# US 7,033,335 B2 · Guidewire compatible port and method for inserting same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,033,335 B2 - Document ID: US7033335B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 10/462,758 - Filed: 2003-06-17 - Published: 2003-12-11 - Granted: 2006-04-25 - Earliest claimed: 1997-10-01 - Assignees: Boston Scientific Corporation - Inventors: Brett Haarala; William Shaw; Chris Davey - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7033335B2 ## CPC - A61M 39/0208: {Subcutaneous access sites (implantable infusion devices A61M5/14276; transcutaneous access sites A61M39/0247)} - A61M 2039/0235: {having an additional inlet, e.g. for a guidewire or a catheter tube} - 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 access port assembly having an attachable catheter allows for inserting a guidewire into the catheter to aid in the placement of the integral catheter while still attached to the access port assembly. A method is described for placing an access port fixedly attached to a catheter into a patient using a guidewire inserted into the catheter. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An access port assembly comprising: an access port comprising a self-sealing access septum and a reservoir; and a catheter having a proximal end and a distal end opposite to the proximal end, the proximal end of the catheter being fixedly attachable to the access port, the catheter comprising: a lumen in flow communication with the port when the proximal end of the catheter is attached to the access port, an entry site located between the proximal and distal ends of the catheter, and a portion extending in a distal direction from the entry site toward the distal end of the catheter, wherein the catheter is configured to accept and pass a guidewire directly from an exterior of the catheter to said portion via the entry site, wherein the catheter has an opening at a distal end of the portion, the catheter being configured so that a guidewire passing through the entry site is capable of exiting the catheter via the opening, wherein the lumen is a first lumen of the catheter, and wherein the portion comprises a second lumen of the catheter. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The access port assembly of claim 1, wherein the first lumen lacks flow communication with the second lumen. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The access port assembly of claim 1, wherein the first and second lumens extend through the portion. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The access port assembly of claim 1, wherein the first lumen extends in the distal direction from the proximal end of the catheter and through the portion. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The access port assembly of claim 1, wherein the entry site is configured to be resealable so that the entry site reseals when the guidewire is removed from the entry site. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The access port assembly of claim 1, wherein the self-sealing access septum is configured to permit a needle to be inserted through the septum by inserting the needle into the septum and moving the needle in a direction facing the reservoir, and wherein the septum is configured to reseal when the needle is removed from the septum by moving the needle in a direction facing away from the reservoir. ### Claim 7 A method for inserting an access port assembly into a patient's body, comprising: providing a system comprising: a guidewire; and an access port assembly comprising: an access port comprising a self-sealing access septum and a reservoir; and a catheter having a proximal end and a distal end opposite to the proximal end, the proximal end of the catheter being fixedly attachable to the access port, the catheter comprising: a lumen in flow communication with the port when the proximal end of the catheter is attached to the access port, an entry site located between the proximal and distal ends of the catheter, and a portion extending in a distal direction from the entry site toward the distal end of the catheter, wherein the catheter is configured to pass said guidewire directly from an exterior of the catheter to said portion via the entry site; inserting the guidewire into the entry site such that the guidewire extends along said portion of the catheter and through the entry site; inserting the guidewire into the patient's body; and manipulating the access port assembly over the inserted guidewire. ### Claim 8 An access port assembly comprising: an access port comprising a self-sealing access septum and a reservoir; and a catheter having a proximal end and a distal end opposite to the proximal end, the proximal end of the catheter being fixedly attachable to the access port, the catheter comprising a first lumen in flow communication with the port when the proximal end of the catheter is attached to the access port, an entry site located between the proximal and distal ends of the catheter, and a portion extending in a distal direction from the entry site toward the distal end of the catheter, wherein the catheter is configured to accept and pass a guidewire directly from an exterior of the catheter to said portion via the entry site, wherein the portion comprises a second lumen of the catheter, and wherein the second lumen is not in flow communication with the port when the proximal end of the catheter is attached to the access port. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The access port assembly of claim 8, wherein the catheter is configured to pass the guidewire into the second lumen via the entry site. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The access port assembly of claim 8, wherein the self-sealing access septum is configured to permit a needle to be inserted through the septum by inserting the needle into the septum and moving the needle in a direction facing the reservoir, and wherein the septum is configured to reseal when the needle is removed from the septum by moving the needle in a direction facing away from the reservoir.