Filament-based catheter

A method comprising:

• providing a membrane-free perfusion catheter system with a catheter having an exchange surface formed by a filament structure;
• delivering a perfusion fluid to the catheter in a manner to allow for a bidirectional exchange of substances between a medium surrounding the catheter and the perfusion fluid via the exchange surface;
• draining the medium surrounding the exchange surface or draining the perfusion fluid delivered to the lumen of the filament structure after the exchange of substances between the medium surrounding the lumen and the perfusion fluid via the filament structure;
• and
• transporting the fluid through the lumen of the filament structure with a flow rate in a range between 0.1 μl/minute and 10 μl/minute by a fluid transport unit of at least one of the delivery unit and the drain unit;
• wherein a one dimensional extension of gaps formed between filaments of the filament structure is larger than 1 μm.

A method of manufacturing a membrane-free perfusion catheter system, the method comprising:

• forming an exchange surface of the catheter based on a filament structure;
• coupling a delivery unit for delivery of perfusion fluid to a lumen of the filament structure in a manner to allow for a bidirectional exchange of substances between a medium surrounding the lumen and the perfusion fluid via the filament structure;
• coupling a drain unit to the filament structure for draining the medium surrounding the exchange surface or for draining the perfusion fluid delivered to the lumen of the filament structure after the exchange of substances between a medium surrounding the lumen and the perfusion fluid via the filament structure;
• and
• transporting the fluid through the lumen of the filament structure with a flow rate in a range between 0.1 μl/minute and 10 μl/minute by a fluid transport unit of at least one of the delivery unit and the drain unit;
• wherein a one dimensional extension of gaps formed between filaments of the filament structure is larger than 1 μm.