Reduction of inflammatory mass with spinal catheters

A method for preventing inflammatory mass formation associated with continuous intrathecal infusion of a first solution comprising a first drug through a first infusion section of a catheter into a patient's spinal canal at a first vertebral level, wherein the first drug has a local concentration over time at the first vertebral level in the patient's spinal canal, and wherein the first infusion section of the catheter has a first length, the method comprising,

• reducing the local concentration of the first drug over time at the first vertebral level in the patient's spinal canal relative to the first drug infused continuously through the first infusion section of a catheter intrathecally into a patient's spinal canal at the first vertebral level,
• wherein reducing the local concentration over time comprises periodically altering the density of the solution.

A method for preventing inflammatory mass formation associated with continuous intrathecal infusion of a first solution comprising a first drug through a first infusion section of a catheter into a patient's spinal canal at a first vertebral level, wherein the first drug has a local concentration over time at the first vertebral level in the patient's spinal canal, and wherein the first infusion section of the catheter has a first length, the method comprising:

• reducing the local concentration of the first drug over time at the first vertebral level in the patient's spinal canal relative to the first drug infused continuously through the first infusion section of a catheter intrathecally into a patient's spinal canal at the first vertebral level,
• wherein reducing the local concentration over time comprises periodically replacing the first drug with a second drug.

A method for preventing inflammatory mass formation associated with continuous intrathecal infusion of a first solution comprising a first drug through a first infusion section of a catheter into a patient's spinal canal at a first vertebral level wherein the first dru has a local concentration over time at the first vertebral level in the patient's spinal canal, and wherein the first infusion section of the catheter has a first length, the method comprising:

• reducing the local concentration of the first drug over time at the first vertebral level in the patient's spinal canal relative to the first druginfused continuously through the first infusion section of a catheter intrathecally into a patient's spinal canal at the first vertebral level,
• wherein reducing the local concentration over time comprises periodically changing the concentration of the first drug in a solution comprising the first drug.

A method for preventing inflammatory mass formation associated with continuous intrathecal infusion of a first solution comprising a first drug through a first infusion section of a catheter into a patient's spinal canal at a first vertebral level, wherein the first drug has a local concentration over time at the first vertebral level in the patient's spinal canal, and wherein the first infusion section of the catheter has a first length, the method comprising:

• reducing the local concentration of the first drug over time at the first vertebral level in the patient's spinal canal relative to the first drug infused continuously through the first infusion section of a catheter intrathecally into a patient's spinal canal at the first vertebral level,
• wherein reducing the local concentration over time comprises periodically changing the vertebral location where the drug is delivered from the first vertebral location to a second vertebral location.