Percutaneous access apparatus

1. A percutaneous fluid access apparatus including a percutaneous fluid access device and a plurality of neurosurgical catheters implantable within a brain of a patient, the percutaneous fluid access device comprising:

a base portion including (i) a subcutaneous portion, (ii) a percutaneous portion that passes through skin of the patient, (iii) an extracorporeal surface, and (iv) a plurality of ports configured for connection to the plurality of neurosurgical catheters; and

a housing comprising a plurality of fluid channels fixed in position relative to each other, at least one seal for sealing the plurality of fluid channels, and a plurality of particle filters, each fluid channel comprising one of the plurality of particle filters,

wherein the housing is removably attachable to the base portion so that (i) the housing is configured to be removed from an extracorporeal side of the plurality of ports without disturbing an interface between the skin and the percutaneous portion and (ii) when the housing is attached to the base portion, the housing is secured in place relative to the base portion,

the plurality of fluid channels are in fluid communication with the plurality of ports when the housing is attached to the base portion,

the plurality of filters and the at least one seal are contained by a casing of the housing such that, when the housing is removed from the base portion, the plurality of filters and the at least one seal are removed from the base portion along with the casing, and

when the housing is attached to the base portion, at least one of the at least one seal and the plurality of particle filters are located inside the base portion.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the housing is removably attachable to the extracorporeal surface of the base portion.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the base portion has a recess, and wherein the housing is adapted to be inserted into the recess through the extracorporeal surface.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a connector device having a plurality of fluid ducts, wherein the connector device is adapted for connection to the percutaneous fluid access device to establish fluid communication between the plurality of fluid ducts and the plurality of fluid channels.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the connector device comprises a plurality of hollow needles.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the plurality of hollow needles are configured to be inserted through the at least one seal to establish fluid communication between the plurality of hollow needles and the plurality of fluid channels.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a cover adapted to fit over the base portion when the housing is removed from the base portion.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a tool adapted to engage the base portion and the housing during removal and/or assembly of the housing to/from the base portion.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein at least one second seal is provided between the housing and the base portion.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein at least one third seal, which is included with the base portion, seals the plurality of ports upon removal of the housing from the base portion.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the base portion further includes an extracorporeal portion on an extracorporeal side of the percutaneous portion.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one seal covers an extracorporeal-side opening of the plurality of fluid channels.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the housing extends through the skin of the patient when the housing is attached to the base portion.

14. The apparatus according to claim 1 , which is linkable to one or more supply tubes by way of an associated connector device that is releasably attachable to the percutaneous fluid access device.

15. A method of using a percutaneous fluid access apparatus comprising (1) a plurality of neurosurgical catheters implantable within a brain of a patient and (2) a percutaneous fluid access device including: (i) a base portion including a subcutaneous portion, a percutaneous portion that passes through skin of the patient, an extracorporeal surface, and a plurality of ports configured for connection to the plurality of neurosurgical catheters; and (ii) a housing comprising a plurality of fluid channels fixed in position relative to each other, at least one seal for sealing the plurality of fluid channels, and a plurality of particle filters, each fluid channel comprising one of the plurality of particle filters, wherein the housing is removably attachable to the base portion, the plurality of fluid channels are in fluid communication with the plurality of ports when the housing is attached to the base portion, the housing is secured in place relative to the base portion when the housing is attached to the base portion, the plurality of filters and the at least one seal are contained by a casing of the housing such that, when the housing is removed from the base portion, the plurality of filters and the at least one seal are removed from the base portion along with the casing, and when the housing is attached to the base portion, at least one of the at least one seal and the plurality of particle filters are located inside the base portion, the method comprising:

removing the housing from the base portion of the percutaneous fluid access device by removing the housing from an extracorporeal side of the plurality of ports without disturbing an interface between the skin and the percutaneous portion.

16. The method according to claim 15 , further comprising:

disposing of the housing after removal of the housing from the base portion of the percutaneous fluid access device; and/or

attaching a replacement housing to the base portion of the percutaneous fluid access device.