Systems, devices, and methods for embedding drug molecules into medical catheters or tubes
AssigneeSparkmed Research, LLC
InventorJie Zhang
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Abstract
The present disclosure relates to methods for embedding drug molecules into medical catheters, tubes, and other medical devices. The catheter, tube, or other medical device is capable of releasing drugs for extended periods of time. Drugs can be loaded into the wall thereof through diffusion from a solution, e.g., loading solution. A counterintuitive approach of using undissolved drug particulates in the solution is employed in some embodiments. The drug in the wall of the device and in the solution (which when stored may be referred to as a storage solution) can be in dynamic equilibrium, yielding stable and easy-to-manufacture products. Heat can be used to significantly speed up the drug loading.
Claims20
A system for storing a medical catheter or tube with embedded drug, comprising:
- a solution comprising a drug;
- and
- a medical catheter or tube including a wall material embedded with the drug by diffusion from the solution into the wall material, wherein at least a portion of the diffusion occurs at a temperature of at least 35° C.,
- wherein at least a portion of the medical catheter or tube is submerged in the solution during storage of the medical catheter or tube.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.