Self-clearing catheters and methods of use thereof

A self-clearing cannula for placement in a patient, comprising:

• an elongated tube portion having an inner surface and an oppositely disposed outer surface, a first end fluidically connectable to a fluid source outside the patient and a second, oppositely disposed end for fluidically communicating with the patient;
• and
• a plurality of magnetic nanoparticles having a concentration of 100-200 mg/ml operationally connected to at least a portion of the cannula and positioned 10-20 microns from the outer surface;
• wherein the respective magnetic nanoparticles may be energized by an applied oscillating magnetic field with a field strength of 3-40 kA/m and with a frequency of 1.2-2 MHz to heat the cannula;
• wherein energizing the metallic nanoparticles heats the cannula sufficiently to calcine cellular material occluding the cannula.

A self-cleaning cannula device comprising:

• an elongated tube portion defining an inner surface and an oppositely disposed outer surface and a first end fluidically connectable to a fluid source and a second, oppositely disposed end for fluidically communicating with a patient;
• and
• a plurality of superparamagnetic nanoparticles having a concentration of 100-200 mg/ml disposed in at least a portion of the cannula 10-20 microns from a surface;
• wherein the respective superparamagnetic nanoparticles may be energized by an applied oscillating magnetic field to heat the cannula sufficiently to calcine cellular material occluding the cannula.