Apparatus For The Controllable Modification Of Compound Concentration In A Tube

• US 20080108935A1
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Published: 05/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Eldon Nyhart
• Original Assignee: Eldon Nyhart
• Inventors: Nyhart, Eldon
• Application Number:
  US11/931,869
• Publication Number:
  US 20080108935A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/20 using laser
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0057 Catheters delivering medicament other than through a conventional lumen, e.g. porous walls or hydrogel coatings
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0043 characterised by structural features
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/08 Tubes; Storage means specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1407 Infusion of two or more substances

Abstract

A catheter for selective administration of a compound.

Claims

1. A catheter, comprising:

a flexible outer sheath having an interior surface and an exterior surface;

a polymer matrix attached to the interior surface of said sheath;

a compound releasably captured by the molecules of said polymer matrix;

an energy source for releasing said compound from said polymer matrix in response to a signal from a sensor received by a controller that is operably coupled to the energy source.

2. The catheter of claim 1, wherein said compound is releasably captured by covalent bonding molecules of said compound to molecules of said polymer matrix.

3. The catheter of claim 1, wherein said polymer matrix is a hydrogel.

4. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the compound is a therapeutic agent.

5. The catheter of claim 1, wherein said energy source is a laser and said outer sheath transmits energy from said laser into said polymer matrix.

6. The catheter of claim 5, wherein said energy source is a laser irradiating the polymer matrix with laser pulses of varying time duration.

7. The catheter of claim 5, wherein said energy source is a laser irradiating the polymer matrix with laser pulses of varying radiation intensity.

8. The catheter of claim 5, which further comprises a fiber optic cable for optically coupling said laser to said sheath.

9. The catheter of claim 1, wherein said compound is a first compound, and which further comprises a second compound intermixed in said polymer matrix with said first compound, said second compound being releasably captured by the molecules of said polymer matrix.

11. The catheter of claim 1, wherein said controller includes a cardiac monitor and said sensor responds to cardiac activity.

12. The catheter of claim 1, wherein said controller operates said source of energy to provide energy to said polymer matrix in a fractally-based pattern.

13. The catheter of claim 1, wherein said outer sheath includes a first interior section and a second interior section, and which further comprises a baffle separating said first section from said second section, said first section and said second section each including a portion of polymer matrix, and which further comprises a first therapeutic agent releasably captured in said polymer matrix of said first section and a second therapeutic agent releasably captured in said polymer matrix of said second section.

14. The catheter of claim 1 wherein said outer sheath includes an opaque coating on the exterior surface for limiting the escape of radiation from said outer sheath.

15. The catheter of claim 1 wherein said outer sheath includes a reflective coating on the exterior surface for reflecting radiation into said polymer matrix.

16. A catheter, comprising:

a flexible outer sheath having an interior surface and an exterior surface;

a matrix material attached to the interior surface of said sheath;

a compound releasably captured by the molecules of said matrix material;

an energy source for releasing said compound from said polymer matrix in response to a signal from a sensor received by a controller that is operably coupled to the energy source.

17. The catheter of claim 16, wherein the compound is a therapeutic agent.

18. The catheter of claim 16, wherein said compound is releasably captured by covalent bonding molecules of said compound to molecules of said polymer matrix.

19. The catheter of claim 16, wherein the energy source is configured to apply energy to said polymer matrix in a fractally-based pattern.

20. The catheter of claim 16, wherein said energy source is configured to release the compound from said polymer matrix in response to a signal from a cardiac activity sensor received by a cardiac monitor.