Photocatalytic disinfection of implanted catheters

摘要

An implantable catheter is provided that may be disinfected without removal from the body of a patient, using a photocatalytic method to activate a reaction on the catheter surface that generates oxidizing agents in the form of Reactive Oxygen Species (“ROS”) and thus destroy microorganisms in a biofilm that is present or forming. A catheter system includes the implantable catheter, a light source, and a source of power operably connected to the light source. Methods are also provided for disinfecting the implantable catheter in vivo.

主权项

1. An implantable catheter that can be photocatalytically disinfected without removal from a patient's body, comprising:
an elongate catheter body of predetermined length having a proximal end, a distal end, at least one lumen extending through the catheter body and adapted to transport fluid from the proximal end to the distal end, an outer surface on the exterior of the catheter body, and an inner surface on the interior of the lumen; an outer photocatalytic layer on the outer surface that undergoes a photocatalysis reaction upon irradiation with ultraviolet light to generate reactive oxygen species; an out-coupling means for facilitating out-coupling of ultraviolet light directed into the catheter at the proximal end so that along the length of the catheter a first fraction of the light is refracted toward the catheter surfaces and thus toward the outer photocatalytic layer, thereby activating the photocatalysis reaction; wherein the out-coupling means has a density gradient that increases axially along the length of the catheter from the proximal end to the distal end for ensuring that the amount of out-coupled ultraviolet light is substantially uniform along the length of the catheter from the proximal end to the distal end.