US 2026/0174993 A1 · AGENT DELIVERY CATHETER WITH MICROPORE DESIGN

Abstract

A catheter is disclosed that improves control over the shape and extent of agent distribution within biological tissue. The catheter includes a multi-lumen body with a sealed stylet lumen and an agent-delivery lumen terminating in an exposed distal tip portion having a plurality of micropores. Unlike end-port catheters, the micropores provide distributed outflow paths whose hydraulic resistance dominates over heterogeneous tissue resistance, reducing reflux and mitigating leakage into low-pressure structures. The distal tip portion may include multiple axial regions with differing pore densities, pore sizes, or no-pore gaps to tailor infusion geometry, and may be extendable or retractable to selectively expose regions. Additional embodiments may include zonal infusion with independent pressurization, dual-layer pore alignment to vary effective pore size, sensor-based closed-loop control, and microrobot-assisted navigation along straight or curved paths.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A medical catheter, comprising:

a multi-lumen tube comprising a proximal end, a distal end, a first lumen, and a second lumen that is independent of the first lumen, the first lumen being sealed at the distal end;
a capillary tube of the second lumen of the multi-lumen tube, the capillary tube comprising a distal tip portion for releasing an agent from the distal tip portion to a biological tissue, wherein the distal tip portion of the capillary tube is provided on an exposed portion of the capillary tube that protrudes beyond the distal end of the multi-lumen tube;
and
a plurality of micropores formed in the distal tip portion of the capillary tube, each micropore having a diameter in a range of 1 to 100 micrometers.

1 more element

A convection-enhanced delivery (CED) method, comprising:

placing a distal tip portion of a capillary tube of a catheter at a target location within a biological tissue, the catheter comprising:
a multi-lumen tube comprising a proximal end, a distal end, a first lumen, and a second lumen that is independent of the first lumen, the first lumen being sealed at the distal end;
the capillary tube of the second lumen of the multi-lumen tube, the capillary tube comprising the distal tip portion for releasing an agent from the distal tip portion to the biological tissue, wherein the distal tip portion of the capillary tube is provided on an exposed portion of the capillary tube that protrudes beyond the distal end of the multi-lumen tube;
and
a plurality of micropores formed in the distal tip portion of the capillary tube, each micropore having a diameter in a range of 1 to 100 micrometers;
removing, at least partially, a stylet from the first lumen to impart flexibility to the catheter;
and
delivering the agent through the distal tip portion of the capillary tube such that the agent exits through exposed micropores and disperses into the biological tissue.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Agent delivery catheter with micropore design

Life of this patent

Agent delivery catheter with micropore design

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20