An intravascular catheter is a thin tube
inserted into a large vein that goes to the heart in order
to deliver medications or fluids and to take blood samples.
Our Technology is a value-added surface treatment to any
intravascular catheter device whereby a textured surface
is incorporated with the catheter at the interface with
the skin. The purpose of the Technology is to reduce infections
in the bloodstream which occur due to the use of catheters
or catheter related bloodstream infections. The annual
treatment and human costs for catheter related bloodstream
infections in the U.S. alone is estimated at over $1.5
billion and 40,000+ deaths.
According to the Centers for Disease Control
the vast majority of catheter related bloodstream infections
occur when the bacteria that colonize the patients skin
around the catheter insertion site migrate down the catheter
tract to colonize the implanted portion of the device.
These micro organisms then break away from the colonized
catheter, seeding the blood causing subsequent catheter
related bloodstream infections. Strategies which can successfully
intervene in this pathogenic migration can substantially
reduce the risk of catheter related bloodstream infections
related to use of catheters. MedicInvent believes that
its Technology when applied to catheters is an effective
intervention for reducing or eliminating catheter related
bloodstream infections on a stand alone basis or in combination
with other interventions.
The Technology is a catheter surface texturing
that stimulates tissue growth at the juncture of the catheter
and the cutaneous incision point thus increasing bacterium
'blockage' and static friction or 'stiction' of the catheter
which increases 'anchoring'. Blockage results in decreased
catheter related bloodstream infections by preventing
entry for microorganisms and thus disrupting a pathogenesis
which would result in bacterium migrating into the bloodstream.
Anchoring decreases the opportunity for catheter related
bloodstream infections causing microorganisms to migrate
into the bloodstream due to breakages in the bio-seal
which result from catheter dislodgement. The implementation
of the Technology involves modifications to the surface texture
of the catheter which do not significantly alter
its diameter or makeup. The benefit is a low cost, low
risk solution, which is not disruptive to current manufacturing
processes or pathogenic interventions, and which can reduce
both medical and human costs and litigation stemming from
catheter related bloodstream infections.
