CATHETER FOR INCREASED INTRATHECAL DRUG DISPERSION
FIG8A is a perspective view depicting a catheter in accordance with a second embodiment of the disclosure inserted into a subarachnoid space of a patient
Referring to FIG8A, a catheter 400 configured for increased intrathecal drug dispersion is depicted in accordance with a second embodiment of the disclosure. Catheter 400 can generally include a cylindrical cross-section, and can extend between a proximal end and a distal tip 402. Catheter 400 can generally include a wall 404 defining a lumen 406 extending between the proximal end and a medicament exit 408. Catheter 400 can include multiple features 410A, 410B, and 410C configured to generate vortices within the cerebrospinal fluid for the purpose of improving intrathecal drug dispersion. For example, catheter 400 can be configured to assume a sinusoidal shape, such that multiple portions 412A, 412B, 412C, 412D of the catheter 400 can be positioned and an acute, obtuse, or substantially orthogonal angle relative to the flow of cerebrospinal fluid within the subarachnoid space. Accordingly, the medicament exit 408, which can be positioned proximately from the distal tip 402 along the wall 404 of the catheter 400 can be positioned to expel medicament substantially in-line with the longitudinal axis A of the patient's spinal column S. In one embodiment, the catheter 400 can include multiple medicament exits oriented in different directions or extending along the length of the catheter 400.
perspective view
416
medicament
400
catheter
402
distal tip
406
lumen
15
after approximately
404
wall
408
medicament exit
['1. An intrathecal drug delivery system (100) configured to improve dispersion of medicament with cerebrospinal fluid in a subarachnoid space of a patient, the intrathecal drug delivery system (100) comprising: an implantable medical pump (102); and a catheter (300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800) having a wall (304, 404, 508, 608, 708, 808) defining a lumen extending between a proximal end in fluid communication with the implantable medical pump (102) and structure defining a medicament exit (308, 408, 506, 606, 706, 806) positionable within the subarachnoid space of the patient, the wall (304, 404, 508, 608, 708, 808) further defining at least one feature (310, 410A, 410B, 410C, 510, 610, 710, 810) configured to generate vortices within the cerebrospinal fluid.']