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US 8,556,950 B2Granted
Sterilizable indwelling catheters
AssigneeBoston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
InventorsRobert Rioux, Raymond Lareau, Kristian Dimatteo
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AssigneeBoston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
InventorsRobert Rioux, Raymond Lareau, Kristian Dimatteo
Estimating the term…
According to an aspect of the invention, an indwelling catheter is provided which comprises a catheter shaft. The catheter either comprises a light source or is adapted to receive light from a light source, and is configured such that light is transmitted from the light source into the catheter shaft. Moreover, the catheter shaft is formed of a polymeric material that transmits a quantity of light from the light source that is effective to inactivate microorganisms on a surface of the catheter shaft upon activation of the light source. For example, the light may inactivate the microorganisms directly or in conjunction with a photosensitizer. According to another aspect of the invention, a sterilization method is provided, which comprises activating the light source while the catheter is inserted in a subject.
An indwelling catheter comprising a catheter shaft and a hub from which said catheter shaft projects, wherein said hub comprises a light source or wherein said hub is adapted to receive light from a light source, said hub further comprising a port that is adapted to allow fluids to be delivered to patient, from the patient, or both, wherein said indwelling catheter is configured such that light is transmitted from said light source into said catheter shaft, and wherein said catheter shaft is formed of a polymeric material that transmits a quantity of said light from said light source that is effective to inactivate microorganisms on a surface of said catheter shaft when said light source is activated.
An indwelling catheter comprising (a) a catheter shaft and (b) a hub from which said catheter shaft projects, wherein said hub comprises (i) a port that is adapted to allow fluids to be delivered to the patient, from the patient, or both, and (ii) an optical coupling for optically coupling light from a light emitting component into said catheter shaft, wherein said light emitting component is adapted to emit light having a wavelength between 100 and 280 nm, wherein said catheter shaft is formed of a polymeric material that transmits a quantity of said light having a wavelength between 100 and 280 nm that is effective to inactivate microorganisms on a surface of said catheter shaft when said light emitting component is activated, and wherein said indwelling catheter is selected from a peripherally inserted central catheter, a midline catheter, a peripheral catheter, a hemodialysis catheter and a venous access port.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.