Catheter patency systems and methods

A medical system, said medical system comprising:

• an indwelling medical device configured to be implanted into a subject including an implantable catheter coupled to an implantable access port,
• a needle having a pointed tip and coupled within said access port, said needle containable within said access port and exposable outside said access port;
• said needle having a lumen with a diameter, said catheter having a lumen with a diameter, and said access port having a lumen in fluid communication with said lumen of said needle and said lumen of said catheter;
• an elongated shaft configured to be received within said lumens of said needle, said access port and said catheter of said indwelling medical device;
• said elongated shaft including a coupler portion configured to be coupled to a rotary driver to cause rotation of the elongated shaft;
• at least one cleaner disposed on said elongated shaft, said at least one cleaner configured to dislodge at least a portion of debris formed within said lumens of said needle, said access port and said catheter of said indwelling medical device;
• wherein said at least one cleaner includes a brush that includes a plurality of bristles configured to extend generally radially outwardly from said elongated shaft to contact the cylindrical surface of the lumen of the indwelling medical device, and wherein said plurality of bristles are configured to be arranged in an expanded position such that said plurality of bristles contact the cylindrical surface, and a retracted position wherein said plurality of bristles are arranged generally towards said elongated shaft such that an overall cross-section is reduced compared to the expanded position;
• wherein the lumens of the needle, the access port and the catheter collectively form a lumen of the indwelling medical device having opposing ends;
• wherein a first opening at one of the ends of the lumen of the indwelling medical device is provided by an end of the needle and a second opening at the other end of the lumen of the indwelling medical device is provided by an end of the catheter;
• wherein, when the access port is implanted in the subject and the needle connected to the access port is exposed outside the access port, the needle is arranged such that the pointed tip is disposed outside the access port and the subject;
• and
• wherein the needle originates with the implantable access port and, when said indwelling access port is implanted in said subject, selectively extends out of said subject from said indwelling access port as to be exposed outside of said subject and retracts into said subject to said indwelling access port.