Patent ID: 8079989

Claim:
A method of operating an implantable injection port system, comprising: providing an implantable injection port having a housing defining an upper face, a lower face, and a peripheral outer wall, a septum held within the housing and open to the upper face, the septum being capable of penetration by a needle along the vertical axis, the port further including a space below the septum defining a fluid reservoir and an outlet conduit through the housing from the reservoir, wherein the port further includes a plurality of fasteners incorporated into the housing to enable a user to attach the port to tissue without sutures, the fasteners each having an undeployed position and a deployed position, the deployed position extending below the lower face of the port; providing a protective fixture adapted to removably attach over the lower face of the port to protect a user from contacting the fastener; providing a deployment tool having a distal end with a recess that receives the port therein such that the lower face of the port is exposed, the tool including a mechanism for transmitting movement of a proximal actuator to the port for moving the fasteners from their undeployed positions to their deployed positions; with the protective fixture attached over the lower face of the port, inserting the port upper face first into the recess of the tool distal end; disengaging the protective fixture from the port; and implanting the port.