CATHETER FOR INCREASED INTRATHECAL DRUG DISPERSION
FIG11 is a perspective view depicting a catheter in accordance with a fifth embodiment
In the embodiment depicted in FIG11, the one or more features 702 can be in the form of a spiral ridge 710 originating in proximity to the distal tip 704 and terminating in proximity to the medicament exit 606. In operation, the spiral ridge 710 generate vortices within the cerebrospinal fluid surrounding the catheter 700, thereby promoting faster mixing of the medicament expelled from the medicament exit 706 with the cerebrospinal fluid.
perspective view
704
distal tip
502
features
710
spiral ridge
606
medicament exit
506
medicament exit
508
catheter wall
706
medicament exit
702
features
504
distal tip
500
catheter catheters
604
distal tip
510
V-shaped ridge V-shaped ridges
512
apex
700
catheter
['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.', '2. The intrathecal drug delivery system (100) of claim 1, wherein the at least one feature is a curve (310) defined by the catheter wall (304) configured to orient a distal portion (312) of the catheter (300) at an angle with respect to a proximal portion of the catheter.', '10. The intrathecal drug delivery system (100) of any of claims 1 or 5 to 8, wherein the at least one feature is at least one of a V-shaped ridge (510, 610), spiral ridge (710), shelf (810), groove, or combination thereof configured to generate vortices in the presence of a moving fluid.']