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Indwelling catheter with stable enzyme coating

  • US 5,788,678 A
  • Filed: 11/13/1995
  • Issued: 08/04/1998
  • Est. Priority Date: 04/01/1994
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A catheter, comprising:

  • an elongated tubular element formed from a polymeric material and adapted for patient placement, said tubular element defining a catheter lumen, anda surface coating applied to said tubular element on at least a portion of the surface thereof, said surface coating including at least one enzyme effective to dissolve occlusions along said catheter lumen, said at least one enzyme comprising a lipolytic enzyme, and means for protecting said enzyme against short-term degradation upon contact with patient body fluids;

    said surface coating comprising time release capsules having the enzyme contained within an encapsulant shell of a material soluble in the presence of patient body fluids, said capsules having a variable shell thickness for dissolution in the presence of body fluids, to expose the enzyme therein over an extended period of time.

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