Percutaneous port catheter assembly and method of use

A method of catheterizing a septum of a surgically implanted port comprising the steps:

• a) providing a catheter for accessing a surgically implanted septum port, a solid stylet axially receivable therein, a housing having at least one manually grippable member for axially compressing a portion of the catheter about the stylet such that the catheter and stylet are maintained in an interconnected configuration suitable for inserting both stylet and catheter into the septum of the port, a casing with proximal and distal end portions being slidably mounted within a portion of the housing, and a cap fastened to the proximal end portion of the casing;
• b) slidably interconnecting the catheter around the stylet so that the catheter and stylet are in a reversibly engaging configuration suitable for insertion of both stylet and catheter into the septum of the port;
• c) manipulating the manually grippable member for axially compressing a portion of the catheter about the stylet such that the interconnected catheter and stylet are axially stabilized and immobilized;
• d) applying sufficient force to the manually grippable member for axially compressing a portion of the catheter and the stylet such that the interconnected catheter and stylet penetrate the septum and remain embedded therein;
• e) disengaging the manually grippable member for axially compressing the catheter about the stylet;
• and
• f) depressing the cap attached to the proximal end portion of the casing with sufficient force to cause the casing to move through the housing so that the distal end portion of a casing simultaneously retracts and protectively encases the stylet.

An apparatus for introducing a catheter into a septum of a surgically implanted port comprising:

• a) a catheter for accessing a surgically implanted septum catheter comprising a tube of flexible material forming distal and proximal end portions, the proximal end portion being connected to a sleeve;
• b) a solid stylet, the stylet having distal and proximal end portions, the distal portion having a shaft and tip, the shaft being shaped and oriented to slidably fit longitudinally within the catheter in a configuration suitable for insertion of both the catheter and the stylet into the septum of the port;
• c) a housing for axially securing the stylet within the catheter so that the catheter and stylet are maintained in a slidably interconnectable configuration, the housing having at least one member for stably guiding and supporting the interconnected catheter and stylet through the septum of the port, the housing further comprising a base securely fastened to the proximal end portion of the stylet such that the stylet is internally fastened therein, the base having at least one passage orifice, the base having a first member protruding axially about the stylet toward the distal end of the stylet, the first member being shaped and oriented so as to be received in reversible engagement with the sleeve of the proximal end of the catheter, the base having at least one second member oriented toward the distal end portion of the stylet, the second member being shaped and oriented so as to stably hold the catheter and the stylet while the catheter and stylet are in a longitudinally interconnectable configuration suitable for insertion into the septum of the port;
• d) a casing with proximal and distal end portions slidably mounted within the housing, the distal end portion being oriented and designed to simultaneously encase and force the retraction of the stylet, the proximal end portion extending beyond a portion of the housing, the casing further comprising a barrel section end portion having at least one member projecting longitudinally from the barrel section so as to form the proximal end portion, the member being designed to be received in the passage orifice and extending longitudinally beyond the housing;
• e) a cap fastened to the proximal end portion of the casing, the cap being so connected, that, when depressed, forces the entire length of the casing to advance a distance sufficient to fully retract and encase the stylet while permitting the interconnected catheter to disengage from the stylet and remain sufficiently embedded within the port, the cap further comprising an apparatus for fastening the cap to the proximal end portion of the casing, the protective cap having an outer surface that, when depressed, forces the casing to longitudinally advance through the housing toward the distal end of the stylet so that the distal end portion of the casing simultaneously retracts and protectively encases the stylet while leaving the catheter embedded within the septum of the port at a depth sufficient to allow for fluid communication between the distal end of the catheter and the reservoir of the port.