# US 10,765,768 B2 · Optical fiber based antimicrobial ultraviolet radiation therapy system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,765,768 B2 - Document ID: US10765768B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/405,847 - Filed: 2019-05-07 - Published: 2019-08-29 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2013-03-14 - Assignees: Teleflex Medical Incorporated - Applicants: Teleflex Medical Incorporated - Inventors: John C. Victor; David Troy Rowe - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10765768B2 ## CPC - A61L 2/10: Ultraviolet [UV] radiation - A61L 2/00: Disinfection or sterilisation of materials or objects, in general; Accessories therefor - A61M 16/04: Tracheal tubes (catheters in general A61M25/00) - A61M 16/0402: {Special features for tracheal tubes not otherwise provided for} - A61M 25/0017: {specially adapted for long-term hygiene care, e.g. urethral or indwelling catheters to prevent infections} - A61M 25/0102: {Insertion or introduction using an inner stiffening member, e.g. stylet or push-rod} - A61N 5/0601: {Apparatus for use inside the body} - A61N 5/0624: {for eliminating microbes, germs, bacteria on or in the body} - A61L 2103/15: Laboratory, medical or dentistry appliances, e.g. catheters or sharps - A61L 2202/15: Biocide distribution means, e.g. nozzles, pumps, manifolds, fans, baffles, sprayers - A61M 16/0434: {Cuffs} - A61M 2205/053: ultraviolet - A61M 2209/10: Equipment for cleaning - A61N 2005/063: {comprising light transmitting means, e.g. optical fibres} - A61N 2005/0661: {ultraviolet} - G02B 6/00: Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings - G02B 6/001: {the light being emitted along at least a portion of the lateral surface of the fibre} - G02B 6/102: {for infrared and ultraviolet radiation} - 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) - 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)} - A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B) - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS ## Abstract An ultraviolet irradiation system includes a medical device having a central lumen, an optical fiber having a longitudinal length, and an ultraviolet wave generator, wherein ultraviolet waves generated by the wave generator are dispersed along the longitudinal length of the optical fiber to disinfect the central lumen of the medical device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An ultraviolet irradiation system comprising: a medical device having a central lumen with an inner wall; an optical fiber disposed in the medical device, the optical fiber having a longitudinal length and a cladding layer extending along the longitudinal length, the cladding layer having a varied thickness over the longitudinal length; and an ultraviolet wave generator, wherein ultraviolet waves generated by the wave generator are dispersed along the longitudinal length of the optical fiber to disinfect the central lumen of the medical device, and wherein the ultraviolet waves are uniformly emitted along the longitudinal length of the optical fiber to uniformly irradiate the inner wall of the central lumen. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The ultraviolet irradiation system of claim 1, wherein the medical device includes a cylindrical wall surrounding the central lumen, and the optical fiber is embedded into the wall. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The ultraviolet irradiation system of claim 2, wherein the optical fiber is embedded into the wall in a helical pattern. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The ultraviolet irradiation system of claim 1, wherein the optical fiber further comprises a cylindrical core. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The ultraviolet irradiation system of claim 4, wherein the core comprises a Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) material extruded with a specific proportion of scattering particles compounded into the PMMA material. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The ultraviolet irradiation system of claim 4, wherein surface pitting and solvent voids are formed in the cladding layer by a chemical abrasion process. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The ultraviolet irradiation system of claim 4, wherein surface pores are formed in the cladding layer by a micro abrasion process. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The ultraviolet irradiation system of claim 7, wherein facets in the core are formed by the micro abrasion process. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The ultraviolet irradiation system of claim 1, wherein the medical device includes an endotracheal tube. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The ultraviolet irradiation system of claim 1, wherein the medical device includes a central venous catheter stylet. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The ultraviolet irradiation system of claim 1, wherein the medical device includes a foley catheter stylet. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The ultraviolet irradiation system of claim 1, wherein the ultraviolet wave generator includes a programmable light source for generating the ultraviolet radiation. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The ultraviolet irradiation system of claim 12, wherein the light source includes a non-coherent light emitting diode array. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A method for disinfecting a medical device having a central lumen, using an ultraviolet irradiation system according to claim 1. ### Claim 15 A method of delivering an irradiating light using an ultraviolet irradiation system comprising a medical device having a central lumen with an inner wall, an optical fiber disposed in the medical device and having a longitudinal length and a cladding layer extending along the longitudinal length, the cladding layer having a varied thickness over the longitudinal length, and an ultraviolet wave generator, the method comprising: dispersing ultraviolet waves generated by the wave generator along the longitudinal length of the optical fiber to disinfect the central lumen of the medical device, and uniformly emitting the ultraviolet waves along the longitudinal length of the optical fiber to irradiate the inner wall of the central lumen.