Methods and apparatus to deliver therapeutic, non-ultraviolet electromagnetic radiation to inactivate infectious agents and/or to enhance healthy cell growth via a catheter residing in a body cavity
Inventors
Barneck, Mitchell D. • Rhodes, Nathaniel L. R. • Allen, James P. • Long, Curtis D.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10894173-B2
Publication Date
2021-01-19
Expiration Date
Abstract
Methods and apparatus provide therapeutic electromagnetic radiation (EMR) for inactivating infectious agents in, on or around a catheter residing in a patient's body cavity and/or for enhancing healthy cell growth. The method comprises transmitting non-ultraviolet therapeutic EMR substantially axially along an optical element in a lumen of the catheter body and/or the catheter body. Through delivery of the therapeutic EMR to particular infected areas and/or areas requiring tissue healing. The methods and apparatus of the present disclosure inactivate the major sources of infection in, on, and around catheters and/or enhance healthy cell growth around catheters.
Core Innovation
The disclosed invention provides a medical device assembly that is removable retrofittably insertable into an indwelling catheter disposed within a cavity of a patient's body. The assembly delivers fluid to and/or retrieves fluid from the patient's body while also providing non-ultraviolet, sterilizing electromagnetic radiation (EMR), and the catheter is configured to direct both the fluid and the sterilizing EMR axially relative to the catheter body so that axial flow of the fluid facilitates at least one of delivery of fluid and retrieval of fluid.
The assembly includes an optical element comprising a fiber optic with a fiber body and at least one radial emission portion disposed on an exterior surface between the coupling end and the distal end. The fiber body is conducive to axial propagation of the sterilizing EMR relative to the catheter body, and the optical element is insertable into and removable from at least one internal lumen of the catheter body. At least one coupling connects the EMR source to the optical element to facilitate delivery of non-ultraviolet, sterilizing EMR into the cavity of the patient's body.
The sterilizing EMR is characterized as non-ultraviolet and is provided with intensity and radiant exposure and power values sufficient to produce a therapeutic effect that includes inactivating one or more infectious agents residing on, within, or external to and around the indwelling catheter. In further embodiments, the wavelength range is above 380 nm up to 904 nm, and for urinary tract insertion the non-ultraviolet sterilizing EMR has a wavelength range above 380 nm to 808 nm and intensity sufficient to inactivate one or more infectious agents.
Claims Coverage
This disclosure includes three independent claims. The main inventive features are non-ultraviolet sterilizing EMR delivered via a catheter-directed axial propagation path, an optical fiber with radial emission portions and coupling to an EMR source, and claim-dependent wavelength ranges and urinary-tract configuration.
Removable retrofittable catheter-based non-ultraviolet sterilizing EMR with axial fluid and radial emission via a fiber
A medical device assembly for removable insertion retrofittably into an indwelling catheter disposed within a cavity of a patient's body, delivering fluid to and/or retrieving fluid from the patient's body, where an EMR source provides non-ultraviolet, sterilizing EMR with intensity defined by radiant exposure and power sufficient to produce a therapeutic effect including inactivating one or more infectious agents, the indwelling catheter directs both fluid and sterilizing EMR axially, an optical element comprises a fiber optic with at least one radial emission portion between a coupling end and a distal end and is insertable into and removable from the catheter internal lumen, and at least one coupling optically connects the EMR source to the optical element.
Non-ultraviolet sterilizing EMR delivered through catheter internal-lumen optical element with specific EMR source selection
A medical device assembly for insertion into a cavity of a patient's body for delivery of fluid and/or retrieval of fluid, comprising an EMR source selected from a solid state laser, semiconductor laser, diode laser, and light emitting diode providing non-ultraviolet, sterilizing EMR having a wavelength above 380 nm to 904 nm and intensity defined by radiant exposure and power sufficient to inactivate one or more infectious agents, a catheter with an elongate catheter body having at least one internal lumen where the catheter directs both fluid and sterilizing EMR axially, an optical element conducive to axial propagation positioned within at least one internal lumen, and at least one coupling to connect the radiation source to the catheter body.
Urinary-tract non-ultraviolet sterilizing EMR with fiber radial emission into catheter lumen
A medical device assembly for insertion into a patient's urinary tract for delivery of fluid to and/or retrieval of fluid from the patient's body, comprising an EMR source providing non-ultraviolet, sterilizing EMR having a wavelength range above 380 nm to 808 nm and intensity defined by radiant exposure and power sufficient to inactivate one or more infectious agents, a urinary catheter with an elongate catheter body having at least one internal lumen directing both the fluid and sterilizing EMR axially, an optical element including a fiber optic with at least one radial emission portion on an exterior surface disposed between a coupling end and a distal end and positioned within at least one internal lumen, and at least one coupling connecting the EMR source to the fiber optic.
Across the independent claims, the core coverage is directed to catheter-based delivery/retrieval assemblies that combine fluid passage with non-ultraviolet, sterilizing EMR delivered by a catheter-directed axial propagation path and a fiber optic having radial emission portions, optically coupled to an EMR source, with wavelength and intensity parameters and urinary-tract-specific configuration.
Stated Advantages
Produces a therapeutic effect by inactivating one or more infectious agents residing on, within, or external to and around the indwelling catheter.
Provides non-ultraviolet, sterilizing EMR sufficient to inactivate one or more infectious agents.
Enables delivery of fluid into the patient's body and/or retrieval of fluid from the patient's body while simultaneously directing sterilizing EMR axially relative to the catheter body.
Documented Applications
Catheter-based therapy in a cavity of a patient's body using an indwelling catheter, including insertion retrofittably into an indwelling catheter disposed within a cavity.
Insertion into a patient's urinary tract for delivery of fluid and/or retrieval of fluid while providing non-ultraviolet sterilizing EMR.
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