Self-cleaning and sterilizing medical tube
OwnerChamkurkishtiah P. Rao, Diana C. Listerinventors
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Abstract
The self-cleaning and sterilizing medical tube may include a combination of an endotracheal tube or a tracheostomy tube and a suction catheter that decreases the tendency of mucus and bacteria to adhere to the inner surfaces of the thereof. The medical tube may have a hydrophobic surface exhibiting the lotus effect, which may be formed either by femtosecond laser etching or by a coating of poly (ethylene oxide). Alternatively, the medical tube may be formed with a photocatalyst incorporated therein or have a lumen coated with a photocatalyst. The medical tube may also have a light source and a fiberoptic bundle mounted thereon, the optical fibers extending into the lumen to illuminate the photocatalyst.
Claims13
A self-cleaning and sterilizing medical tube, comprising:
- an elongate tube formed of flexible nano-composite polymer material having an upper portion and a lower portion, the tube defining a lumen, the lower portion being adapted for insertion into a patient body in order to create a passageway;
- and
- means for rendering the tube self-cleaning and sterilizing in order to prevent narrowing of the lumen and buildup of mucous and bacteria in the lumen, wherein the means for rendering the tube self-cleaning and sterilizing includes a hydrophobic surface formed by femtosecond laser etched perpendicular lines formed in the surface and exhibiting a lotus effect formed in the lumen of the tube.
A self-cleaning and sterilizing medical tube, comprising:
- an elongate tube formed of flexible nano-composite polymer material having an upper portion and a lower portion, the tube defining a lumen, the lower portion being adapted for insertion into a patient's body in order to maintain patentcy of the passageway;
- and
- means for rendering the tube self-cleaning and sterilizing in order to prevent narrowing of the lumen and buildup of mucous and bacteria in the lumen, wherein the means for rendering the tube self-cleaning and sterilizing comprises:
- i) a light source mounted on said tube;
- ii) a fiberoptic bundle having fibers extending into the lumen;
- and
- iii) a photocatalyst coated on the inner surface defining the lumen of the tube.
A self-cleaning and sterilizing medical tube, comprising:
- an elongate tube formed of flexible nano-composite polymer material, the elongate tube including a photocatalytic material having antimicrobial properties incorporated into the tube, the tube having an upper portion and a lower portion, the tube defining a lumen, the lower portion being adapted for insertion into a patient's body in order to maintain patentcy of the passageway;
- a light source mounted on the tube;
- a fiberoptic bundle having fibers extending into the lumen,
- whereby the tube is self-cleaning and sterilizing when exposed to the light source thereby inhibiting the narrowing of the lumen and buildup of mucous and bacteria in the lumen.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.