Ultrasonic self-cleaning catheter system for indwelling drains and medication supply

A self-cleaning catheter system, for use in protracted transfer of fluid between a patient's body and a point outside such patient's body, comprising:

• a catheter that has a wall and is adapted for such protracted transfer of fluid;
• at least one orifice that is defined near the proximal end of the catheter and that is subject to the presence of undesirable substance during such transfer of fluid;
• a source of mechanical vibration;
• and
• means for conveying the vibration from the source to the orifice to disintegrate the undesirable substance and maintain such protracted transfer of fluid relatively free from obstruction and contamination by the undesirable substance, the vibration-conveying means comprising a solid fiber embedded in the wall of the catheter, and adapted and disposed to conduct the vibration directly to the orifice.

A self-cleaning catheter system, for use in protracted transfer of fluid between a patient's body and a point outside such patient's body, comprising:

• a catheter that is adapted for such protracted transfer of fluid and that defines two lumens, one for such transfer of fluid and the second for containing a vibration-conducting liquid;
• at least one orifice that is defined near the proximal end of the catheter and that is subject to the presence of undesirable substance during such transfer of fluid;
• a source of mechanical vibration;
• and
• means for conveying the vibration from the source to the orifice to disintegrate the undesirable substance and maintain such protracted transfer of fluid relatively free from obstruction and contamination by the undesirable substance, the vibration-conveying means comprising a liquid constrained within the second lumen, adapted and disposed to conduct the mechanical vibration directly to the orifice;
• and
• the catheter further comprises structure preventing fluid communication between the second lumen and the orifice.

A self-cleaning indwelling-catheter system, for use in protracted transfer of fluid between a patient's body and a point outside such patient's body, comprising:

• an indwelling catheter adapted for such protracted transfer of fluid between such patient's body and a point outside such patient's body;
• at least one orifice that is defined near the proximal end of the catheter and that is subject to the presence of undesirable substance within the orifice or on the catheter at the orifice, or both, during such transfer of fluid;
• a source of mechanical disintegrating vibration;
• means for conveying the disintegrating vibration from the source to the orifice and concentrating the disintegrating vibration at the oriface to disintegrate the undesirable substance and maintain such protracted transfer of fluid relatively free from obstruction and contamination by the undesirable substance;
• and
• means for measuring the absorption of the vibration by such substance;
• said measuring means including apparatus disposed outside such person's body and connected to be responsive to vibrational energy not absorbed by such substance.

A self-cleaning catheter system, for use in protracted transfer of fluid between a patient's body and a point outside such patient's body, comprising:

• a catheter adapted for such protracted transfer of fluid;
• at least one orifice that is defined near the proximal end of the catheter and that is subject to the presence of undesirable substance during such transfer of fluid;
• a source of mechanical vibration;
• means for conveying the vibration from the source to the orifice to disintegrate the undesirable substance and maintain such protracted transfer of fluid relatively free from obstruction and contamination by the undesirable substance, the vibration-conveying means comprising a solid fiber in the catheter, adapted and disposed to conduct the vibration directly to the orifice;
• means for measuring the absorption of the vibration by such substance, including a second solid fiber adapted and disposed to transmit vibration that is not absorbed by the substance back through the catheter and out of such patient's body;
• and
• means for adjusting the frequency or amplitude of vibration.

A self-cleaning indwelling-catheter system, for use in protracted transfer of fluid between a patient's body and a point outside such patient's body, comprising:

• an indwelling catheter adapted for such protracted transfer of fluid between such patient's body and a point outside such patient's body;
• at least one orifice that is defined near the proximal end of the catheter and that is subject to the presence of undesirable substance within the orifice or on the catheter at the orifice, or both, during such transfer of fluid;
• a source of mechanical disintegrating vibration;
• and
• means for conveying the disintegrating vibration from the source to the orifice and concentrating the disintegrating vibration at the orifice to disintegrate the undesirable substance and maintain such protracted transfer of fluid relatively free from obstruction and contamination by the undesirable substance;
• wherein the source and the conveying means cooperate to provide such vibration at the orifice in the form of shear waves;
• whereby such vibration is effectively controlled at the proximal orifice and is effective in disintegrating the substance, to prevent blockage of such indwelling catheter or infection at such indwelling catheter, or both, without injuring adjacent body tissue.

A self-cleaning indwelling-catheter system, for use in protracted transfer of fluid between a patient's body and a point outside such patient's body, comprising:

• an indwelling catheter adapted for such protracted transfer of fluid between such patient's body and a point outside such patient's body;
• at least one orifice that is defined near the proximal end of the catheter and that is subject to the presence of undesirable substance within the orifice or of the catheter at the orifice, or both, during such transfer of fluid;
• a source of mechanical disintegrating vibration;
• means for conveying the disintegrating vibration from the source to the orifice and concentrating the disintegrating vibration at the orifice to disintegrate the undesirable substance and maintain such protracted transfer of fluid relatively free from obstruction and contamination by the undesirable substance;
• and
• means for measuring the leakage of vibration away from the catheter toward such patient's body tissues;
• said measuring means including apparatus disposed outside such person's body and connected to be responsive to vibrational energy not absorbed by such substance.

A self-cleaning indwelling-catheter system, for use in protracted transfer of fluid between a patient's body and a point outside such patient's body, comprising:

• an indwelling catheter adapted for such protracted transfer of fluid between such patient's body and a point outside such patient's body;
• at least one orifice that is defined near the proximal end of the catheter and that is subject to the presence of undesirable substance within the orifice or on the catheter at the orifice, or both, during such transfer of fluid;
• a source of mechanical disintegrating vibration;
• and
• means for conveying the disintegrating vibration from the source to the orifice and concentrating the disintegrating vibration at the orifice to disintegrate the undesirable substance and maintain such protracted transfer of fluid relatively free from obstruction and contamination by the undesirable substance;
• and wherein:
• the cahteter has a wall;
• a vibration-absorbing raised guard rim on the wall surrounds the orifice and is spaced radially, relative to the axis of the orifice, outward;
• a flange is formed on the guard rim projecting radially, relative to the axis of the orifice, inward;
• and
• a secondary aperture, generally coaxial with but spaced from the orifice, is defined by the radially innermost surface of the flange;
• and
• the rim, flange and secondary aperture form with the wall a disc-shaped trap chamber to deter propagation of the vibration into the parts of the patient's body outside the catheter.