Membrane catheter

Abstract

A catheter for intravascular use has a blood inlet and a blood outlet, and includes a membrane arranged in the catheter in such a way that at least one part of the blood flowing into the catheter via the blood inlet during operation comes into contact with the membrane. The membrane allows an exchange of at least one substance between a carrier medium and the blood. The carrier medium is a carrier fluid in which the substance to be exchanged can be dissolved, and the catheter includes a delivery device that is designed to at least partially compensate for a pressure difference between the blood inlet and the blood outlet during operation. A method for removing at least one substance from venous blood for diagnostic purposes uses a device of this type.

1 . A system comprising:
 a device with a catheter for intravascular use,   an extracorporeal exchange device,   at least one tube, and   a pump,   wherein the catheter comprises a first inlet and a first outlet for a carrier liquid and a second inlet and a second outlet for blood,   wherein the catheter further comprises a membrane,   wherein a first side of the membrane delimits a lumen for reception of a carrier liquid in which at least one substance to be exchanged can be dissolved,   wherein the membrane is arranged in the catheter in such a way that at least one part of the blood flowing into the catheter via the second inlet comes into contact with a second side opposite the first side of the membrane before the blood leaves the catheter via the second outlet,   wherein the membrane allows an exchange of the at least one substance to be exchanged between a carrier liquid received in the lumen and the blood,   wherein the at least one tube is connected with the catheter and the extracorporeal exchange device,   wherein the first inlet and the first outlet of the catheter are connected with the extracorporeal exchange device, and   wherein the catheter, the extracorporeal exchange device and the pump form a circulation system with the pump conveying the carrier liquid through the circulation system.   
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the catheter comprises a conveying device which is configured to at least partially compensate for a pressure difference between the second inlet and the second outlet during operation. 
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein the conveying device comprises a drive unit for generating a torque and a pump rotor connected with the drive unit for the transmission of a torque. 
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 3 , wherein the drive unit comprises an electric motor. 
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the carrier liquid comprises a perfluorocarbon and/or an albumin solution and/or an electrolyte solution and/or a commercially available dialysate. 
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the carrier liquid comprises an electrolyte solution enriched with specific proteins or glucose derivatives. 
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the carrier liquid comprises a commercially available dialysate, which was additionally processed via an ion exchanger, activated carbon or another adsorber. 
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the carrier liquid comprises a decoupler substance. 
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the exchange device is a portable exchange device, preferably with a carrying means. 
     
     
         10 . A device comprising a catheter for intravascular use, wherein the catheter has a blood inlet and a blood outlet, and comprises a membrane, wherein a first side of the membrane delimits a lumen for the reception of a carrier medium and wherein the membrane is arranged in the catheter in such a way that at least one part of the blood flowing into the catheter via the blood inlet during operation comes into contact with a second side of the membrane lying opposite the first side thereof, before the blood leaves the catheter via the blood outlet, wherein the membrane allows an exchange of at least one substance to be exchanged between a carrier medium received in the lumen during operation and the blood, wherein the lumen is configured to receive a carrier liquid in which the substance to be exchanged can be dissolved as carrier medium and the membrane allows an exchange between the carrier liquid and the blood. 
     
     
         11 . The device according to  claim 10 , wherein the catheter comprises a conveying device which is configured to at least partially compensate for a pressure difference between the blood inlet and the blood outlet during operation. 
     
     
         12 . The device according to  claim 11 , wherein the conveying device comprises a drive unit for generating a torque and a pump rotor connected with the drive unit for the transmission of a torque. 
     
     
         13 . The device according to  claim 12 , wherein the drive unit comprises an electric motor. 
     
     
         14 . The device according to  claim 10 , wherein the membrane is configured for use with a perfluorocarbon or an albumin solution and/or an electrolyte solution, in particular enriched with specific proteins or glucose derivatives, or with a commercially available dialysate, which preferably was additionally processed via an ion exchanger, activated carbon or another adsorber, as carrier liquid. 
     
     
         15 . The device according to  claim 10 , wherein the catheter has an inlet and an outlet for the carrier liquid which are connected with an extracorporeal exchange device for the formation of a circulation system with the exchange device, wherein the circulation system has a pump for conveying the carrier liquid. 
     
     
         16 . A kit comprising a device according to  claim 15  and at least one tube connected with the catheter and the exchange device for the transport of a carrier liquid between the catheter and the exchange device. 
     
     
         17 . The kit according to  claim 16 , wherein the exchange device is a portable exchange device, preferably with a carrying means. 
     
     
         18 . A method for removing at least one substance from blood using the system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one substance to be removed corresponds to the at least one substance to be exchanged through the membrane of the catheter. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the method is for removing at least one substance from venous blood for diagnostic purposes. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein the at least one substance to be removed is a disease indicator, in particular at least a pathogen, at least an antibody, a substance which is toxic to the body, a substance which can otherwise not be excreted by the body, or an endogenous substance the quality or quantity of which correlates with a course of a disease, in particular at least a protein which is specific to a disease, or a substance generated by the courses of diseases. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the method is for treatment of a human or animal body by replacing or exchanging at least one substance from the blood or into the blood of the body, wherein the membrane is configured specifically for the exchange of the respective at least one substance. 
     
     
         22 . The method for treatment according to  claim 21 , wherein the method is for the treatment of electrolyte disorders. 
     
     
         23 . The method for treatment according to  claim 21 , wherein the method is for the treatment of glycogen storage diseases and comprises the transport of blood glucose and/or pathological glucose molecules. 
     
     
         24 . The method for treatment according to  claim 21 , wherein the method is for the treatment of dyslipidoses and comprises the transport of lipids. 
     
     
         25 . The method for treatment according to  claim 21 , wherein the method is for therapeutic apheresis. 
     
     
         26 . The method for treatment according to  claim 21 , wherein the method comprises the transport of urea or creatinine. 
     
     
         27 . The method for treatment according to  claim 21 , wherein the method comprises removing carbon dioxide from the blood and at least partially replacing it with oxygen. 
     
     
         28 . A method for removing at least one substance from blood using the device according to  claim 10 , wherein the at least one substance to be removed corresponds to the at least one substance to be exchanged through the membrane of the catheter.