Method and apparatus for removable catheter visual light therapeutic system
Inventors
Barneck, Mitchell D. • Rhodes, Nathaniel L. • Allen, James P. • de la Presa, Martin • Long, Curtis D.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10543338-B2
Publication Date
2020-01-28
Expiration Date
Abstract
A medical device assembly is provided for removable insertion into a catheter with a lumen. The medical device assembly comprises an electromagnetic radiation (EMR) source for providing non-ultraviolet, therapeutic EMR having an intensity sufficient to inactivate one or more infectious agents and/or to stimulate healthy cell growth causing a healing effect, and a removable EMR conduction system at least partially insertable into and removable from the lumen of the catheter. The EMR conduction system has at least one optical element providing axial propagation of the therapeutic EMR through an insertable elongate body. The elongate body may have an exterior surface between a coupling end and a distal end tip that has at least one modified portion permitting the radial emission of therapeutic EMR from the elongate body proximate the modified portion. Such modified portion may be gradient along the exterior surface.
Core Innovation
The document describes a removable non-ultraviolet therapeutic EMR catheter system configured to deliver sterilizing EMR and healing EMR into, onto, and around an indwelling catheter. The system includes an EMR source providing non-ultraviolet therapeutic EMR with an intensity comprising radiant exposure, power, and power density ranges sufficient to cause therapeutic effect including inactivating one or more infectious agents and promoting healing. The therapeutic delivery is configured to deliver sterilizing EMR and healing EMR alternatively, alternatingly, or simultaneously while the catheter is residing in a patient's body.
The core delivery concept relies on an EMR conduction system having an optical element connector and an optical element with an elongate body and a distal end tip. At least a portion of the optical element is removably insertable into a predetermined disposition within and removable from the lumen of the catheter while the catheter resides within the patient's body. The elongate body is conducive to axial propagation of the therapeutic EMR through the elongate body and includes an exterior surface with at least one radial emission portion that emits therapeutic EMR radially from the elongate body into the lumen of the catheter and through the catheter.
A coupling connects the EMR source to the optical element connector and delivers the non-ultraviolet therapeutic EMR to the optical element for axial propagation through the elongate body. The insertable optical element architecture supports radial emission into the lumen while remaining removable relative to the lumen, and the catheter is characterized as at least translucent to permit EMR delivery into, onto, and around the catheter within the patient's body. The document further specifies optional refinement features associated with the radial emission portion, including producing radially emitted EMR with substantially uniform intensity and enabling alternative wavelength choices for the non-ultraviolet therapeutic EMR.
Claims Coverage
The document includes three independent claims that cover a medical device assembly, a medical system, and a method. Across the independent claims, the inventive features center on intensity ranges producing sterilizing and healing therapeutic effects, a removable insertable EMR conduction system with an axially propagating optical element, and radial emission into the catheter while the catheter remains indwelling.
Non-ultraviolet therapeutic EMR intensity for sterilizing and healing
Providing non-ultraviolet, therapeutic EMR having an intensity comprising a radiant exposure of at least 0.5 J/cm2 and up to 1 kJ/cm2, power of at least 0.005 mW and up to 1 W, and power density of at least 0.1 mW/cm2 and up to 1 W/cm2, whereby such intensity causes a therapeutic effect of at least one of inactivating one or more infectious agents and promoting healing, and configuring the medical device assembly to deliver sterilizing EMR and healing EMR alternatively, alternatingly, or simultaneously.
Removably insertable optical EMR conduction system with axial propagation and radial emission
An EMR conduction system comprising an optical element connector and an optical element having an elongate body and a distal end tip, at least a portion of the optical element being insertable into a predetermined disposition within and removable from the lumen of the catheter while the catheter resides within the patient's body, the elongate body being conducive to the axial propagation of the therapeutic EMR through the elongate body, the exterior surface having at least one radial emission portion between the proximal coupling end and the distal end tip allowing the emission of therapeutic EMR radially from the elongate body into the lumen of the catheter and through the catheter.
Non-ultraviolet EMR coupling for axial propagation through the optical element
A coupling to connect the EMR source to the optical element connector of the EMR conduction system and to deliver the non-ultraviolet, therapeutic EMR from the EMR source to the optical element for axial propagation of the non-ultraviolet, therapeutic EMR through the elongate body.
Medical system with translucent catheter and therapeutic EMR delivery into, onto, and around the catheter
A catheter having at least one lumen and at least a portion of the catheter being at least translucent; a medical device assembly for delivering EMR into, onto, and around the catheter; an EMR source for providing non-ultraviolet, therapeutic EMR; an EMR conduction system comprising at least one optical element having an elongate body conducive to the axial propagation of the non-ultraviolet, therapeutic EMR along the elongate body, at least one of the optical elements being at least partially insertable into and removable from at least one of the lumen of the catheter while the catheter resides within the patient's body, the therapeutic EMR emitting radially from the elongate body into the lumen and through the catheter; and at least one coupling to connect the EMR source to the EMR conduction system and to deliver the non-ultraviolet, therapeutic EMR from the EMR source to the optical element for axial propagation through the elongate body.
Method of sterilizing an indwelling catheter using a removable optical element and radial duty-cycle emission
Inserting an optical element of an EMR conduction system into a predetermined disposition within the lumen of the catheter, the optical element having an exterior surface dimension which is less than the interior surface dimension of the lumen such that the optical element is removably insertable into the lumen of the catheter; transmitting a duty cycle of non-ultraviolet, sterilizing EMR from an EMR source into the optical element of the EMR conduction system for an amount of time and at an intensity comprising a radiant exposure of at least 0.5 J/cm2 and up to 1 kJ/cm2, power of at least 0.005 mW and up to 1 W, and power density of at least 0.1 mW/cm2 and up to 1 W/cm2, whereby such intensity sterilizes effectively at least a portion of the catheter; emitting the duty cycle of non-ultraviolet, sterilizing EMR radially into the lumen of the catheter and through the catheter; delivering the duty cycle of the sterilizing EMR into, onto, and around the catheter while the optical element resides in the predetermined disposition and the catheter resides within the patient's body; and removing the optical element of the EMR conduction system from the lumen of the catheter, the catheter remaining indwelling within the patient's body.
Across the independent claims, the coverage centers on delivering non-ultraviolet therapeutic EMR to an indwelling, at least translucent catheter using an EMR conduction system with an insertable, axially propagating optical element that provides radial emission portions into the lumen. The claims further require specified radiant exposure, power, and power-density ranges that support sterilizing effects and healing effects, with the system configured to deliver sterilizing and healing EMR alternatively, alternatingly, or simultaneously, and a method claim focused on sterilizing duty-cycle emission with removal of the optical element while the catheter remains in place.
Stated Advantages
Causes a therapeutic effect including inactivating one or more infectious agents.
Promotes healing.
Configured to deliver sterilizing EMR and healing EMR alternatively, alternatingly, or simultaneously.
Sterilizes effectively at least a portion of the catheter while the catheter is indwelling in the patient's body.
Documented Applications
Delivering sterilizing and healing non-ultraviolet therapeutic EMR into, onto, and around a catheter indwelling within a patient's body.
Effectively sterilizing a catheter while the catheter is indwelling within a patient's body by inserting a removable optical element and emitting non-ultraviolet sterilizing EMR duty cycle radially into the lumen and through the catheter.
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