# US 9,039,665 B2 · Filament-based catheter > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,039,665 B2 - Document ID: US9039665B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/119,527 - Filed: 2009-09-09 - Published: 2011-09-15 - Granted: 2015-05-26 - Earliest claimed: 2008-09-17 - Assignees: Joanneum Research Forschungsgesellschaft mbH - Applicants: Manfred Bodenlenz; Christian Hoefferer; Thomas Birngruber; Lukas Schaupp - Inventors: Manfred Bodenlenz; Christian Hoefferer; Thomas Birngruber; Lukas Schaupp - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9039665B2 ## CPC - A61M 27/00: Drainage appliance for wounds or the like {, i.e. wound drains, implanted drains} ({negative pressure wound therapy devices A61M1/90;} implements for holding wound open A61B17/02 {; middle ear drainage A61F11/202}) - A61M 25/0012: {with embedded structures, e.g. coils, braids, meshes, strands or radiopaque coils} - A61M 25/0043: {characterised by structural features} - A61M 25/0026: {Multi-lumen catheters with stationary elements (catheter assemblies comprising a catheter in combination with a guide tube, sheath or sleeve A61M2025/0681; catheters comprising telescoping coaxial elements A61M2025/0175)} - A61M 2025/0057: {Catheters delivering medicament other than through a conventional lumen, e.g. porous walls or hydrogel coatings} - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} ## Abstract A membrane-free perfusion catheter comprising an exchange surface having a filament structure, a delivery unit for delivery of perfusion fluid to a lumen of the filament structure in a manner to allow for an exchange of substances between a medium surrounding the lumen and the perfusion fluid via the filament structure, and a drain unit for draining the medium surrounding the exchange surface and/or for 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A membrane-free perfusion catheter system comprising: a catheter structure formed by an exchange surface having a filament structure; 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; and a drain unit 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 the medium surrounding the lumen and the perfusion fluid via the filament structure; wherein a one dimensional extension of gaps formed between filaments of the filament structure is larger than 1 μm; wherein at least one of the delivery unit and the drain unit comprises a fluid transport unit for 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The catheter system of claim 1, wherein the filament structure is adapted in such a manner that filament material of the filament structure is impermeable and gaps between adjacent portions of the filament material are permeable. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The catheter system of claim 1, wherein the filament structure comprises an electrically conductive material configured such that an electric signal is applyable to the filament structure to function as an electrode. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The catheter system of claim 1, comprising a fitting element; wherein the filament structure comprises a material connected to the fitting element. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The catheter system of claim 1, comprising an impermeable coating covering a first portion of the filament structure, wherein a second portion of the filament structure is free of the impermeable coating. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The catheter system of claim 5, wherein the filament structure has a tubular shape having an inner surface and an outer surface, the impermeable coating covering a part of the outer surface. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The catheter system of claim 1, wherein the filament structure is arranged in such a manner that the exchange surface is formed at least partially by friction between different portions of the filament structure. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The catheter system of claim 1, comprising at least one further exchange surface each having a further filament structure and being arranged to form a multi-lumen arrangement in combination with the filament structure. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The catheter system of claim 1, wherein the exchange surface has a deterministic, well-defined size of gaps between the filaments. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The catheter system of claim 1, wherein the delivery unit comprises a perfusion fluid container containing the perfusion fluid and being in fluid communication with the lumen of the filament structure. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The catheter system of claim 1, wherein the drain unit comprises a fluid collector collecting tissue medium or the perfusion fluid after the exchange of substances between the surrounding medium and the perfusion fluid via the filament structure. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The catheter system of claim 1, wherein the exchange surface provided by the filament structure is arranged in a single homogeneous layer. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The catheter system of claim 1, wherein the drain unit comprises an analysis unit adapted for analyzing effluent fluid to thereby derive information regarding the medium surrounding the lumen. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The catheter system of claim 1, wherein the delivery unit is connected to a first end portion of the exchange surface, and the drain unit is connected to a second end portion of the exchange surface. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The catheter system of claim 1, wherein a one dimensional extension of gaps formed between the filaments is larger than 10 μm. ### Claim 16 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. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the method further comprises using the catheter system for measuring at least one physiological parameter. ### Claim 18 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. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, comprising removing material of an impermeable coating covering the filament structure to thereby expose a portion of the filament structure from the impermeable coating.