Implantable shunt or catheter enabling gradual delivery of therapeutic agents
First Claim
1. An implantable shunt system for draining fluid from a body cavity, comprising a catheter and at least one therapeutic agent carried by a wall structure of said catheter, said wall structure having an outer peripheral surface and an inner peripheral surface defining a lumen through which fluid is drained from the body cavity, and said wall structure enabling gradual release of said therapeutic agent from said wall structure in situ after implantation of said catheter body.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An implantable catheter or shunt for draining fluid from a body cavity. The catheter or shunt body has a wall structure that carries one or more therapeutic agents in a manner enabling release of the therapeutic agent from the wall structure in situ after surgical implantation of the catheter or shunt body. The therapeutic agent can be gradually released over time to prevent infection, inhibit tissue ingrowths, and/or provide some other desired medicinal purpose. As an example, the therapeutic agent can be rapamycin or an mTOR inhibitor. According to some contemplated embodiments of the present invention, the therapeutic agent carried by the catheter/shunt is rechargeable or refillable in situ so that the therapeutic agent can be gradually released from the catheter/shunt over the expected useful life of the catheter/shunt.
-
Citations
36 Claims
- 1. An implantable shunt system for draining fluid from a body cavity, comprising a catheter and at least one therapeutic agent carried by a wall structure of said catheter, said wall structure having an outer peripheral surface and an inner peripheral surface defining a lumen through which fluid is drained from the body cavity, and said wall structure enabling gradual release of said therapeutic agent from said wall structure in situ after implantation of said catheter body.
- 18. A cerebrospinal fluid shunt system having a ventricular catheter and drainage shunt interconnected directly or indirectly by a flow control mechanism, one of said ventricular catheter and drainage shunt comprising an elongate body defining a lumen therein for passage of cerebrospinal fluid to or from said flow control mechanism, said body formed by a wall structure carrying at least one therapeutic agent therein or thereon, said wall structure releasing said therapeutic agent in situ after implantation of said shunt system.
Specification