Method of and apparatus for preventing tissue ingrowth in infusion catheters

A catheter for infusion of fluid into body tissue comprising:

• a catheter body having a proximal and a distal end;
• a lumen extending between the proximal end and the distal end and adapted at the proximal end to be placed in fluid communication with a source of infusate;
• the distal end formed with a fluid discharge aperture fluidly connected to the lumen;
• the proximal end spaced from the distal end;
• an electric element provided adjacent to the discharge aperture, the electric element having a static electric charge whereby the electric charge is presented to tissue surrounding the element when the catheter is placed in body tissue, whereby the direction of tissue growth relative to the fluid discharge aperture is influenced in accordance with the polarity of the electric charge.

A system to prevent the ingrowth of tissue in infusion catheters comprising:

• an infusion catheter having opposite proximal and distal ends in fluid communication with each other, the proximal end being adapted to be connected to a source of fluid, the distal end being adapted to be positioned adjacent to body tissue for delivery of fluid thereto, and an electric element adapted to carry a static electric charge and disposed in a position to influence the growth of the adjacent body tissue in and around the distal end, wherein the electric element comprises a charged coating carried by at least a portion of a surface of the distal end, wherein the charged coating is selected from the group comprising primary amine functional coatings, quaternary amine functional coatings, and cationic hydrogel coatings, the charged coating being affixed to the catheter in a position to be adjacent to the body tissue, wherein the electric element comprises a first and a second electrode carried by the catheter and adapted to be electrically connected to a source of electric potential, the first electrode being disposed at the distal end in a position to be adjacent to the body tissue, the second electrode being disposed intermediate the first electrode and the proximal end;
• a battery electrically interconnected to the electric element by an electric circuit, wherein the electric circuit comprises an operative amplifier electrically connected between the battery and the first and second electrodes to induce an electric charge at the first electrode, the electric circuit including a switch connected in the electric circuit to selectively open and close the circuit between the battery and the first and second electrodes, the electric circuit also including a controller for opening and closing the switch;
• and
• means for inducing a positive charge at the first or second electrode and a negative charge at the second or first electrode, respectively.

A system to prevent the ingrowth of tissue in infusion catheters comprising:

• an infusion catheter having opposite proximal and distal ends in fluid communication with each other, the proximal end being adapted to be connected to a source of fluid, the distal end being adapted to be positioned adjacent to body tissue for delivery of fluid thereto, and an electric element adapted to carry a static electric charge and disposed in a position to influence the growth of the adjacent body tissue in and around the distal end, wherein the electric element comprises an electrode carried by the catheter in a position to be adjacent to the body tissue and adapted to be electrically connected to a source of electric potential, wherein the electric element comprises a a first and a second electrode carried by the catheter and adapted to be electrically connected to a source of electric potential, the first electrode being disposed at the distal end in a position to be adjacent to the body tissue, the second electrode being disposed intermediate the first electrode and the proximal end;
• a battery electrically interconnected to the electric element by an electric circuit, wherein the electric circuit comprises an operative amplifier electrically connected between the battery and the electrode to induce a positive charge at the first or the second electrode and a negative charge at the second or the first electrode, respectively, the electric circuit including a switch electrically connected in the electric circuit to selectively open and close the circuit between the battery and the first and the second electrode, the electric circuit also including a controller for opening and closing the switch;
• and
• means for inducing a positive charge at the first or the second electrode and a negative charge at the second or the first electrode, respectively.

A method of controlling natural tissue growth surrounding an infusion catheter comprising the steps of:

• providing a source of infusate;
• providing a catheter having a proximal end in fluid communication with the source of infusate, a distal end adapted to be positioned adjacent to the body tissue in an operative position, and a discharge aperture formed at the distal end;
• infusing fluid from the source of infusate to the body tissue by way of the discharge aperture;
• providing static electrically polarized surface adjacent to the discharge aperture to influence the natural growth of body tissue in and around the distal end of the catheter.

A method of controlling natural tissue growth surrounding an infusion catheter comprising the steps of:

• providing a source of infusate;
• providing a catheter having a proximal end in fluid communication with the source of infusate, a distal end adapted to be positioned adjacent to the body tissue in an operative position, and a discharge aperture formed at the distal end;
• infusing fluid from the source of infusate to the body tissue by way of the discharge aperture;
• providing a static electric field to the discharge aperture to influence the natural growth of body tissue in and around the distal end of the catheter.

A method of controlling natural tissue growth surrounding an infusion catheter comprising the steps of:

• providing a source of infusate;
• providing a catheter having a lumen and having a proximal end in fluid communication with the source of infusate, a distal end adapted to be positioned adjacent to the body tissue in an operative position, and a discharge aperture formed at the distal end;
• infusing fluid from the source of infusate to the body tissue by way of the discharge aperture;
• providing an electrically polarized surface within the lumen adjacent to the discharge aperture to influence the natural growth of body tissue in and around the distal end of the catheter.