Surgically implantable peritoneal dialysis apparatus

Surgically implantable apparatus adapted for subcutaneous placement in the body of a patient and by which peritoneal dialysis may be performed, said apparatus comprising:

• reservoir means defining a first wall, and a peripheral wall formed at the periphery of the first wall at about right angles thereto and extending a predetermined distance therefrom and defining at its free end of opening opposite the first wall, said reservoir means being formed from a needle-impenetrable material;
• needle-penetrable covering means extending across the opening of said reservoir means and suitably secured to said peripheral wall and being sufficiently permeable to allow body tissue ingrowth to occur and to seal the surface of said covering means when the apparatus is implanted in a patient;
• an essentially nonyielding support means for said needle-penetrable covering means extending across said opening beneath and contiguous with the undersurface of said covering means and suitably fixed to said peripheral wall and spaced at predetermined intervals across the undersurface of said covering means, said essentially nonyielding support means comprising a series of spaced bars formed in a predetermined pattern;
• and
• means defining a nozzle extending from said reservoir means and having an opening extending therethrough and into the interior of said reservoir means, said nozzle being adapted to receive thereover one end of a catheter that will extend into the peritoneal cavity of the patient.