Catheter for uniform delivery of medication

Abstract

The present invention provides a catheter for the delivery of fluid medication across an anatomical region. In accordance with some embodiments, the catheter includes an elongated tubular member made of a porous membrane. The porous membrane is configured so that a fluid introduced into an open end of the tubular member will flow through side walls of the tubular member at a substantially uniform rate along a length of the tubular member. In accordance with other embodiments, the catheter includes an elongated “weeping” tubular coil spring attached to an end of, or enclosed within, a tube. Fluid within the spring and greater than or equal to a threshold pressure advantageously flows radially outward between the spring coils. Advantageously, the fluid is dispensed substantially uniformly throughout a length of the spring. In accordance with other embodiments, the catheter includes a tube having a plurality of exit holes in a side wall of the tube. The exit holes combine to form a flow-restricting orifice of the catheter. Advantageously, fluid within the catheter flows through all of the exit holes, resulting in uniform distribution of fluid within an anatomical region.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A device for the uniform delivery of fluid throughout an anatomical region, comprising an elongated catheter having a plurality of exit holes along a length of said catheter, said exit holes gradually increasing in size along said length of said catheter, wherein the largest of said exit holes is nearer to the distal end of said catheter than the smallest of said exit holes, so that a fluid flowing under pressure within said catheter will flow through substantially all of said exit holes at a substantially equal rate, said catheter being formed from a material that is non-reactive to anatomical systems.  
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said exit holes are provided throughout the circumference of said catheter.  
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the smallest of said exit holes has a diameter of at least 0.0002 inches and the largest of said exit holes has a diameter of at most 0.01 inches.  
     
     
         4 . A method of uniformly delivering fluid throughout an anatomical region, comprising the steps of: 
 inserting an elongated catheter into said anatomical region, said catheter having a plurality of exit holes along a length of said catheter, said exit holes gradually increasing in size along said length of said catheter, wherein the largest of said exit holes is nearer to the distal end of said catheter than the smallest of said exit holes, said catheter being formed from a material that is non-reactive to anatomical systems; and    introducing a fluid under pressure into the proximal end of said catheter, said fluid flowing through said exit holes and entering said anatomical region, said fluid flowing through substantially all of said exit holes at a substantially equal rate.    
     
     
         5 . A method of manufacturing a device for the uniform delivery of fluid throughout an anatomical region, comprising the steps of: 
 forming an elongated catheter from a material that is non-reactive to anatomical systems; and    providing a plurality of exit holes along a length of said catheter, said exit holes gradually increasing in size along said length of said catheter, wherein the largest of said exit holes is nearer to the distal end of said catheter than the smallest of said exit holes, so that a fluid flowing under pressure within said catheter will flow through substantially all of said exit holes at a substantially equal rate.    
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said providing step includes providing said exit holes throughout the circumference of said catheter.