Opinion ID: 4585172
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: An assembly for identifying a power injectable

Text: vascular access port, comprising: a vascular access port comprising a body defining a cavity, a septum, and an outlet in communication with the cavity; a first identifiable feature incorporated into the access port perceivable following subcutaneous implantation of the access port, the first feature identifying the access port as suitable for flowing fluid at a fluid flow rate of at least 1 milliliter per second through the access port; a second identifiable feature incorporated into the access port perceivable following subcutaneous implantation of the access port, the second feature identifying the access port as suitable for accommodating a pressure within the cavity of at least 35 psi, wherein one of the first and second features is a radiographic marker perceivable via x-ray; and a third identifiable feature separated from the subcutaneously implanted access port, the third feature confirming that the implanted access port is both suitable for flowing fluid at a rate of at least 1 milliliter per second through the access port and for accommodating a pressure within the cavity of at least 35 psi. ’417 patent col. 30 l. 51–col. 31 l. 6. The asserted dependent claims of the ’417 and ’460 patents further require that the radiographic marker be in the form of radiographic letters Case: 19-1756 Document: 72 Page: 5 Filed: 11/10/2020 C R BARD INC. v. ANGIODYNAMICS, INC. 5 or other symbols, patterns, or characters, and that the extrinsic identifier include one or more of a key chain, a bracelet, a wrist band, a sticker provided on a patient’s chart, a patient ID card, or a label provided on the product packaging. The ’478 patent claims methods for performing a power injection procedure that include identifying a vascular access port suitable for power injections and performing the power injection. Bard asserted claims 3, 5, 9, and 11 of the ’478 patent, which each depend from either claim 1 or claim 8. Claim 8 is illustrative of the method claims: 8. A method of performing a power injection pro- cedure, comprising: providing an access port including a cannula-im- penetrable housing and a radiographic feature indicating that the access port is suitable for flowing fluid at a rate of at least 1 milliliter per second through the access port; implanting the access port in a subcutaneous pocket formed under a patient’s skin; taking an image of the implanted access port via imaging technology; identifying the access port as being suitable for flowing fluid at a rate of at least 1 milliliter per second through the access port via the image of the radiographic feature of the access port; and injecting contrast media fluid through the access port at a rate of at least 1 milliliter per second. ’478 patent col. 31 ll. 41–56. The asserted dependent claims of the ’478 patent contain additional limitations concerning the radiographic feature and external features that are analogous to those in the asserted dependent claims of the ’417 and ’460 patents. Case: 19-1756 Document: 72 Page: 6 Filed: 11/10/2020 6 C R BARD INC. v. ANGIODYNAMICS, INC. Not long after Bard obtained FDA approval for its PowerPort product, AngioDynamics sought and obtained FDA approval to market its own vascular access port products as suitable for power injection. While its initial power injection product did not include any features intrinsic to the device that identified its functionality, the company added identifiers such as a scalloped shape and a radiographic “CT” marker to its later products for easier identification. These new products were sold under the brand names Smart Port CP, Smart Port LP, Smart Port mini, Xcela, Xcela Plus, and BioFlo.