METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATED ACTIVE STERILIZATION OF FULLY IMPLANTED DEVICES

• US 20100256607A1
• Filed: 02/09/2010
• Published: 10/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Theranova, Llc
• Original Assignee: Theranova, Llc
• Inventors: BURNETT, Daniel Rogers
• Granted Patent: US 8,865,063 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/544
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/042 Urinary bladders
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/82 Devices providing patency to, or preventing collapsing of, tubular structures of the body, e.g. stents stent-grafts for tubular structures of the body other than blood vessels A61F2/04; stent-grafts for blood vessels A61F2/07; instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts A61F2/95; for closing wounds, or holding wounds closed A61B17/04 - A61B17/115; dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/02 using physical phenomena
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/025 Ultrasonics
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/08 Radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/10 Ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/12 Microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/18 Liquid substances or solutions comprising solids or dissolved gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0056 provided with an antibacterial agent, e.g. by coating, residing in the polymer matrix or releasing an agent out of a reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0205 Materials having antiseptic or antimicrobial properties, e.g. silver compounds, rubber with sterilising agent
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/051 with radiation therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/054 with electrotherapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/058 with ultrasound therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0017 specially adapted for long-term hygiene care, e.g. urethral or indwelling catheters to prevent infections
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/142 Pressure infusion, e.g. using pumps

Abstract

The current invention provides this advance in infection control via its unique application of active sterilization to a catheter or implant. While most catheters, and many implants, are passive devices, the current invention will provide an active component as a integral part of the implanted catheter or device to continuously or intermittently sterilize the exposed surfaces/areas of the device. This active sterilization may be accomplished by a variety of mechanisms, including, application of heat, RF, microwave, ultrasound, ultraviolet radiation or other energy capable of sterilizing the device or dislodging any problematic Biofilm that may form. The active sterilization may also employ the pumping of a sterilizing chemical from an attached drug reservoir, the use of electricity or freezing temperatures or any other mechanism for either inhibiting, killing or dislodging any infectious material in contact with the implant. One major advantage of this design is that through the use of a small, battery powered or inductively powered sterilization element, the implanted catheter or device can be effectively sterilized without requiring the standard removal surgery, waiting period, then replacement of the infected device. This is expected to translate into greatly improved outcomes (particularly for devices where infection may be catastrophic, ie a prosthetic knee or hip), greatly improved costs, and greatly improved longevity of susceptible devices (ie IV ports, etc.).

Claims

1. A sterilization system for sterilizing an implanted prosthesis, comprising a housing sized for implantation within a patient body and having an energy generator therewithin, wherein the energy generator is configured to deliver anti-infective energy or agents through one or more catheters fluidly coupled to the housing.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the one or more catheters comprise an intra-peritoneal catheter.

3. The system of claim 2 further comprising a catheter fluidly coupled to a bladder within the patient body.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising a subcutaneous port fluidly coupled to the housing.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising fiberoptics optically coupled to the energy generator.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the energy generator is configured to generate energy in a form selected from the group consisting of ultrasound, ultraviolet radiation, temperature, electromagnetic energy, radio frequency, microwave, and anti-infective agents.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising a pump coupled to the energy generator.

8. The system of claim 1 further comprising a charging coil for inductively charging the energy generator.

9. The system of claim 1 further comprising a battery electrically coupled to the energy generator.

10. A method of sterilizing an implanted prosthesis, comprising:

activating an energy generator implanted within a patient body; and

applying energy from the generator to a prosthesis implanted within the body such that the prosthesis is sterilized.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein activating comprises generating energy in a form selected from the group consisting of ultrasound, ultraviolet radiation, temperature, electromagnetic energy, radio frequency, microwave, and anti-infective agents

12. The method of claim 10 wherein applying energy comprises applying the energy to one or more catheters coupled to the energy generator.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein applying the energy comprises applying energy to fluid passing through the one or more catheters.