between a frequency of between 750 Hz and 1000 Hz, inclusive.

### Claim 18 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein the at least one skin sensor includes a pogo pin, and the method further comprises controlling power to the pogo pin to sense a contact with the skin only when the proximity of the apparatus to the skin is within a predetermined threshold.