Port reservoir cleaning system and method
View Patent ↗Devices and methods for cleaning a port, including a port reservoir and other aspects of the port, whereby a trocar/cannula assembly is introduced to the port reservoir. The trocar is withdrawn from the port reservoir, providing access to the reservoir. A cleaning member is then advanced through the cannula, and can remove an unwanted material therefrom.
1. A method of cleaning at least one port reservoir, the method comprising:
inserting an assembly into the at least one port reservoir by piercing a septum of the at least one port reservoir, the assembly comprising:
a trocar comprising a trocar proximal end and a trocar distal end, the trocar distal end terminating in a sharp tip; and
a cannula comprising a cannula proximal end, a cannula distal end and a cannula lumen extending therebetween;
removing the trocar from the cannula; and
inserting a cleaning member through the cannula lumen and into the at least one port reservoir, the cleaning member comprising a cleaning member proximal end, a cleaning member distal end, a cleaning member shaft and a cleaning member lumen extending between the cleaning member proximal end and the cleaning member distal end, wherein a portion of the cleaning member distal end of the cleaning member shaft is flexible.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cannula further comprises a valve element disposed across the cannula lumen.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein a first portion of the cleaning member shaft and a second portion of the cleaning member shaft have a different flexural modulus.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the first portion of the cleaning member shaft and the second portion of the cleaning member shaft comprise polymers of different durometers.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the first portion of the cleaning member shaft comprises a reinforcing member.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cleaning member distal end comprises a plurality of scraping members.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cleaning member distal end is pre-curved.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
inserting a wire element through the cannula lumen beyond a cannula lumen distal opening for a selected distance.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the wire element comprises a shape memory metal.
10. A method of cleaning at least one port reservoir, the method comprising:
inserting an assembly into an at least one port reservoir, the assembly comprising:
a trocar; and
a cannula comprising a cannula lumen;
removing the trocar from the cannula; and
inserting a cleaning member through the cannula lumen and into the at least one port reservoir, the cleaning member comprising a cleaning member proximal end, a cleaning member distal end, a cleaning member shaft extending between the cleaning member proximal end and the cleaning member distal end, wherein a portion of the cleaning member distal end of the cleaning member shaft is flexible.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the assembly is inserted into the at least one port reservoir by piercing a septum of the at least one port reservoir.
12. The method of claim 10 , wherein a trocar distal end terminates in a sharp tip.
13. A method of cleaning at least one port reservoir, the method comprising:
inserting an assembly into the at least one port reservoir, the assembly comprising a cannula comprising a cannula lumen; and
inserting a cleaning member through the cannula lumen and into the at least one port reservoir, the cleaning member comprising a cleaning member proximal end, a cleaning member distal end, and a cleaning member shaft extending between the cleaning member proximal end and the cleaning member distal end, wherein a portion of the cleaning member distal end of the cleaning member shaft is flexible.