NEBULIZING CATHETER SYSTEM AND METHODS OF USE AND MANUFACTURE
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for delivering a medicine to a patient via the patient'"'"'s respiratory system with control and efficiency. A nebulization catheter is positioned in the patient'"'"'s respiratory system so that a distal end of the nebulization catheter is in the respiratory system and a proximal end is outside the body. In a first aspect, the nebulization catheter may be used in conjunction with an endotracheal tube and preferably is removable from the endotracheal tube. The nebulization catheter conveys medicine in liquid form to the distal end at which location the medicine is nebulized by a pressurized gas or other nebulizing mechanism. The nebulized medicine is conveyed to the patient'"'"'s lungs by the patient'"'"'s respiration which may be assisted by a ventilator. By producing the aerosol of the liquid medicine at a location inside the patient'"'"'s respiratory system, the nebulizing catheter provides for increased efficiency and control of the dosage of medicine being delivered. In further aspects of the nebulizing catheter apparatus and method, alternative tip constructions, flow pulsation patterns, centering devices, sensing devices, and aspiration features afford greater efficiency and control of aerosolized medicine dosage delivery.
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Citations
107 Claims
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1-88. -88. (canceled)
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89. A method for delivering a medicine to a patient, comprising:
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positioning a nebulization catheter in the patient; and operating the nebulization catheter to produce an aerosol of the medicine at a distal end of the nebulization catheter in synchronism with the patient'"'"'s inhalation while the nebulization catheter is positioned in the patient. - View Dependent Claims (90, 91, 92)
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93. A method for delivering a medicine to a patient, comprising:
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sensing a physiological condition of the patient; and operating a nebulization catheter to produce an aerosol of the medicine at a distal end of the nebulization catheter as a function of the sensed physiological condition. - View Dependent Claims (94, 95, 96, 97)
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98. A nebulization catheter system comprising:
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a nebulization catheter having a catheter shaft comprising; a liquid lumen centrally located in said catheter shaft and adapted for conveying a medicine in liquid form; a gas lumen peripherally located adjacent said liquid lumen and adapted for conveying a gas; a distal liquid orifice communicating with said liquid lumen; and a distal gas orifice communicating with said gas lumen, said distal gas orifice being aligned with respect to said distal liquid orifice so as to nebulize a liquid medicine discharged from the liquid orifice; and a sensor configured to detect information regarding a patient'"'"'s respiration for use in controlling a flow of the medicine or gas to the nebulization catheter. - View Dependent Claims (99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107)
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Specification