Improved medical tube

Abstract

Disclosed is a tube comprising at least one lumen, and a wall comprising at least one or a plurality of wave-guide(s). The wall encloses the at least one lumen. The tube comprises a distal end configured for being introduced into a body of a mammal and a proximal end comprising a tube-connector. The wave-guide(s) are configured to conduct electro-magnetic radiation along the tube. The tube is configured to emit at least a part of the radiation into the lumen and/or to an outer surface of the tube. The wave-guide(s) are configured for transmitting and side-emitting UV-light comprising a wave-length of 200-280 nm, preferably 210-260 nm, and still more preferably 210-230 nm. The wall comprises fluorinated ethylene- propylene. Further disclosed is a system comprising the tube and a radiation source configured for emitting electro-magnetic radiation, preferably UV-C light. Also, a method for using the tube is disclosed. The method comprises applying the tube to a body of a patient.

Claims

1. A tube comprising at least one lumen, and a wall comprising at least one or a plurality of wave-guide(s) and enclosing the at least one lumen, wherein the tube comprises a distal end configured for being introduced into a body of a mammal and a proximal end comprising a tube-connector, wherein the wave-guide(s) are configured to conduct electro-magnetic radiation along the tube, wherein the tube is configured to emit at least a part of the radiation into the lumen and/or to an outer surface of the tube, wherein the wave-guide(s) are configured for transmitting and side-emitting UV-light comprising a wave-length of 200-280 nm, and wherein the wall comprises fluorinated ethylene-propylene.

2. The tube according to claim 1, wherein the wave-guide(s) are permanently attached to at least a portion of the wall, and wherein each of the wave-guide(s) comprises an optic fibre.

3. The tube according to claim 2, wherein the optic fibre comprises a high-OH silica core.

4. The tube according to claim 1, wherein the wave-guide(s) comprise a liquid light guide, wherein the liquid light guide comprises a canal for a light guide liquid, which canal comprises the light guide liquid.

5. The tube according to claim 1, wherein the wave-guide(s) comprise a gradient of a side-emittance of the UV-light, and wherein the side-emittance of the UV-light increases from the proximal to the distal end.

6. The tube according to claim 1, wherein the tube comprises a spherical diffusor at the distal end.

7. The tube according to claim 1, wherein the tube comprises a fluorescent element.

8. The tube according to claim 1, wherein the tube is at least one of a catheter, a drain and an infusion tube.

9. The tube according to claim 1, wherein the tube-connector is configured to connect the wave-guide(s) to a radiation source.

10. A system, comprising the tube according to claim 1, and further comprising a radiation source configured for emitting electro-magnetic radiation, preferably particularly UV-C light.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein at least 50% of the electro-magnetic radiation comprise a wavelength of 222±5 nm.

12. The system according to claim 10, wherein the system is configured for releasing the electro-magnetic radiation substantially evenly over a length of the tube and wherein the system is configured for intermittingly emitting the UV-C light.

13. The system according to claim 10, wherein the tube-connector comprises a socket, and wherein the radiation source comprises a source-connector configured to connect the radiation source to the tube-connector, wherein the source-connector comprises a plug configured to be plugged into the socket of the tube-connector.

14. A method for using the tube according to claim 1, comprising applying the tube to a body of a patient.

15. A method for using the system according to claim 10, comprising applying the tube of the system to a body of a patient.

16. The tube according to claim 1, wherein the wave-guide(s) are configured for transmitting and side-emitting UV-light comprising a wave-length of 210-260 nm.

17. The tube according to claim 1, wherein the wave-guide(s) are configured for transmitting and side-emitting UV-light comprising a wave-length of 210-230 nm.

18. The system according to claim 10, wherein at least 80% of the electro-magnetic radiation comprise a wavelength of 222±5 nm.

19. The system according to claim 10, wherein at least 95% of the electro-magnetic radiation comprise a wavelength of 222±5 nm.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0271] FIG. 1 shows a prior art embodiment of a urinary catheter.

[0272] FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the invention.

[0273] FIG. 3 shows a portion of a catheter.

[0274] FIG. 4 shows details of a connector.

[0275] FIG. 5 shows a cross-section of an embodiment of a medical tube.

[0276] FIG. 6 shows another cross-section of an embodiment of the medical tube.

DETAILED FIGURE DESCRIPTION

[0277] For the sake of clarity, some features may only be shown in some figures, and others may be omitted. However, also the omitted features may be present, and the shown and discussed features do not need to be present in all embodiments.

[0278] FIG. 1 shows a prior-art embodiment of a urinary catheter. The catheter comprises a tube 10 that is introduced into the human body, e.g. by the urethra. The catheter comprises a distal end 30, which is configured to be introduced into the human body, in this case into the bladder.

[0279] The catheter further comprises a proximal end 20, which is opposed to the distal end In other words, the proximal end 20 may not be arranged so as to be introduced into the human body. In use, the proximal end shown in FIG. 1 is connected to a container, such as a collector bag.

[0280] In other cases, the catheter may be introduced in other parts of the human body to perform other functions.

[0281] Catheters may increase a risk of nosocomial infections. Bacteria and viruses may be propagated by the introduced catheter into a patient's body and result into infections there, such as infections of the urinary tract. Also, introduced urethral catheters normally result in a bacterial population, which is however only treated when complications occur.

[0282] FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the invention. In the shown embodiment, the catheter comprises a wave-guide which transmits electro-magnetic waves, e.g. UV-light. The wave-guide then causes the waves to be transmitted to at least one of an outer surface of the catheter and the distal end 30 of the catheter. The electro-magnetic radiation may then irradiate present bacteria and/or viruses that may cause an infection. Said viruses and/or bacteria may thus be inactivated. The electro-magnetic radiation may particularly be UV-radiation.

[0283] In FIG. 2, the UV-radiation comprises a wavelength of 222 nm. A wavelength of 222 nm may be optionally advantageous as discussed by Buonanno et al. and Welch et al. (see above). In particular, such UV-radiation may be suitable for disinfection, without considerably harming the human skin adjacent to the catheter.

[0284] FIG. 3 shows a catheter. The catheter comprises the tube 10. The tube 10 comprises a wall 1 enclosing at least one lumen 7 which is configured to conduct a fluid, such as a bodily fluid or a fluid to be introduced into the human body.

[0285] The tube 10 comprises a tube connector 2 which is configured for connecting the tube to at least one of a radiation source 6 and an intake 5 of a liquid container, such as a collector bag, or an outlet 5 of a fluid source.

[0286] FIG. 4 shows a detail of the catheter of FIG. 3. The catheter comprises a tube-connector 2. The tube-connector comprises a portion 9 of the lumen 7. Also, the wall 1 enclosing the lumen 7 can be seen. Further, the wave-guide 8 can be seen, as well as a portion of the wave-guide that the tube-connector comprises. The tube-connector 2 may be a part of the tube 10, or the tube connector may be releasable from the tube 10.

[0287] Further, a source-connector 3 configured for connecting the tube 10 to the radiation source 6 is shown in FIG. 4. In the example of FIG. 4, the source-connector 3 comprises a wave-guide transmitting electro-magnetic radiation from the source to the tube 10.

[0288] The tube-connector 2 comprises a portion 14 of the wave-guide 8 of the tube 10. Further, the intake of the fluid container/outlet of the fluid source 5 is shown.

[0289] FIG. 5 shows an exemplary cross-section A-A of the tube 10, as indicated in FIG. 3. In the cross-section, the wall 11 and the wave-guide 8 can be seen. Even though FIG. 5 only shows one wave-guide 8, there may be a plurality of wave-guides 8 in parallel or one after another. As can be seen, the wall 11 encloses the at least one lumen 7.

[0290] The wall may be configured for transmitting the electro-magnetic radiation, particularly the UV-light. The wall may comprise a polymer configured for transmitting UV-radiation, such as FEP.

[0291] The wave-guide 8 may be configured for laterally emitting the electro-magnetic radiation. In other words, the wave-guide may be side-emitting. The wave-guide or wave-guides 8 may each comprise an optic fibre.

[0292] The side-emitting feature of the wave-guides may be achieved by means of scattering centers, or by removing a cladding of the optic fibres.

[0293] Thus, optionally advantageously, the electro-magnetic radiation may be transmitted to the outer surface of the tube 10 and/or into the lumen 7 of the tube 10.

[0294] FIG. 6 shows a cross-section of a portion of the medical tube in an embodiment where a cross-section of the wall 11 of the medical tube comprises a negative gradient from proximal 20 to the distal end 30. This may be optionally advantageous, as thus, the decreasing intensity along the length of the tube may be compensated and a more homogenous irradiation of the inside as well as the outside of the catheter may optionally be achieved.

[0295] While in the above, a preferred embodiment has been described with reference to the accompanying drawings, the skilled person will understand that this embodiment was provided for illustrative purpose only and should by no means be construed to limit the scope of the present invention, which is defined by the claims.

[0296] Whenever a relative term, such as “about”, “substantially” or “approximately” is used in this specification, such a term should also be construed to also include the exact term. That is, e.g., “substantially straight” should be construed to also include “(exactly) straight”.

[0297] Whenever steps were recited in the above or also in the appended claims, it should be noted that the order in which the steps are recited in this text may be accidental. That is, unless otherwise specified or unless clear to the skilled person, the order in which steps are recited may be accidental. That is, when the present document states, e.g., that a method comprises steps (A) and (B), this does not necessarily mean that step (A) precedes step (B), but it is also possible that step (A) is performed (at least partly) simultaneously with step (B) or that step (B) precedes step (A). Furthermore, when a step (X) is said to precede another step (Z), this does not imply that there is no step between steps (X) and (Z). That is, step (X) preceding step (Z) encompasses the situation that step (X) is performed directly before step (Z), but also the situation that (X) is performed before one or more steps (Y1), . . . , followed by step (Z). Corresponding considerations apply when terms like “after” or “before” are used.

NUMBERED REFERENCE SIGNS

[0298] 1 Wall

[0299] 2 Tube-connector

[0300] 3 Source-connector

[0301] 4 Wave-guide of the source

[0302] 5 Connection to container

[0303] 6 Radiation source

[0304] 7 Lumen

[0305] 8 Wave-guide of the tube

[0306] 9 Lumen of the tube-connector

[0307] 10 Tube

[0308] 11 Wall

[0309] 14 Wave-guide of the tube-connector

[0310] 20 Proximal end

[0311] 30 Distal end