Thank you for your more detailed explanation. I needed to get to bed and just could not take the time to post the details. Usually the 'ports' for dialysis, for example, are mounted in the upper arm and I presume from your comments sometimes in the upper chest.
An IV device - or 'port' - is almost ridiculous at the location pictured for many reasons, predominantly that the veins there are too small for the procedures being administered. Also, for either purpose, the device is aimed the wrong way: it is apparently facing the hand while IV catheters would be mounted facing the heart: in a vein, not in an artery. {One problem with wrist punctures is hitting an artery; the first 'flash' would be a pulsating spurt.}
Also, as you say, the {silicone} 'port' is sealed under the epidermis to avoid infection and is accessed by temporary puncture for treatment.
***The IV access that a lot of people have seen in the hospital are rarely used outside of the hospital because they are pretty fragile for use in every day life.***
I have had one mounted for temporary 'home care' followup. You are right, it did not work out all that well. As I implied last night, the 'capillary' tube used for connecting 'drips' or hypodermic needles to the catheter or drawing blood from the catheter must be securely taped down and the catheter is captured in an adhesive seal to keep it from popping out and/or bleeding - or infecting.
For now I guess we will have to declare the device showing on Biden's wrist as 'unknown'.
Here’s a picture of the device. Another poster said that the two ends are called a lumens. And there can be 1,2,or 3 lumens.
It’s possible that he’s getting frequent injections, but it’s equally possible that the deal at his wrist has something to do with communication devices. I don’t buy that it’s a rosary-he’s had dozens of pics in prior times with his sleeves rolled up-wristwatch, but no rosary.
The story I read said Biden claimed that he started wearing it continually after his son died. Not buying that for a second. Maybe a pen, but it didn’t act like a pen when he moved his arm. Some sort of electronics gizmo makes the most sense I guess.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/3888963/posts?page=456#456