{"entity":{"id":"implanted-ports","kind":"technology","name":"Implanted ports for chemotherapy (port-a-cath, power-injectable, apheresis and intraperitoneal ports)","aka":["Implanted port","Portacath","Port-a-cath","Chemo port","Totally implantable venous access device","Power-injectable port","Apheresis port","Intraperitoneal port","SmartPort","Vital-Port","Dignity port","PowerFlow port"],"tldr":"A port is a small disc placed under the skin of the chest or arm with a thin tube running into a large vein. Nurses reach it through the skin with a special needle, so chemotherapy and blood tests do not need a new needle in an arm vein every time.","summary":"The FDA classes implanted venous ports under product code LJT (port and catheter, implanted, subcutaneous, intravascular; 21 CFR 880.5965, class II). Current examples in the 510(k) database include AngioDynamics SmartPort+ and SmartPort plastic ports (K190559, 22 May 2020), the Medcomp Dignity Dual Port (K153238, 15 March 2016) and the Cook Vital-Port power-injectable port (K150733, 21 May 2015). Power-injectable ports tolerate the high pressures of contrast injection for CT. Two special kinds share the same regulation: apheresis ports (code PTD), such as C.R. Bard's PowerFlow implantable apheresis port (K191143, 2 August 2019), which carry the higher flows needed to collect or exchange blood cells, and intraperitoneal ports (code LLD), which lead into the abdominal cavity rather than a vein for intraperitoneal chemotherapy; the earliest LLD clearance in the database is Pharmacia's Port-A-Cath implantable catheter system (K864552, 31 March 1987).\n\nA port is reached with a non-coring (Huber) needle, which has its own record, and needs flushing when not in use. The risks named on the vascular access record apply: infection, blood clots in the vein and blockage of the catheter.","status":"standard-of-care","asOf":"2026-11-04","links":[{"label":"FDA product code LJT: implanted subcutaneous intravascular port","url":"https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfPCD/classification.cfm?ID=LJT"},{"label":"FDA 510(k) K190559: AngioDynamics SmartPort+ implantable ports (22 May 2020)","url":"https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfpmn/pmn.cfm?ID=K190559"},{"label":"FDA 510(k) K153238: Medcomp Dignity Dual Port (15 March 2016)","url":"https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfpmn/pmn.cfm?ID=K153238"},{"label":"FDA 510(k) K150733: Cook Vital-Port power-injectable port (21 May 2015)","url":"https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfpmn/pmn.cfm?ID=K150733"},{"label":"FDA 510(k) K191143: Bard PowerFlow implantable apheresis port (2 August 2019)","url":"https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfpmn/pmn.cfm?ID=K191143"},{"label":"FDA 510(k) K864552: Pharmacia Port-A-Cath implantable catheter system, intraperitoneal (31 March 1987)","url":"https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfpmn/pmn.cfm?ID=K864552"}],"tags":["devices-gaps-2026-11"],"related":[],"cancers":["breast-cancer","colorectal","ovarian"],"sections":["chemotherapy","supportive-care","devices"],"technologies":["infusion-devices-vascular-access","huber-needles-port-access","picc-lines","catheter-lock-solutions","needleless-connector-disinfecting-caps"],"targets":[],"drugs":[],"companies":["angiodynamics","cook-medical","becton-dickinson"],"institutions":[],"pathways":[],"terms":["central-venous-access"],"trials":[],"people":[],"bottlenecks":[],"keyPapers":[],"journals":[],"dependsOn":[],"notes":[],"provenance":{"editedBy":"OnCo device gap fill (openFDA, accessdata.fda.gov, NICE, NHS Drug Tariff Part IX, FDA, maker and society pages)","editedOn":"2026-11-04"},"principle":"A titanium or plastic reservoir with a self-sealing silicone septum sits in a pocket under the skin; its catheter tip lies in the superior vena cava (or in the peritoneal cavity for an intraperitoneal port), and a non-coring needle passed through the skin and septum gives repeated access.","strengths":["Repeated access for months or years without peripheral cannulas","Fully under the skin when not in use, so bathing and swimming are possible","Power-injectable models accept contrast for CT"],"limitations":["Needs a minor operation to place and remove","Catheter infection, thrombosis and occlusion","Must be flushed regularly when not in use"],"since":1987},"route":"/technologies/implanted-ports/","neighbours":{"cancer":[{"id":"breast-cancer","kind":"cancer","name":"Breast cancer (all types)","route":"/cancers/breast-cancer/"},{"id":"colorectal","kind":"cancer","name":"Colorectal cancer","route":"/cancers/colorectal/"},{"id":"ovarian","kind":"cancer","name":"Ovarian cancer","route":"/cancers/ovarian/"}],"section":[{"id":"chemotherapy","kind":"section","name":"Chemotherapy","route":"/fronts/chemotherapy/"},{"id":"devices","kind":"section","name":"Devices & Physical Therapies","route":"/fronts/devices/"},{"id":"supportive-care","kind":"section","name":"Supportive Care & Survivorship","route":"/fronts/supportive-care/"}],"technology":[{"id":"ambulatory-chemotherapy-pumps","kind":"technology","name":"Ambulatory and elastomeric pumps for home chemotherapy (CADD-Solis, Curlin, Sapphire, Avoset, SMARTeZ)","route":"/technologies/ambulatory-chemotherapy-pumps/"},{"id":"catheter-lock-solutions","kind":"technology","name":"Catheter lock solutions (heparin, taurolidine and DefenCath)","route":"/technologies/catheter-lock-solutions/"},{"id":"needleless-connector-disinfecting-caps","kind":"technology","name":"Disinfecting caps for needleless connectors (Curos)","route":"/technologies/needleless-connector-disinfecting-caps/"},{"id":"infusion-devices-vascular-access","kind":"technology","name":"Infusion pumps, ports, and ambulatory chemotherapy devices","route":"/technologies/infusion-devices-vascular-access/"},{"id":"huber-needles-port-access","kind":"technology","name":"Non-coring (Huber) needles for port access","route":"/technologies/huber-needles-port-access/"},{"id":"picc-lines","kind":"technology","name":"Peripherally inserted central catheters (PICC lines)","route":"/technologies/picc-lines/"}],"company":[{"id":"angiodynamics","kind":"company","name":"AngioDynamics","route":"/companies/angiodynamics/"},{"id":"becton-dickinson","kind":"company","name":"BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company)","route":"/companies/becton-dickinson/"},{"id":"cook-medical","kind":"company","name":"Cook Medical","route":"/companies/cook-medical/"}],"term":[{"id":"central-venous-access","kind":"term","name":"Central venous access (port, PICC line)","route":"/terms/central-venous-access/"}]}}