Implantable infusion devices including apparatus for confirming side port access

1. An implantable infusion device, comprising:

a housing;

a reservoir within the housing;

a reservoir refill port on the housing and connected to the reservoir;

a pump mechanism located within the housing and connected to the reservoir;

an outlet port configured to have a catheter connected thereto;

a passageway that connects the outlet port to the pump mechanism;

a catheter access port on the housing and connected to the passageway at a location between the pump mechanism and the outlet port;

a pressure sensor within the housing and connected to the passageway at a location between the pump mechanism and the outlet port; and

means for determining that the catheter access port has been accessed by a needle based on a decrease in pressure in the passageway at the location between the pump mechanism and the outlet port below a baseline pressure measured by the pressure sensor.

2. An implantable infusion device as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:

a catheter connected to the outlet port.

3. An implantable infusion device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the pump mechanism comprises an electromagnet pump.

4. An implantable infusion device as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:

means for generating an audible indication that the catheter access port has been accessed.

5. An implantable infusion device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the needle comprises a hypodermic needle.

6. An implantable infusion device, comprising:

a housing;

a reservoir within the housing;

a reservoir refill port on the housing and connected to the reservoir;

a pump mechanism located within the housing and connected to the reservoir;

an outlet port configured to have a catheter connected thereto;

a passageway that connects the outlet port to the pump mechanism;

a catheter access port on the housing and connected to the passageway at a location between the pump mechanism and the outlet port;

a pressure sensor within the housing, outside of the catheter access port, and connected to the passageway at a location between the pump mechanism and the outlet port;

an alarm; and

a control apparatus configured to store a pressure sensed by the pressure sensor as a baseline pressure in response to a signal from a remote device, to calculate a low threshold pressure based on the baseline pressure, and to determine that the catheter access port has been accessed by a needle and actuate the alarm if a pressure subsequently sensed by the pressure sensor decreases below the baseline pressure to the low threshold pressure.

7. An implantable infusion device as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the pump mechanism comprises an electromagnet pump.

8. An implantable infusion device as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the catheter access port is configured to receive a hypodermic needle.

9. An implantable infusion device as claimed in claim 6 , further comprising:

a catheter connected to the outlet port.

10. An implantable infusion device system, comprising:

an implantable infusion device including a housing, a reservoir within the housing, a reservoir refill port on the housing and connected to the reservoir, a pump mechanism located within the housing and connected to the reservoir, an outlet port configured to have a catheter connected thereto, a passageway that connects the outlet port to the pump mechanism, a catheter access port on the housing and connected to the passageway at a location between the pump mechanism and the outlet port, and a pressure sensor within the housing and connected to the passageway at a passageway location spaced apart from the catheter access port and between the pump mechanism and the outlet port;

a remote control configured to communicate with the implantable infusion device; and

a control apparatus configured to determine that the catheter access port has been accessed by a needle based on a decrease in pressure below a baseline pressure measured by the pressure sensor.

11. An implantable infusion device system as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the control apparatus is configured to actuate an alarm in response to a determination that the catheter access port has been accessed.

12. An implantable infusion device system as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the catheter access port is configured to receive a hypodermic needle.

13. An implantable infusion device system as claimed in claim 10 , further comprising:

a catheter connected to the outlet port.

14. An implantable infusion device system as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the remote control includes the control apparatus.

15. An implantable infusion device system as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the implantable infusion device includes the control apparatus.

16. An implantable infusion device system as claimed in claim 15 , wherein

the remote control is configured to transmit a catheter access port monitoring initiation signal to the implantable infusion device; and

the control apparatus is configured to store a pressure sensed by the pressure sensor as the baseline pressure in response to the initiation signal, calculate a low threshold pressure based on the baseline pressure, and determine that the catheter access port has been accessed if a pressure subsequently sensed by the pressure sensor decreases to the low threshold pressure.