Method and system for sustained-release of sclerosing agent

• US 8,361,052 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2008
• Issued: 01/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Universite De Strasbourg (Financière Meeschaert SA), UTI Limited Partnership
• Original Assignee: UTI Limited Partnership
• Inventors: Tremblay, Alain
• Primary Examiner(s): Sirmons, Kevin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Thomas, Jr., Bradley G
• Application Number:
  US12/261,652
• Publication Number:
  US 20090247983A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,552 Days
• Field of Search: 424/145.1, 514/12, 604/28, 604/265, 604/502, 604/507, 604/508, 606/214
• US Class Current: 604/500
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 29/085 Macromolecular materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 29/145 Hydrogels or hydrocolloids
• 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 25/00 Catheters; Hollow probes dilators A61M29/00; peritoneal catheters A61M1/285; tracheal tubes A61M16/04; for drainage A61M27/00; for uterus, vagina or rectum A61M31/00 ; for measuring or testing A61B; materials for catheters A61L29/00
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 5/08 Chitin; Chondroitin sulfate; Hyaluronic acid; Derivatives thereof

Abstract

Methods and systems for treating pleural disease comprising a providing a low dosage of a sclerosing agent over a period of time. Certain examples include catheter with a sclerosing agent that is inserted into the pleural space. The sclerosing agent is released in a sustained-release manner over a period of time to achieve diffuse pleurodesis of the pleural layers.

Claims

1. A method of fusing two pleural layers, the method comprising:

(a) providing a catheter coated with silver nitrate, wherein the catheter comprises a proximal end and a distal end, and wherein said catheter provides sustained release of the silver nitrate into the pleural layer over a period of time greater than or equal to twenty-four hours; and

(b) inserting the distal end of the catheter into a pleural space between a first pleural layer and a second pleural layer such that the catheter terminates in the pleural space, wherein the distal end of the catheter is inserted in an insertion point;

wherein release of the silver nitrate creates a diffuse pleurodesis of the first pleural layer and the second pleural layer, wherein;

(i) the pleurodesis comprises a plurality of adhesions between the first pleural layer and the second layer;

(ii) the plurality of adhesions cover at least twenty-five percent of the surface area of the first pleural layer; and

(iii) at least one of the adhesions is more than five centimeters from the insertion point.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing a device that creates a negative pressure;

coupling the device to the proximal end of the catheter; and

operating the device provide a negative pressure to the pleural space.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the sustained release of silver nitrate into the pleural layer occurs over a time period of at least forty-eight hours.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising draining a pleural effusion or air from the pleural space via the catheter.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the pleural effusion is associated with cancer, congestive heart failure, cirrhosis, tuberculosis, pneumonia, pulmonary emboli, pancreatitis, or collagen vascular disease.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the pleural effusion comprises a malignant pleural effusion.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a device that creates a negative pressure;

coupling the device to the catheter; and

operating the device to provide a negative pressure to the pleural space.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising draining the pleural effusion into a container coupled to the device.