Compound Delivery Tube

• US 20080319373A1
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Published: 12/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Eldon H. Nyhart Jr
• Original Assignee: Eldon H. Nyhart Jr
• Inventors: Nyhart, Eldon H. JR.
• Application Number:
  US11/932,032
• Publication Number:
  US 20080319373A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/21
• 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 tube for selective administration of a compound.

Claims

1. A tube including:

an interior surface;

an exterior surface;

a matrix material attached to the interior surface, the matrix including a cavity allowing fluid flow therethrough; and

a first compound releasably attached to the matrix, the matrix being formed from a material having properties that cause the first compound to be released from the matrix upon introduction of light energy to the tube.

2. The tube of claim 1, wherein the first compound is covalently bonded to the matrix.

3. The tube of claim 1, wherein the matrix material is formed from a hydrogel.

4. The tube of claim 1, further including an optical transmission fiber.

5. The tube of claim 4, wherein the optical transmission fiber includes the interior surface.

6. The tube of claim 1, wherein the tube is flexible.

7. The tube of claim 1, wherein the interior surface and exterior surface are opposing sides of a substantially cylindrical wall that prevents fluid transmission across the wall.

8. The tube of claim 1, wherein the matrix is bonded to the interior surface.

9. The tube of claim 1, further comprising a second compound intermixed in the matrix material with the first compound, said second compound being releasably attached to the matrix material.

10. The tube of claim 1, further including a controller that controls light energy applied to the tube.

11. An optical propagation tube including:

a substantially cylindrical wall having an interior surface, an exterior surface, and a light-propagating volume therebetween;

a matrix material attached to the interior surface; and

a first compound releasably attached to the matrix, the matrix being formed from a material having properties that cause the first compound to be released from the matrix upon introduction of light into the tube.

12. The tube of claim 11, further including a controller that controls light energy applied to the tube.

13. The tube of claim 12, wherein the controller operates control light energy applied to the tube in a fractally-based pattern.

14. The tube of claim 11, wherein the matrix material is formed from a hydrogel.

15. The tube of claim 11, wherein the first compound is covalently bonded to the matrix material.

16. The tube of claim 11, further including a reflective coating on the exterior surface for reflecting radiation into the matrix material.

18. The tube of claim 16, wherein the compound is a therapeutic agent.

19. The tube of claim 16, wherein the compound is releasably captured by covalent bonding molecules of the compound to molecules of the matrix material.

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

17. A tube, 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 controlling the application of energy to the matrix material such that the energy, when applied to the matrix material, releases the compound therefrom.