a transcutaneous access device includes a subcutaneous skirt , a transcutaneous neck and an extracutaneous extensible sleeve all of which may be made of an inexpensive plastic material . preferably , the skirt and neck are covered with a porous bed material which encourages the growth of tissue and collagen . the device functions as a conduit for an access catheter and is sized to minimize contact with the catheter and to allow vertical and horizontal motion of the catheter relative to the implanted portions of the access device so that twisting and stretching of the tissue adjacent to the implanted access device caused by normal body motions do not upset the biological seal that forms around the access device .