Methods and apparatus to inactivate infectious agents on a catheter residing in a body cavity
AssigneeVeritas Medical, L.L.C.
InventorsNathaniel L. R. Rhodes, Adam E. Bracken, Martin de la Presa, Ahrash E. Poursaid, Ryan R. Coil, Mitchell Barneck, James Preston Allen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus for the inactivation of infectious agents in, on or around a catheter residing in a patient's body cavity. The method comprises transmitting non-ultraviolet sterilizing electromagnetic radiation (EMR) substantially axially along an optical element in the catheter body. Through delivery of the sterilizing EMR to particular areas of highest infection, the present disclosure is able to inactivate the major sources of infection in catheters.
Claims20
A medical device assembly for insertion into a cavity of a patient's body and for delivery of a fluid to the patient's body, comprising:
- an electromagnetic radiation (EMR) source for providing non-ultraviolet, sterilizing EMR having an intensity comprising a radiant exposure of at least 0.1 J/cm2 and up through 100 J/cm2 and power of at least 0.005 mW and up through 1 Watt, such intensity being sufficient to inactivate one or more infectious agents;
- a catheter having an elongate catheter body with at least one internal lumen, a coupling end and an distal end tip, the distal end tip being insertable into the cavity of the patient's body, wherein the catheter body directs both the fluid and the sterilizing EMR axially through the catheter body for delivery into the patient's body at the distal end tip;
- an optical element disposed within the catheter body and conducive to the axial propagation of the sterilizing EMR through the catheter body;
- and
- at least one coupling to connect the EMR source to the catheter body.
A medical device assembly for insertion into a cavity of a patient's body and for delivery of a fluid to the patient's body, comprising:
- an electromagnetic radiation (EMR) source selected from a group including a solid state laser, a semiconductor laser, a diode laser, and a light emitting diode, the EMR source for providing non-ultraviolet, sterilizing EMR having a wavelength in a range of above 380 nm to 900 nm and having an intensity comprising a radiant exposure of at least 0.1 J/cm2 and up through 100 J/cm2 and power of at least 0.005 mW and up through 1 Watt, such intensity being sufficient to inactivate one or more infectious agents;
- a catheter having an elongate catheter body with at least one internal lumen, a coupling end and an distal end tip, the distal end tip being insertable into the cavity of the patient's body, wherein the catheter body directs both the fluid and the sterilizing EMR axially through the catheter body for delivery into the patient's body at the distal end tip;
- an optical element disposed within the catheter body and conducive to the axial propagation of the sterilizing EMR through the catheter body;
- and
- at least one coupling to connect the radiation source to the catheter body.
A method for constructing a medical device assembly for insertion into a cavity of a patient's body and for delivery of a fluid to the patient's body comprising the steps of:
- providing a catheter having an elongate catheter body with at least one internal lumen, a coupling end and an distal end tip, the distal end tip being insertable into the cavity of the patient's body;
- applying an optical element within the catheter body, the optical element being conducive to the axial propagation of a sterilizing electromagnetic radiation (EMR) through the catheter body;
- and
- coupling an EMR source to the catheter body, the EMR source for providing non-ultraviolet, sterilizing EMR having an intensity comprising a radiant exposure of at least 0.1 J/cm2 and up through 100 J/cm2 and power of at least 0.005 mW and up through 1 Watt, such intensity being sufficient to inactivate one or more infectious agent.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.