Self-Clearing Catheter for Clinical Implantation

• US 20080281250A1
• Filed: 05/10/2006
• Published: 11/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Jack W. Judy, Marvin Bergsneider, Selene Lee
• Original Assignee: Jack W. Judy, Marvin Bergsneider, Selene Lee
• Inventors: Bergsneider, Marvin, Judy, Jack W., Lee, Selene
• Application Number:
  US11/919,936
• Publication Number:
  US 20080281250A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/9
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0019 Cleaning catheters or the like, e.g. for reuse of the device, for avoiding replacement
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/007 Side holes, e.g. their profiles or arrangements; Provisions to keep side holes unblocked
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 27/006 Cerebrospinal drainage; Accessories therefor, e.g. valves
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 9/00 Cleaning hollow articles by methods or apparatus specially adapted thereto B08B6/00 takes precedence

Abstract

The invention disclosed herein provides methods and apparati that utilize micro-electro-mechanical systems that can be used for example to prevent and/or clear obstructions in the fluid conduits of medical devices such as catheters.

Claims

1. An implantable medical device comprising:

a fluid conduit having an orifice; and

an actuator coupled to the orifice of the fluid conduit,

wherein the actuator alternates between a first and a second position in response to a signal so as to inhibit accumulation of materials or remove materials at the orifice of the fluid conduit.

2. The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein the fluid conduit is adapted for use as a shunt.

3. The implantable medical device of claim 2, wherein the shunt is adapted for use in the treatment of hydrocephalus.

4. The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein the fluid conduit having an orifice comprises a catheter.

5. The implantable medical device of claim 1, further comprising a coating composition that inhibits the accumulation of materials at the orifice of the fluid conduit.

6. The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein a composition of the actuator is selected to be compatible with strong magnetic fields such as MRI.

7. The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein the signal is a remote signal.

8. The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein the signal comprises a magnetic signal.

9. The implantable medical device of claim 8, wherein the magnetic signal comprises an external oscillating magnetic field.

10. The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein the actuatable member at the orifice of the fluid conduit moves in such a manner to prevent or reduce occlusion of the orifice of the fluid conduit.

11. The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein the actuator restricts fluid flow through the fluid conduit.

12. A method of removing materials or decreasing materials that accumulate at an orifice of a fluid conduit of an implantable medical device comprising

using an external signal to actuate an actuatable member disposed at the orifice of the fluid conduit;

wherein the actuatable member alternates between a first and a second position in response to the external signal so that the materials are removed or the accumulation of materials at the orifice of the fluid conduit is decreased.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the fluid conduit having an orifice is adapted for use as a shunt.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising adapting the use of the fluid conduit for the treatment of hydrocephalus.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the signal comprises an external magnetic signal.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein a device that generates the signal is placed in proximity to the head of a patient.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising coating the fluid conduit with a composition that inhibits the accumulation of materials at the orifice of the fluid conduit.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the actuator alternates in a manner comprising a sweeping, vibrating, or rotating motion.

19. A method of manufacturing a fluid conduit having an actuator for use in an implantable medical device comprising:

providing a base substrate of the fluid conduit;

coupling an actuator to the substrate of the fluid conduit,

wherein the actuator is coupled to the fluid conduit so as to allow the actuator to alternate between a first and a second position in response to a signal in a manner that inhibits accumulation of materials or remove materials at an orifice of the fluid conduit when the medical device is implanted in vivo.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the actuator is manufactured using microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) techniques.