Device and Method for the Ablation of Fibrin Sheath Formation on a Venous Catheter

Abstract

An indwelling venous catheter and method capable of destroying undesirable cellular growth is provided. The catheter includes a shaft having at least one lumen and adapted to be placed inside a vein for long term use. A plurality of electrodes are positioned near a distal section of the shaft and are adapted to receive from a voltage generator a plurality of electrical pulses in an amount sufficient to cause destruction of cells in the undesirable cellular growth that have grown around the shaft. In one aspect of the invention, a probe is configured to be removably insertable into the at least one lumen and the electrodes are positioned near the distal section of the probe.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 connecting a generator to a at least two electrodes, wherein the electrodes are configured to be positioned on an implanted medical device; and   applying a predetermined set of electrical pulses to the at least two electrodes;   
       wherein the predetermined set of electrical pulses are configured to non-thermally ablate an undesirable cellular growth that may have formed around the implanted medical device. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the non-thermal ablation is irreversible electroporation. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the predetermined set of electrical pulses comprise a voltage up to 3,000 volts and at least 10 total pulses. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the undesirable cellular growth may comprise a fibrin sheath, infectious cells, a biofilm, or smooth muscle cells. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein applying a predetermined set of electrical pulses to the at least two electrodes is configured to prevent the removal of the implanted medical device. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
 applying the predetermined set of electrical pulses at a predetermined schedule.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the predetermined set of electrical pulses is configured to be applied by the generator simultaneously to the at least two electrodes. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising the step of:
 alternating polarity of the at least two electrodes.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the implanted medical device may comprise a dialysis catheter, a port catheter, electrocardiogram leads, a central venous catheter, or a peripherally inserted central catheter. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined set of electrical pulses comprises a pulse length of less than 1 microsecond. 
     
     
         11 . A method comprising:
 connecting a generator to a at least two electrodes, wherein the electrodes are configured to be positioned on an implanted medical device; and   applying a predetermined set of electrical pulses to the at least two electrodes;   
       wherein the predetermined set of electrical pulses are configured to prevent undesirable cellular growth that may have formed around the implanted medical device. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising the step of:
 applying the predetermined set of electrical pulses at a predetermined schedule.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the undesirable cellular growth may comprise a fibrin sheath, infectious cells, a biofilm, or smooth muscle cells. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined set of electrical pulses comprises a pulse length of at least 1 microsecond, a voltage up to 3,000 volts, and at least 10 total pulses. 
     
     
         15 . A method comprising:
 connecting a generator to a at least two electrodes;   advancing the electrodes through a lumen of an implanted medical device to a target area; and   applying a predetermined set of electrical pulses to the at least two electrodes;   
       wherein the predetermined set of electrical pulses are configured to non-thermally ablate an undesirable cellular growth that may have formed near the implanted medical device at the target area. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising the step of:
 applying the predetermined set of electrical pulses at a predetermined schedule.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the predetermined set of electrical pulses comprises a pulse length of at least 1 microsecond, a voltage up to 3,000 volts, and at least 10 total pulses. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the undesirable cellular growth may comprise a fibrin sheath, infectious cells, a biofilm, or smooth muscle cells. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the electrodes are co-axially advanced through the lumen of the implanted medical device to the target area. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the non-thermal ablation is irreversible electroporation.