Device and method for inhibiting intravascular device associated infection
First Claim
1. A catheter insertable into a body for establishing a fluid communication path between a location external to the body and a site within the body, said catheter comprising:
- a first elongated tube;
a second elongated tube disposed longitudinally within said first tube, said first tube having a portion sized so as to fluid-tightly sealingly engage said second tube, said first and second tubes defining therebetween a coaxial channel extending longitudinally along and within said first tube to define a first fluid communication path through which a first fluid is deliverable;
said second tube defining therewithin a second fluid communication path through and along which a second fluid is flowable between a location external to the body and a site within the body; and
said second tube having defined therethrough a plurality of predeterminately-sized apertures for delivering said first fluid from said channel to an interior portion of said second tube for allowing selective irrigation of said interior portion with the first fluid so as to discourage accumulations of unwanted matter on an interior surface of the second tube.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is directed to a device for reducing the risk of infection and/or clotting associated with the establishment and/or maintenance of fluid communication between apparatus external to the body and the interior of the body. The device includes a first tube insertable into the body. A second tube is disposed within the first tube, the second tube having a distal end portion insertable into the body and extending through an opening defined at the distal end of the first tube. The first and second tubes define therebetween a longitudinally coaxially disposed channel which establishes a fluid communication path for a first fluid. The first tube has one or more predeterminately-sized capillary apertures defined therein and predeterminately sized so as to predeterminately control the flow of a first fluid through the aperture, so that the first fluid remains substantially on and along the outer surface of the first tube so as to coat the outer surface of the first tube with the first fluid, thereby creating an anti-infective barrier which surrounds the intravascular device as it lies within the body. The second tube may also or alternatively include apertures for the selective coating and/or irrigation of the interior of the second tube to prevent infection or clotting therein.
79 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A catheter insertable into a body for establishing a fluid communication path between a location external to the body and a site within the body, said catheter comprising:
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a first elongated tube; a second elongated tube disposed longitudinally within said first tube, said first tube having a portion sized so as to fluid-tightly sealingly engage said second tube, said first and second tubes defining therebetween a coaxial channel extending longitudinally along and within said first tube to define a first fluid communication path through which a first fluid is deliverable; said second tube defining therewithin a second fluid communication path through and along which a second fluid is flowable between a location external to the body and a site within the body; and said second tube having defined therethrough a plurality of predeterminately-sized apertures for delivering said first fluid from said channel to an interior portion of said second tube for allowing selective irrigation of said interior portion with the first fluid so as to discourage accumulations of unwanted matter on an interior surface of the second tube. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. In combination:
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a device insertable into a body for establishing a fluid communication path between a location external to the body and a site within the body, said device comprising; a catheter comprising a first elongated tube capable of insertion into the body, said first tube having an outer peripheral surface; a second elongated tube disposed longitudinally within said first tube, said first tube having an opening sized so as to fluid-tightly sealingly engage said second tube, said first and second tubes defining therebetween a channel extending longitudinally along and within said first tube to define a fluid communication path; and a fluid deliverable through said fluid communication path and deliverable from said fluid communication path through a plurality of predeterminately-sized apertures defined in and through said first tube and said second tube for delivering said first fluid from said channel to an outer surface of said first tube and to an interior portion of said second tube.
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17. A method for introducing fluid to exterior and interior surfaces of a catheter to reduce medical risks normally associated with catheter placement in the body, comprising the steps of:
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inserting, into the body, a first tube and a second tube disposed within the first tube to create a longitudinal channel defined coaxially between the first and second tubes; delivering a fluid through said channel and outwardly from said channel through a plurality of apertures defined in said first tube and through a plurality of apertures in said second tube so that said fluid is simultaneously delivered to the exterior surface of said first tube and to the interior of said second tube. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. A method for introducing fluid to exterior and interior surfaces of a catheter to reduce medical risks normally associated with catheter placement in the body, comprising the steps of:
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inserting, into the body, a first tube and a second tube disposed within the first tube to create a longitudinal channel defined coaxially between the first and second tubes; delivering a fluid through said channel and outwardly from said channel through a plurality of capillary apertures defined in said first tube and predeterminately sized so that as the fluid is delivered outwardly through said capillary apertures from said channel the fluid remains substantially on and along the outer peripheral surface of the first tube so as to coat the first tube outer peripheral surface with the fluid and thereby create an anti-infective barrier along the outer peripheral surface of the first tube within the body; and simultaneously delivering the fluid through a plurality of predeterminately-sized openings defined in and through said second tube for delivering the fluid from said channel to an interior portion of said second tube so as to provide selective irrigation of said second tube interior portion with the fluid so as to prevent the accumulation of unwanted matter on and along the interior surface of said second tube. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification