# US 10,500,370 B2 · Antifouling urinary catheters with shape-memory topographic patterns

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- Number: US 10,500,370 B2
- Document ID: US10500370B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/255,241
- Filed: 2016-09-02
- Published: 2017-03-02
- Granted: 2019-12-10
- Earliest claimed: 2015-09-02
- Assignees: Syracuse University
- Applicants: Dacheng Ren; Huan Gu
- Inventors: Dacheng Ren; Huan Gu
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10500370B2

## CPC

- A61M 25/0017: {specially adapted for long-term hygiene care, e.g. urethral or indwelling catheters to prevent infections}
- A61L 29/041: {obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds}
- A61L 29/14: Materials characterised by their function or physical properties {, e.g. lubricating compositions}
- A61L 2400/16: Materials with shape-memory or superelastic properties
- A61M 2025/0056: {provided with an antibacterial agent, e.g. by coating, residing in the polymer matrix or releasing an agent out of a reservoir}
- A61M 2025/0058: {having an electroactive polymer material, e.g. for steering purposes, for control of flexibility, for locking, for opening or closing}
- A61M 2025/006: {having a special surface topography or special surface properties, e.g. roughened or knurled surface}
- A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)}
- A61L: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES (preservation of bodies or disinfecting characterised by the agents employed A01N; preserving, e.g. sterilising, food or foodstuffs A23; preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes A61K)

## Abstract

A system of topographic patterns for the prevention of bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation. The patterns may be provided on the surfaces of certain devices that are prone to bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation, such as urinary catheters. To reduce bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation, and to remove existing biofilms, the patterns are induced to transform from a first topography to a second topography. For example, the surface patterns may be formed from a shape memory polymer and then heated to transform the patterns from the first topography to the second topography to dislodge bacteria and prevent fouling.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of protecting against microbial biofilms, comprising the steps of:
providing a medical device having a surface formed from a shape memory polymer that can transform from a first topography to a second topography that is different than said first topography, wherein the shape memory polymer is programmed to transform the first topography from having a hexagonal recessive pattern formed from individual elements, each of which singularly forms a hexagon, into the second topography having a flat surface; and
triggering the transformation from the first topography to the second topography to dislodge any microbial biofilms adhered to the medical device.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the shape memory polymer transforms from said first topography to said second topography in response to a stimuli selected from the group consisting of heat, pH change, electric current, magnetism, moisture, and light.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein the surface is on the inside of a catheter.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein the shape memory polymer comprises t-butyl acrylate (tBA), poly (ethylene glycol)n dimethacrylate (PEGDMA), and photoinitiator 2,2-dimethoxy-2-phenylacetophenone (DMPA).