Vascular access ports and related methods

A subcutaneously implantable vascular access port comprising:

• a base configured to be directly attached to a vessel, the base extending in at least a longitudinal direction and a lateral direction that are orthogonal to each other, wherein at least a portion of the base is configured to contact the vessel when the base is attached thereto;
• a body extending away from the base in at least a vertical direction that is orthogonal to each of the longitudinal and lateral directions, wherein a height of the body in the vertical direction is sufficiently small such that the entire port can be implanted subcutaneously in a patient;
• and
• a guidance passageway that is at least partially defined by the body, the guidance passageway extending from a proximal end to a distal end, wherein the distal end of the guidance passageway defines an opening in a bottom surface of the port, wherein the portion of the port that is immediately adjacent to the opening is non-deformable such that the opening maintains a constant configuration when a medical instrument is inserted therethrough, and wherein an attachment area encompasses at least a portion of the opening.

A method of accessing a vessel, the method comprising:

• locating a subcutaneously implanted vascular access port that is within a patient, wherein the vascular access port comprises:
• a base directly attached to a vessel, the base extending in at least a longitudinal direction and a lateral direction that are orthogonal to each other;
• a body extending away from the base in at least a vertical direction that is orthogonal to each of the longitudinal and lateral directions;
• and
• a guidance passageway that is at least partially defined by the body, the guidance passageway extending from a proximal end to a distal end, wherein the distal end of the guidance passageway defines an opening in a bottom surface of the port, wherein the portion of the port that is immediately adjacent to the opening is non-deformable, and wherein an attachment area encompasses at least a portion of the opening so as to form at least a partial seal with a wall of the vessel;
• and
• inserting an access device through the guidance passageway without changing a configuration thereof.

A vascular access port comprising:

• a base configured to be attached to a vessel, the base extending in at least a longitudinal direction and a lateral direction that are orthogonal to each other, wherein at least a portion of the base defines a footprint of the port at which the port contacts the vessel when the base is attached to the vessel;
• a body extending away from the base in at least a vertical direction that is orthogonal to each of the longitudinal and lateral directions, wherein a height of the body in the vertical direction is sufficiently small such that the entire port remains beneath an outer surface of skin after the port has been implanted in a patient;
• and
• a guidance passageway that is at least partially defined by the body, the guidance passageway comprising a proximal end and a distal end and defining a central axis that passes through the proximal and distal ends, wherein the guidance passageway is configured to direct an access device into a lumen of a vessel when the port is attached to the vessel, and wherein, when the port is attached to the vessel, the central axis is non-perpendicular and non-parallel to a longitudinal axis of the vessel.

A method of accessing a vessel, the method comprising:

• locating a subcutaneously implanted vascular access port within a patient, wherein the vascular access port comprises:
• a base attached to a vessel, the base extending in at least a longitudinal direction and a lateral direction that are orthogonal to each other, wherein at least a portion of the base defines a footprint of the port at which the port contacts the vessel;
• a body extending away from the base in at least a vertical direction that is orthogonal to each of the longitudinal and lateral directions;
• and
• a guidance passageway that is at least partially defined by the body and comprises a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the guidance passageway defines a central axis that is non-perpendicular and non-parallel to a longitudinal axis of the vessel;
• and
• advancing an access device through the guidance passageway and through a wall of the vessel such that a central axis defined by the access device is at an angle that is non-perpendicular and non-parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vessel.