KNITTED CATHETER
A medical device, comprising: an elongate tubular knitted catheter comprising at least one biocompatible, electrically non-conductive filament arranged in longitudinally adjacent substantially parallel rows each stitched to an adjacent row.
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The present application claims priority from Australian Provisional Patent Application No. 2008904838, filed Sep. 17, 2008, Australian Provisional Patent Application No. 2009901534, filed Apr. 8, 2009, and Australian Provisional Patent Application No. 2009901531, filed Apr. 8, 2009, which are hereby incorporated by reference herein.
The present application is related to commonly owned and co-pending U.S. Utility Patent Applications entitled “Knitted Electrode Assembly For An Active Implantable Medical Device,” filed Aug. 28, 2009, “Knitted Electrode Assembly And Integrated Connector For An Active Implantable Medical Device,” filed Aug. 28, 2009, “Bonded Hermetic Feed Through For An Active Implantable Medical Device,” filed Aug. 28, 2009, “Stitched Components of An Active Implantable Medical Device,” filed Aug. 28, 2009, and “Electronics Package For An Active Implantable Medical Device,” filed Aug. 28, 2009, which are hereby incorporated by reference herein.
BACKGROUND1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to catheters, and more particularly, to a knitted catheter.
2. Related Art
Medical devices having one or more implantable components, generally referred to as implantable medical devices, have provided a wide range of therapeutic benefits to patients over recent decades. One type of implantable medical device includes an implantable, hermetically sealed electronics module, and a device that interfaces with a patient's tissue, sometimes referred to as a tissue interface. The tissue interface may include, for example, one or more instruments, apparatus, sensors or other functional components that are permanently or temporarily implanted in a patient. The tissue interface is used to, for example, diagnose, monitor, and/or treat a disease or injury, or to modify a patient's anatomy or physiological process. Such devices are referred to herein as active implantable medical devices (AIMDs).
Other types of implantable medical devices include an implantable tubular member, referred to herein as a catheter, having a lumen extending there through. Medical catheters are used by physicians to diagnose and treat a range conditions in a patient's body. Specifically, catheters are used to introduce or withdraw fluids, introduce an instrument, apparatus, or other functional component, delivering electrical stimulation signals to a patient's tissue, etc.
SUMMARYIn accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a medical device is provided. The medical device comprises: an elongate tubular knitted catheter comprising at least one biocompatible, electrically non-conductive filament arranged in longitudinally adjacent substantially parallel rows each stitched to an adjacent row, wherein the tubular catheter has an inner diameter that is sufficient to receive at least one instrument.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a method for manufacturing a knitted tubular catheter is provided. The method comprises: providing at least one biocompatible, electrically non-conductive filament; and knitting the at least one non-conductive filament into an elongate tube of longitudinally adjacent substantially parallel rows, each row stitched to an adjacent row, wherein the tube has an inner diameter that is sufficient to receive at least one instrument.
Aspects and embodiments of the present invention are described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Aspects of the present invention are generally directed to an implantable medical device comprising an implantable elongate tubular catheter formed using textile or fabric manufacturing methods. Exemplary textile manufacturing methods include, but are not limited to, weaving, knitting, braiding, crocheting, etc. For ease of illustration, embodiments of the present invention will be primarily described herein with reference to forming a knitted catheter. It would be appreciated that other textile manufacturing methods are also within the scope of the present invention.
A knitted catheter in accordance with embodiments of the present invention comprises at least one biocompatible, electrically non-conductive filament arranged in longitudinally adjacent substantially parallel rows each stitched to an adjacent row. In certain embodiments, the knitted catheter has an inner diameter that is sufficient to receive at least one instrument.
Embodiments of the present invention are described herein primarily in connection with one type of implantable medical device, namely a steerable catheter system. It should be appreciated that embodiments of the present invention may be implemented in any implantable medical device comprising an elongate tubular member. For instance, embodiments of the present invention may be implemented in medical devices that are implanted for a relatively short period of time to address acute conditions, as well in devices that are implanted for a relatively long period of time to address chronic conditions.
Knitted catheter 104 is configured to be implanted in a patient using, for example, a sleeve or guide tube, while handle 130 is positionable external to the patient. Handle 130 provides a physician, surgeon, or other medical practitioner, (generally and collectively referred to as “surgeons” herein), with the ability to control the operation of knitted catheter 104. More specifically, handle 130 includes user controls 116 which permit a surgeon to control the orientation of distal region 126 of knitted catheter 104.
In the embodiments of
Handle 130 further comprises a lumen 122 extending through the center thereof. The proximal end of lumen 122 comprises an opening, referred to as access port 118, for introduction of one or more instruments or other devices into lumen 122.
In the embodiments of
It should be appreciated that catheters of various lengths may be formed in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. For ease of illustration, only a section of knitted catheter 104 is shown.
As noted above, a knitted catheter in accordance with embodiments of the present invention comprises at least one biocompatible, electrically non-conductive filament arranged in substantially parallel rows each stitched to an adjacent row. Knitting is a technique for producing a two or three-dimensional structure from a linear or one-dimensional yarn, thread or other filament (collectively and generally referred to as “filaments” herein). There are two primary varieties of knitting, known as weft knitting and warp knitting.
As shown in
It should be appreciated that embodiments of the present invention may be implemented using weft or warp knitting. Furthermore, embodiments of the present invention may use circular knitting or flat knitting. Circular knitting creates a seamless tube, while flat knitting creates a substantially planar sheet. In certain embodiments in which flat knitting is used, the knitted structure would be disposed around a cylindrical support member as described with reference to
Catheters in accordance with embodiments of the present invention may be knitted using automated knitting methods known in the art, or alternatively using a hand knitting process. It should be appreciated that the knitting method, filament diameter, number of needles and/or the knitting needle size may all affect the size of the stitches and the size of the resulting catheter. As such, the size and shape of the catheter is highly customizable.
As noted above, medical catheters are used by surgeons to perform various functions, including the diagnosis and/or treatment of a range of conditions in a patient. In certain embodiments of the present invention, a knitted catheter comprises one or more electrodes positioned on the surface of the distal region of the catheter. In such embodiments, the electrodes are used to deliver electrical stimulation signals to a patient, or record/monitor the physiological response of a patient's tissue to, for example, a therapy. Electrical stimulations signals may be delivered to stimulate tissue, or, in alternative embodiments, for tissue ablation.
In the embodiments of
As noted, the term filament is used to refer to both the conductive and non-conductive threads, fibers or wires that are used to form knitted catheter 304. It should be appreciated that, as shown in
A variety of different types and shapes of conductive filaments may be used to knit a catheter in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. In one embodiment, the conductive filament is a fiber manufactured from carbon nanotubes. Alternatively, the conductive filament is a platinum or other biocompatible conductive wire. Such wires may be given suitable surface treatments to increase their surface area (e.g. forming a layer of iridium oxide on the surface of platinum, utilizing platinum “blacking,” or coating the wire with carbon nanotubes). In other embodiments, the conductive filament comprises several grouped strands of a conductive material. In other embodiments, the filament may be a composite filament formed from two or more materials to provide a desired structure. In certain such embodiments, the properties of the composite filament may change along the length thereof. For example, certain portions of the composite filament may be conductive, while portions are non-conductive. It would also be appreciated that other types of conductive filaments may also be used. Furthermore, although embodiments of the present invention are described using tubular or round fibers, it would be appreciated that other shapes are within the scope of the present invention.
As noted above, conductive filaments in accordance embodiments of the present invention are intertwined with a non-conductive filament to form the catheter. While a majority of the intertwined portion is an exposed conductive element, the remainder of the conductive filament may be insulated. In one such embodiment, a length of suitably insulated conductive filament (e.g. parylene coated platinum wire) is provided and the insulation is removed from the section that is to be intertwined, leaving the remainder of the filament with the insulated coating.
A variety of non-conductive filaments may be used to knit a catheter in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. In one embodiment, the non-conductive filament is a biocompatible non-elastomeric polymer material. In another embodiment, the non-conductive filament is a biocompatible elastomeric material. For example, the elastomeric material may comprise, for example, silicone, silicone/polyurethane, silicone polymers, or other suitable materials including AORTech® and PBAX. Other elastomeric polymers that provide for material elongation while providing structural strength and abrasion resistance so as to facilitate knitting may also be used. It should be appreciated that other types of non-conductive filaments may also be used.
In embodiments in which an elastomeric non-conductive filament is used, the filament may be knitted under tension to reduce the final size of the catheter, or portions thereof. The knitting of filaments under tension to form a catheter is described in commonly owned and co-pending U.S. Utility Patent Application entitled Knitted Catheter and Integrated Connector for an Active Implantable Medical Device,” filed Aug. 28, 2009, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.
In a further embodiment, a non-conductive filament comprises a drug-eluting polymer. In such embodiments, drugs appropriate to the application may be incorporated into the structure so as to be automatically dispensed once the catheter is implanted. In alterative embodiments, fibers may be coated with any of a number of materials that provide a therapeutic benefit. For example, in one embodiment the fibers may receive an anti-fibrogenic coating that prevents attachment to tissue. In other embodiments the fibers may be coated with a therapeutic material which promotes healing. In still further embodiments, the non-conductive filament comprises a thermo-softening plastic material, such as polypropylene. As described below, the thermo-softening plastic material allows the knitted structure to be formed into a variety of shapes using, for example, molding, sintering, etc.
In the embodiments of
Conductive filaments 412A, 412B are configured to be electrically connected to a stimulator unit (not shown) or an electronics module (also not shown) positioned external to the patient. As such, a section of the each filament 412 extends proximally from the intertwined portions of the filament through the interior of catheter 404 for connection to the stimulator unit or electronics module.
In certain embodiments of
As noted above, a catheter in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention comprises one or more electrodes to deliver electrical stimulation signals to, and/or receive signals from, a patient's tissue. In other embodiments of the present invention, a catheter may also, or alternatively, include one or more passive or active components configured to perform a variety of functions. As used herein, an active component refers to any component that utilizes, or operates with, electrical signals. A passive components refers to a functional component that does not utilize, or operate with, electrical signals. Passive components include, but are not limited to, forceps, mechanical biopsy devices, etc. For ease of illustration, embodiments of the present invention will be primarily discussed with reference to active components positioned in or on a knitted catheter. It should be appreciated that the incorporation of passive components into a knitted are within the scope of the present invention.
In certain specific embodiments of the present invention, active component 644 comprises an agent delivery system for administering drugs, active substances or therapeutic agents (collectively and generally referred to as “therapeutic agents” herein) to a patient. In certain such embodiments, active component 644 may comprise a pump, reservoir and an agent delivery mechanism. In alternative embodiments, active component 644 comprises an agent delivery mechanism that is fluidically coupled to a pump and/or reservoir positioned outside catheter 604. In one such embodiment, a fluid is passed down the length of the catheter for delivery to tissue. In another specific example, active component 644 includes one or more sensors for monitoring, for example, pressure, temperature, etc., within the patient.
In a still further embodiment of the present invention, the catheter is knitted using a non-conductive filament that is an insulated conducting element which is suitable for strain gauge applications. In such embodiments, the catheter may be constructed in one or more sections, each section being able to measure the strain experienced across that section. Other sensing devices may be incorporated into the structure using a similar method.
In another embodiment, active component 644 comprises one or more actuators incorporated into the knitted structure. Suitable actuators may include a low power linear motor. Such an actuator is anchored at a suitable location in catheter 604 and may allow the catheter to, for example, provide a method of applying pressure to an organ or body tissue for therapeutic benefit.
In a further embodiment, active component 644 comprises an enclosed electronics package. In this embodiment one of more electronics packages may be encapsulated in the knitted tube either during its manufacture or afterwards providing a compact and robust final assembly for the whole implantable device.
As noted above, embodiments of the present invention are directed to steerable catheters.
In the embodiments of
It should be appreciated that numerous variations to the arrangements shown in
According to another aspect of the present invention illustrated in
As shown, support structure 952 comprises a cylindrical member formed from a biocompatible, electrically non-conductive material that is sized to substantially fill the inner diameter of catheter 904A. Because support structure 952 substantially fills the inner diameter of catheter 904, the knitted structure is disposed on the surface of the support structure, and support structure 952 provides additional mechanical strength to catheter 904A. Support structure 952 has a lumen 956 extending through the center thereof to permit the introduction of one or more instruments into catheter 904A.
The inherent ability of the knitted catheter to change diameter as it is compressed or expanded allows support structures 952 of various shapes and diameters to be easily introduced. This process may be further facilitated if composite conductive filament 916 has elastomeric properties.
It would be appreciated that variations of the embodiments of
In still other embodiments, a series of temperature activated shape memory alloy components are mounted within catheter 904A. In such embodiments, the alloy components are electrically connected to a controller in handle 130 (
As noted above, a catheter in accordance with embodiments of the present invention has an inner diameter that is sufficient to receive one or more instruments. It would be appreciated that a variety of instruments may be introduced through a catheter of the present invention. For instance, an endoscopic camera or cameras, lighting instruments, tissue ablation instruments, drug delivery devices, scissors, forceps, biopsy devices, clamps, etc. may all be used in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. It should also be appreciated that any of these devices may integrated in, or disposed on, a knitted catheter as described above with reference to
As noted, a knitted catheter in accordance with embodiments of the present may be used in devices implanted for a short period of time to address acute conditions, as well in devices that are implanted for a relatively long period of time to address chronic conditions. Over a period of time, fibrous tissue may begin to integrate with the stitches of a knitted catheter. Although such integration may be beneficial, integration is not desirable in all circumstances.
In the embodiments of
In certain embodiments of the present invention, it is desirable to secure or anchor a knitted catheter to a patient. As noted above, in certain embodiments, a catheter may be anchored through the growth of fibrous tissue into the catheter stitches.
As shown in
In the embodiments of
As noted above, catheters in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention include electrodes that are electrically connected to one or more components positioned external to a patient. However, catheters are subject to bending and stretching during implantation, as well as during normal operation, that may damage or break the electrical connection between the electrodes and the external components. As such, embodiments of the present invention provide strain relief to protect the electrical connection. As used herein, a strain relief refers to a non-linear section of a wire or filament between the electrode and external components. Upon bending or stretching of the catheter, the non-linear section of wire will expand to a longer length, thus preventing tension on the filament that results in a damaged electrical connection. Further details of strain relief in a knitted structure are provided in commonly owned and co-pending U.S. Utility Patent Application entitled “Knitted Electrode Assembly For An Active Implantable Medical Device,” filed Aug. 28, 2009, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein. All embodiments of strain relief described in “Knitted Electrode Assembly For An Active Implantable Medical Device” may be implemented in embodiments of the present invention.
It would also be appreciated that a catheter may be further processed following the knitting process. In one such embodiment, the catheter may be molded or sintered following the knitting process. For example, the knitted structure may be laser sintered, and fiber crossing points within the structure may be formed into bending anisotropies. In other embodiments, catheter may be processed (via molding, sintering, etc.) to create inflexible portions, such as a stiffened tip, or to create, for example, anchoring barbs that may be used to secure the catheter to the patient.
It would be appreciated that in alternative embodiments the catheter is dipped into, or molded over by, a second material to form a desired shape or configuration. For example, one or more portions of the catheter may sealed with an added material to prevent the entry of body fluid into the structure. It would be appreciated that a number of different post-processing methods may be implemented to form the final structure.
In still further embodiments, following the knitting process a catheter may be fully or partially covered by an outer structure, such as a tube. In such embodiments, the knitted structure would be stretched to reduce the width thereof, and the outer covering is placed over the desired portion. The knitted structure is then allowed to return to its previous non-stretched shape. The outer covering may be conductive, non-conductive or have both conductive and non-conductive sections, depending on the desired configuration. For example, an outer covering may be placed on the knitted structure such that conductive sections of the covering are disposed over the electrodes, while non-conductive sections extend over the other portions of the assembly. An outer structure may be beneficial to inhibit tissue growth into the knitted structure, to improve implantation by providing a smooth outer surface, to increase the surface area of conductive regions used to deliver electrical stimulation, increase stiffness of the catheter, etc.
As noted above, a catheter in accordance with embodiments of the present invention may include electrodes for delivery of electrical stimulation signals to a patient. In certain embodiments, a catheter is knitted from a non-conductive filament and has two or more conductive filaments extending there through. Disposed on the surface of the knitted catheter are two electrodes formed by creating a ball or other shaped structure on the distal end of the conductive filaments. For example, in certain embodiments the conductive filaments comprise platinum wire that is inserted into the knitted structure such that distal structure mates with the non-conductive filament, and is held in the appropriate position. The distal structure may be formed by, for example, melting the distal end of the conductive filament with a localized heat source, by bunching the conductive filament into the desired shape, attaching a bulk material piece (e.g. platinum foil) having the desired shape to the conductive filament by weld, crimping or other method, etc. Such embodiments are illustrated in commonly owned and co-pending U.S. Utility Application entitled “Knitted Electrode Assembly For An Active Implantable Medical Device,” filed Aug. 28, 2009, the content of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein.
The present application is related to commonly owned and co-pending U.S. Utility Patent Applications entitled “Knitted Electrode Assembly For An Active Implantable Medical Device,” filed Aug. 28, 2009, “Knitted Electrode Assembly And Integrated Connector For An Active Implantable Medical Device,” filed Aug. 28, 2009, “Bonded Hermetic Feed Through For An Active Implantable Medical Device,” filed Aug. 28, 2009, “Stitched Components of An Active Implantable Medical Device,” filed Aug. 28, 2009, and “Electronics Package For An Active Implantable Medical Device,” filed Aug. 28, 2009. The contents of these applications are hereby incorporated by reference herein.
While various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not limitation. It will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents. All patents and publications discussed herein are incorporated in their entirety by reference thereto.
Claims
1. A medical device, comprising:
- an elongate tubular knitted catheter comprising at least one biocompatible, electrically non-conductive filament arranged in longitudinally adjacent substantially parallel rows each stitched to an adjacent row.
2. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the at least one non-conductive filament consists of a single non-conductive filament.
3. The medical device of claim 1, further comprising:
- at least one biocompatible, electrically conductive filament intertwined with a row of the at least one non-conductive filament.
4. The medical device of claim 3, wherein the at least one conductive filament comprises a plurality of conductive filaments each intertwined with one or more of the rows of the at least one non-conductive filament.
5. The medical device of claim 3, wherein a section of the at least one conductive filament is wound around a section of the at least one non-conductive filament, and wherein the knitted catheter consists of:
- a plurality of rows of the least non-conductive filament having the conductive filament wound there around arranged in substantially parallel rows each stitched to an adjacent row.
6. The medical device of claim 3, wherein the at least one conductive filament follows the same course as a section of the at least one non-conductive filament.
7. The medical device of claim 6, wherein the at least one conductive filament is positioned on the exterior surface of the catheter.
8. The medical device of claim 3, wherein the conductive filament is electrically connected to an electronics module, and wherein a section of the conductive filament between the intertwined portion of the filament and the electronics module provides strain relief.
9. The medical device of claim 8, wherein a section of the conductive filament between the intertwined portion and the electronics module is woven into a plurality of the rows.
10. The medical device of claim 1, further comprising:
- a steering element positioned in a distal end of the knitted catheter mechanically connected to one more externally positioned controls, wherein the controls are configured to actuate the steering element to alter the orientation of the distal end of the catheter.
11. The medical device of claim 10, wherein the steering element comprises:
- a spring having coils of a diameter approximately equal to the inner diameter of the knitted catheter, and wherein one or more coils are coupled to the one or more control knobs.
12. The medical device of claim 10, wherein the steering element comprises:
- a substantially planar element positioned in the knitted catheter having two or more points each configured to mate with rows of the catheter, and each mechanically coupled to at least one of the one or more control knobs.
13. The medical device of claim 12, wherein the substantially planar element is star-shaped.
14. The medical device of claim 10, wherein the steering element has an aperture extending there through.
15. The medical device of claim 1, further comprising:
- one or more temperature activated shape memory components positioned in the knitted catheter; and
- one or more heating elements positioned adjacent to the shape memory components, the one or more heating elements configured to alter the shape of the shape memory components.
16. The medical device of claim 1, further comprising:
- an agent delivery tube extending through the knitted catheter.
17. The medical device of claim 16, wherein the distal end of the agent delivery tube comprises one or more agent delivery ports.
18. The medical device of claim 1, further comprising:
- a biopsy device positioned in the catheter, the biopsy device extendable from the distal end of the catheter.
19. The medical device of claim 13, further comprising:
- a removable stylet extending at least partially through the knitted catheter.
20. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the knitted catheter is at least partially filled with a gel to prevent growth of fiburous tissue into the knitted catheter.
21. The medical device of claim 1, further comprising:
- at least one active component positioned in the knitted catheter.
22. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the at least one non-conductive filament comprises a drug-eluting polymer.
23. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the at least one non-conductive filament comprises a thermo-softening plastic material.
24. The medical device of claim 1, further comprising:
- a second elongate tubular knitted catheter formed from at least one biocompatible, electrically non-conductive filament arranged in longitudinally adjacent substantially parallel rows, each row stitched to an adjacent row, wherein the second tubular knitted catheter is positioned in the tubular catheter.
25. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the tubular catheter has an inner diameter that is sufficient to receive at least one instrument.
26. A method for manufacturing a knitted tubular catheter comprising:
- providing at least one biocompatible, electrically non-conductive filament; and
- knitting the at least one non-conductive filament into an elongate tube of longitudinally adjacent substantially parallel rows, each row stitched to an adjacent row
27. The method of claim 26, wherein the at least one non-conductive filament consists of a single non-conductive filament, and wherein the method comprises:
- knitting the single non-conductive filament into a plurality of parallel rows each stitched to an adjacent row.
28. The method claim 26, wherein knitting the at least one non-conductive filament further includes:
- intertwining at least one conductive filament with one or more of the rows.
29. The method of claim 28, further comprising:
- winding the at least one conductive filament around a section of the at least one non-conductive filament prior to knitting; and
- knitting the least non-conductive filament having the conductive filament wound there around into substantially parallel rows each stitched to an adjacent row.
30. The method of claim 28, further comprising:
- concurrently knitting the at least one conductive filament with a section of the at least one non-conductive filament such that the at least one conductive filament follows the same course as the section of at least one non-conductive filament.
31. The method of claim 28, wherein the conductive filament is configured to be electrically connected to an electronics module, and wherein the method further comprises:
- forming a section of the at least one conductive filament between the intertwined portion and the electronics module into a helical shape.
32. The method of claim 31, wherein the catheter is circular knitted, and wherein forming the section of the conductive filament into a helical shape comprises:
- forming the helical shape during the circular knitting process.
33. The method of claim 31, further comprising:
- weaving the section of the at least one conductive filament between the intertwined portion and the electronics module into a plurality of the rows.
34. The method of claim 26, further comprising:
- positioning a steering element in a distal region of the knitted catheter mechanically connected to one more externally positioned controls, wherein the controls are configured to actuate the steering element to alter the orientation of the distal end of the catheter.
35. The method of claim 34, wherein the steering element comprises:
- a spring having coils of a diameter approximately equal to the inner diameter of the knitted catheter, wherein one or more of the coils are coupled to the one or more control knobs.
36. The method of claim 34, wherein the steering element comprises:
- a substantially planar element positioned in the knitted catheter having two or more points each configured to mate with stitches of the catheter, and each mechanically coupled to the one or more control knobs.
37. The method of claim 26, further comprising:
- positioning one or more temperature activated shape memory components in the knitted catheter; and
- positioning one or more heating elements adjacent to the shape memory components, the one or more heating elements configured to alter the shape of the shape memory components.
38. The method of claim 26, further comprising:
- positioning an agent delivery tube in the knitted catheter.
39. The method of claim 26, further comprising:
- positioning a biopsy device in the knitted catheter, wherein the biopsy device is extendable from the distal end of the catheter.
40. The method of claim 26, further comprising:
- positioning a removable stylet at least partially in the knitted catheter.
41. The method of claim 26, further comprising:
- filling at least the stitches of the knitted structure with a gel to prevent growth of fiburous tissue into the knitted catheter.
42. The method of claim 26, further comprising:
- positioning at least one active component in the knitted catheter.
43. The method of claim 26, wherein providing the one or more non-conductive filaments comprises:
- providing at least one non-conductive filament comprising a drug-eluting polymer.
44. The method of claim 26, wherein providing the one or more electrically non-conductive filaments comprises:
- providing at least one non-conductive filament comprising a thermosoftening plastic material.
45. The method of claim 26, wherein the tube has an inner diameter that is sufficient to receive at least one instrument.
46. An implantable medical device, comprising:
- a non-conductive tubular carrier member; and
- a knitted conductive tube mounted on the carrier member comprising at least one biocompatible, electrically conductive filament arranged in longitudinally adjacent parallel rows, each row stitched to an adjacent row.
47. The medical device of claim 46, further comprising:
- a plurality of knitted conductive tubes each formed from separate conductive filaments and each mounted on the carrier member.
48. The medical device of claim 46, wherein the at least one conductive filament consists of a single conductive filament.
49. The medical device of claim 46, wherein the at least one conductive filament is electrically connected to an electronics module, and wherein a section of the conductive filament between the knitted tubular member and the electronics module has a helical shape.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 28, 2009
Publication Date: Mar 18, 2010
Applicant: National ICT Australia Limited (Alexandria)
Inventors: John L. Parker (Roseville), David Robinson (Bronte)
Application Number: 12/549,801
International Classification: A61M 25/092 (20060101); A61M 25/01 (20060101); A61B 10/02 (20060101); D04B 39/00 (20060101);