Electrochemical disinfection of implanted catheters
US9381276B1 · kind B1 · utility
8Cited by
1References
20Claims
0Family size
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Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 15, 2016 |
| Grant date | Jul 5, 2016 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 15, 2036 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61M2025/0056
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An implantable catheter is provided that may be disinfected without removal from the body of a patient, using an electrochemical method to generate an electric field on the catheter surface and thus destroy microorganisms in a biofilm that is present or forming. A catheter system includes the implantable catheter and a voltage source that is operably connected to electrodes on or embedded in the exterior and optionally the interior catheter surface. Methods are also provided for disinfecting the implantable catheter in vivo and for detecting or confirming the presence of a pathogenic biofilm thereon.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.