Patent Abstract:
A vascular access device includes an interior chamber for receiving a fluid and a filter within the interior chamber for filtering a pathogen within the fluid. A method of filtering a pathogen in a vascular access device includes providing a vascular access device having an interior chamber for receiving a fluid, providing a filter within the interior chamber of the vascular access device to move the fluid through the filter, and filtering a pathogen as the fluid moves through the filter.

Full Description:
[0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/820,703, filed Jul. 28, 2006, entitled VASCULAR ACCESS DEVICE FILTRATION, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to infusion therapy with antimicrobial vascular access devices. Infusion therapy is one of the most common health care procedures. Hospitalized, home care, and other patients receive fluids, pharmaceuticals and blood products via a vascular access device inserted into the vascular system. Infusion therapy may be used to treat an infection, provide anesthesia or analgesia, provide nutritional support, treat cancerous growths, maintain blood pressure and heart rhythm, or many other clinically significant uses. 
         [0003]    Infusion therapy is facilitated by a vascular access device. The vascular access device may access a patient&#39;s peripheral or central vasculature. The vascular access device may be indwelling for short term (days), moderate term (weeks), or long term (months to years). The vascular access device may be used for continuous infusion therapy or for intermittent therapy. 
         [0004]    A common vascular access device is a plastic catheter that is inserted into a patient&#39;s vein. The catheter length may vary from a few centimeters for peripheral access to many centimeters for central access. The catheter may be inserted transcutaneously or may be surgically implanted beneath the patient&#39;s skin. The catheter, or any other vascular access device attached thereto, may have a single lumen or multiple lumens for infusion of many fluids simultaneously. 
         [0005]    The proximal end of the vascular access device commonly includes a Luer adapter to which other medical devices may be attached. For example, an administration set may be attached to a vascular access device at one end and an intravenous (TV) bag at the other. The administration set is a fluid conduit for the continuous infusion of fluids and pharmaceuticals. Commonly, an IV access device is a vascular access device that may be attached to another vascular access device, closes or seals the vascular access device, and allows for intermittent infusion or injection of fluids and pharmaceuticals. An IV access device may include a housing and a septum for closing the system. The septum may be opened with a blunt cannula or a male Luer of a medical device. 
         [0006]    Complications associated with infusion therapy may cause significant morbidity and even mortality. One significant complication is catheter related blood stream infection (CRBSI). An estimate of 250,000-400,000 cases of central venous catheter (CVC) associated BSIs occur annually in US hospitals. Attributable mortality is an estimated 12%-25% for each infection and a cost to the health care system of $25,000-$56,000 per episode. 
         [0007]    Vascular access device infection resulting in CRBSIs may be caused by failure to regularly clean the device, a non-sterile insertion technique, or by pathogens entering the fluid flow path through either end of the path subsequent to catheter insertion. Studies have shown the risk of CRBSI increases with catheter indwelling periods. When a vascular access device is contaminated, pathogens adhere to the vascular access device, colonize, and form a biofilm. The biofilm is resistant to most biocidal agents and provides a replenishing source for pathogens to enter a patient&#39;s bloodstream and cause a BSI. Thus, what are needed are systems, devices, and methods to reduce the risk and occurrence of CRBSIs. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The present invention has been developed in response to problems and needs in the art that have not yet been fully resolved by currently available vascular access systems, devices, and methods. Thus, these systems, devices, and methods are developed to reduce the risk and occurrence of CRBSIs. 
         [0009]    A medical device may be a vascular access device that includes an interior chamber for receiving a fluid and a filter within the interior chamber for filtering a pathogen within the fluid. The medical device may also include an antimicrobial agent within the interior chamber. The filter may be impervious to the antimicrobial agent and border the antimicrobial agent on at least a first side. The filter may include an electrical multilayer screen, a biocide barb, and/or multiple layers of biocide barbs. The filter may prevent the passage of any agent the size of a pathogen. The filter may be a silver-coated wire mesh. 
         [0010]    A method of filtering a pathogen in a vascular access device includes providing an interior chamber in the vascular access device for receiving a fluid, providing a filter within the interior chamber of the vascular access device, moving the fluid through the filter, and filtering a pathogen as the fluid moves through the filter. The method may also include providing an antimicrobial agent within the interior chamber and bordering the antimicrobial agent with the filter on at least a first side of the filter to make it impervious to the antimicrobial agent. 
         [0011]    The method of filtering may include electrocuting the pathogen as it moves through the filter, cutting the pathogen as it moves through the filter, and/or preventing the passage through the filter of any agent the size of the pathogen. The filter may include multiple layers of biocidal barbs. The filter may include a silver-coated wire mesh. 
         [0012]    A medical device may include means for accessing the vascular system of a patient and means for filtering a pathogen. The means for filtering the pathogen is located within the means for accessing the vascular system of the patient. The means for filtering a pathogen may include a means for killing a pathogen bordered by a means for retaining the means for killing within the means for accessing. The means for filtering may include means for electrocuting the pathogen, means for cutting the pathogen, means for preventing the passage of any agent the size of the pathogen, and/or a biocidal coating. 
         [0013]    These and other features and advantages of the present invention may be incorporated into certain embodiments of the invention and will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter. The present invention does not require that all the advantageous features and all the advantages described herein be incorporated into every embodiment of the invention. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    In order that the manner in which the above-recited and other features and advantages of the invention are obtained will be readily understood, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. These drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to limit the scope of the invention, 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an extravascular system connected to the vascular system of a patient. 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a cross section view of a vascular access device having an antimicrobial agent bounded or bordered by two filters. 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a cross section view of a vascular access device having an antimicrobial agent bounded by a filter. 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a cross section view of an electrical multi-layered screen. 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a cross section view of a septum with biocidal barbs. 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is a close-up partial cross section view of a portion of the septum of  FIG. 5 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 7A  is a partial cross section view of the tip of a separate access device, a close-up view of a biocidal layer, a further close-up view of the barbs of the layer, and a further close-up view of a barb and a pathogen. 
           [0022]      FIG. 7B  is a cross section view of taken along line  7 A- 7 A of  FIG. 7A . 
           [0023]      FIG. 7C  is a close up view illustrating biocide barbs located on a biocide grid. 
           [0024]      FIG. 7D  is a further close up view of an individual biocide barb. 
           [0025]      FIG. 8  is a side view of a vascular access device and a filter. 
           [0026]      FIG. 9  is a transparent side view of a vascular access device and a silver-coated wire mesh. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0027]    The presently preferred embodiments of the present invention will be best understood by reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements. It will be readily understood that the components of the present invention, as generally described and illustrated in the figures herein, could be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Thus, the following more detailed description, as represented in the figures, is not intended to limit the scope of the invention as claimed, but is merely representative of presently preferred embodiments of the invention. 
         [0028]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a vascular access device (also referred to as an extravascular device, intravenous access device, access port, and/or any device attached to or functioning with an extravascular system)  10  is used to introduce a substance via a catheter  12  across the skin  14  and into a blood vessel  16  of a patient  18 . The vascular access device  10  includes a body  20  with a lumen and a septum  22  placed within the lumen. The septum  22  has a slit  24  through which a separate extravascular device  26 , such as a syringe, may introduce a substance into the vascular access device  10 . 
         [0029]    The device  10  also includes a filter (discussed with reference to the figures below) capable of filtering a pathogen within the vascular access device  10 , including the catheter  12  and the end  32  of the catheter  12 , and/or the extravascular system  28  to which the vascular access device  10  is connected. The filter filters the pathogen to decrease the incidence of blood stream infections in patients to whom the vascular access device  10  or any other device on an extravascular system  28  is attached. 
         [0030]    A pathogen may enter the device  10  or system  28  in any of a number of ways. For example, a pathogen may reside within the device  10  or system  28  prior to first use. A pathogen may also be introduced into the device  10  from the external surface of the device, the external surface of a separate device  26 , and/or the surrounding environment when a structure such as a tip  30  of the separate device  26  is inserted into the device  10  through the slit  24  of the septum  22 . A pathogen may be introduced within fluid that is infused into the system from a separate device  26 . Finally, a pathogen may be introduced from a blood vessel  16  into the system  28  by entering through the end  32  of the catheter  12  during a blood draw or a period of blood reflux when the device  10  is in use. Filters may thus be placed along any portion of the fluid path along the interior of the system  28  in order to control pathogenic flow along the fluid path, as desired. 
         [0031]    As described throughout this specification, the filter controls pathogenic flow by exerting any combination of the following actions upon a pathogen: trapping, securing, electrocuting, electrifying, killing, attracting to a location, repelling from a location, degrading, frustrating, shearing, cutting, fragmenting, preventing growth or proliferation, radiating, and/or any other similar process or action. Further, pathogens include any agent that causes a disease or otherwise harms or has the potential to harm a patient if received into the vascular system of that patient, including a pathogen, bacterium, parasite, microbe, biofilm, fungus, virus, protein feeding a pathogen, protozoan, and/or other harmful microorganisms and/or agents and products thereof. 
         [0032]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a vascular access device  10  includes an interior chamber  34 . A high concentration antimicrobial agent  36  is bounded by two filters  38  within the interior chamber  34 . The filters  38  are impervious to the antimicrobial agent  36  such that the antimicrobial agent cannot escape the boundaries of the filters  38 . However, the filters  38  permit fluid and pathogens to travel through them across the first filter  38  into the antimicrobial agent  36  and ultimately across the second filter  38  while traveling in a direction  40 . When a pathogen enters into the bounded chamber where the antimicrobial agent  36  is present, the antimicrobial agent  36  kills or otherwise harms the pathogen. The pathogen may then either continue to reside within the bounded chamber or may pass through the second filter  38  and ultimately into a patient in a harmless state. 
         [0033]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a vascular access device  10  may include an antimicrobial agent  42  in high concentration within its interior chamber  44 . The antimicrobial agent  42  is bounded on an upper end by the floor  46  of the septum  22  of the device  10 . The antimicrobial agent  42  is bounded on its lower end by a filter  48  that is impervious to the antimicrobial agent  42 , but permits passage of other fluids and pathogens across its membrane. Similar to the embodiment described with reference to  FIG. 2 , the present embodiment permits a fluid containing a pathogen to travel into the environment of the antimicrobial agent  42  where the pathogen is killed or otherwise harmed. 
         [0034]    A number of embodiments that are alternative to those described with reference to  FIGS. 2 and 3  are included within the scope of the present invention. For example, the filters  38  and  48  can be formed of any filtration material capable of performing the required function of the filters  38  and  48 . For example, the filter material may be a metal or a plastic screen, a porous material or non-woven material, or a filter paper such as a synthetic filter paper. Various filter materials may be used to adjust the flow rate of a fluid across the filter. The concentration of the antimicrobial agents  36  and  42  may be up to 100 percent. Such antimicrobial agents can be blended into a polymeric material that is hydrophilic or hydrophobic and includes good diffusivity. The antimicrobial agents may also be encapsulated inside of an organic, inorganic, or polymeric shell, which has a controllable diffusion rate for the agent. Such diffusion may occur at various rates depending on the rate of infusion of a fluid into the device  10  and/or the type of fluid infused into the device  10 . 
         [0035]    The antimicrobial agents may also be coated onto the surface of a number of micro-porous particles or beads. The antimicrobial agents may also be placed on or coated onto a filter that is bounded by the filters  38  and  48  or any filter-like material including a film, fiber, a metal or plastic screen, a porous or non-woven material, and/or a paper, including a synthetic paper. The antimicrobial materials may also be impregnated or salivated into any of the above materials. 
         [0036]    The antimicrobial agents  36  and  42  and other antimicrobial agents discussed throughout this specification, may include any of the following antimicrobial agents alone or in combination, as shown in Table 1 below. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
               
                   
               
               
                   
                 Antimicrobial Mechanism of 
                   
               
               
                 Technology/Company 
                 Action 
                 Active Ingredient 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 Alexidine 
                 Bisbiguanide/Antiseptic 
                 Alexidine 
               
               
                 AMERICAL 
                 Halogen/Antiseptic 
                 Iodine 
               
               
                 (Merodine) 
               
               
                 Angiotech 
                 Antimicrobial/ 
                 5-Flurouracil 
               
               
                 Pharmaceuticals 
                 Antineoplastic 
               
               
                 Apacidar (SGA) 
                 Metals &amp; Salts 
                 Silver 
               
               
                 Arglaes (Giltech) 
                 Metals &amp; Salts 
                 Silver 
               
               
                 Arrow Howes CHG 
                 Bisbiguanide/Antiseptic + antibiotic 
                 Chlorhexidine and Silver 
               
               
                 and AgSD 
                   
                 Sulfadiazine 
               
               
                 Bactifree 
                 Metal &amp; Salts 
                 Silver 
               
               
                 Bacterin 
                 Metal 
                 Silver Hydrogel 
               
               
                 BASF PVP-I Dusted 
                 Halogen/Antiseptic 
                 Iodine 
               
               
                 Gloves BD 
               
               
                 Baxter American 
                 Antiseptic and 
                 Benzalkonium Chloride 
               
               
                 Edwards 
                 Anticoagulant 
                 complexed Heparin 
               
               
                 Benzalkonium 
                 Quaternary 
                 Benzalkonium Chloride 
               
               
                 Chloride 
                 Ammonium/Antiseptic 
               
               
                 Benzethonium 
                 Quaternary 
                 Benzethonium Chloride 
               
               
                 Chloride 
                 Ammonium/Antiseptic 
               
               
                 Bioshield (CATO 
                 Halogen/Antiseptic 
                 Iodine 
               
               
                 Research) 
               
               
                 BisBAL 
                 Metal, mercury 
                 Bismuth and 2,3 
               
               
                   
                   
                 dimercaptopropanol 
               
               
                   
                   
                 a.k.a.dimercaprol, or British 
               
               
                   
                   
                 anti-lewisite 
               
               
                 CATO Research 
                 Halogen/Antiseptic 
                 Iodine 
               
               
                 (Bioshield) 
               
               
                 Chlorhexidine (and its 
                 Bisbiguanide/Antiseptic 
                 Chlorhexidine 
               
               
                 salts) 
               
               
                 Ciprofloxacin 
                 Antibiotic 
                 Ciprofloxacin 
               
               
                 TDMAC Complex 
               
               
                 BD 
               
               
                 Cooke 
                 TDMAC bound Antibiotic 
                 Any antibiotic 
               
               
                 Cosmocil 
                 Bisbiguanide/Antiseptic 
                 Cosmocil 
               
               
                 Cyclodextrin 
                 Nonstick surface 
                 Cyclodextrin 
               
               
                 Daltex 
                 Bisbiguanide/Antiseptic 
                 Chlorhexidine and Silver 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Sulfadiazine 
               
               
                 Dicloxacillin 
                 Antibiotic 
                 Dicloxacillin 
               
               
                 TDMAC Complex 
               
               
                 BD 
               
               
                 EDTA, EGTA 
                 Calcium Chelator 
                 EDTA, EGTA 
               
               
                 Epiguard (Iodine) 
                 Halogen/Antiseptic 
                 Iodine 
               
               
                 Epitope (Iodine) 
                 Halogen/Antiseptic 
                 Iodine 
               
               
                 ExOxEmis 
                 Oxidative enzymes 
                 Myeloperoxidase and 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Eosinophil Peroxidase 
               
               
                 Fusidic Acid 
                 Antibiotic 
                 Fusidic Acid 
               
               
                 TDMAC Complex 
               
               
                 BD 
               
               
                 Gamma A 
                 Specific Antibodies 
                 Specific Antibodies 
               
               
                 Technologies 
               
               
                 Giltech 
                 Metal &amp; Salts 
                 Silver 
               
               
                 Glyzine 
                 Metals &amp; Salts 
                 Zinc 
               
               
                 Gold 
                 Metal &amp; Salts 
                 Gold 
               
               
                 Healthshield 
                 Metal &amp; Salts 
               
               
                 Heparin- 
                 Antimicrobial/ 
               
               
                 Benzalkonium 
                 Antithrombogenic 
               
               
                 Chloride 
               
               
                 Hexyl Bromide 
                 Metals &amp; Salts 
                 Hexyl Bromide 
               
               
                 Implemed (Ag/Pt) 
                 Metal &amp; Salts 
                 Silver/Platinum 
               
               
                 Intelligent Biocides 
                 Metals &amp; Salts 
                 Silver 
               
               
                 Iodine 
                 Halogen/Antiseptic 
                 Iodine 
               
               
                 Iodine Tincture 
                 Halogen/Antiseptic 
                 Iodine 
               
               
                 Irgasan 
                 Phenolic/Antiseptic 
                 Triclosan 
               
               
                 Johnson-Matthey 
                 Metal 
                 Silver 
               
               
                 Kinetic Concepts 
                 Metals &amp; Salts 
                 Silver 
               
               
                 Luther Medical 
                 Antibiotic 
                 Polymyxin B 
               
               
                 Lysozyme 
                 Enzymatic Antibiotic 
               
               
                 Mediflex 
                 Bisbiguanide/Antiseptic 
                 Chlorhexidine/Isopropanol 
               
               
                 Chlorhexidine 
               
               
                 Gluconate Tincture 
               
               
                 Merodine 
                 Halogen/Antiseptic 
                 Iodine 
               
               
                 Microban 
                 Antiseptic Polymer 
                 Triclosan 
               
               
                 Microbia 
                 Antibiotic 
                 “Natural” polypeptides 
               
               
                 MicroFre 
                 Metal &amp; Salts 
               
               
                 Minocycline 
                 Antibiotic 
                 Minocycline Rifampin 
               
               
                 Rifampin 
               
               
                 Minocycline-EDTA 
                 Antibiotic 
                 Minocycline EDTA 
               
               
                 Morton Bloom 
                 Cidal Lipids 
                 Free fatty acids 
               
               
                 Novacal 
                 Neutrophil Cidal Factors 
                 Oxidative Enzymes 
               
               
                 Octenidine 
                 Bisbiguanide/Antiseptic 
                 Octenidine 
               
               
                 Oligon (Implemed 
                 Metal &amp; Salts 
                 Silver/Platinum 
               
               
                 Ag/Pt) 
               
               
                 Olin Chemicals 
                 Metal &amp; Salts 
                 Zinc 
               
               
                 Omacide 
                 Metal &amp; Salts 
                 Zinc 
               
               
                 Omni Medical 
                 Heterologous Antibodies 
                 Antibodies 
               
               
                 Orthophenyl phenol 
                 Phenolic/Antiseptic 
                 Orthophenyl phenol 
               
               
                 (Lysol) 
               
               
                 Phosphorus 
                 Antimicrobial Polymer 
                 Phosphorus 
               
               
                 Polymyxin B (Luther) 
                 Antibiotic 
               
               
                 PVP-I (Iodine) 
                 Halogen/Antiseptic 
                 Iodine 
               
               
                 Quorem Sciences 
                 Cell-signalling 
                 Peptides 
               
               
                 Rifampin 
                 Antibiotic 
                 Rifampin 
               
               
                 Sangi Group America 
                 Metal &amp; Salts 
                 Silver 
               
               
                 SGA 
                 Metal &amp; Salts 
                 Silver 
               
               
                 Silver Chloride 
                 Metal &amp; Salts 
                 Silver 
               
               
                 Silver Nitrate 
                 Metal &amp; Salts 
                 Silver 
               
               
                 Silver Oxide 
                 Metal &amp; Salts 
                 Silver 
               
               
                 Silver Palladium 
                 Metal &amp; Salts 
                 Silver 
               
               
                 Spi-Argent 
                 Metal &amp; Salts 
                 Silver 
               
               
                 Spire 
                 Metal &amp; Salts 
                 Silver 
               
               
                 Surfacine 
                 Metal &amp; Salts 
                 Silver 
               
               
                 TCC (Triclocarban) 
                 Phenolic/Antiseptic 
                 Triclocarban 
               
               
                 TCS (Triclosan) 
                 Phenolic/Antiseptic 
                 Triclosan 
               
               
                 TDMAC 
                 Antibiotics 
                 Cephazolin, Cipro., 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Clindamycin, Dicloxacillin, 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Fusidic Acid, Oxacillin, 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Rifampin 
               
               
                 Triclocarban 
                 Phenolic/Antiseptic 
                 Triclocarban 
               
               
                 Triclosan 
                 Phenolic/Antiseptic 
                 Triclosan 
               
               
                 Vancomycin 
                 Antibiotic 
                 Vancomycin 
               
               
                 Vancomycin-Heparin 
                 Antibiotic 
                 Vancomycin-Heparin 
               
               
                 Vibax 
                 Phenolic/Antiseptic 
                 Triclosan 
               
               
                 Vitaphore CHG 
                 Bisbiguanide/Antiseptic 
                 Chlorhexidine 
               
               
                 coating 
               
               
                 Vitaphore Silver Cuff 
                 Metal &amp; Salts 
                 Silver 
               
               
                 Zinc 
                 Metal &amp; Salts 
                 Zinc 
               
               
                 Zinc Omadine 
                 Metal &amp; Salts 
                 Zinc 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0037]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a vascular access device  10  includes a filter that is an electrical multi-layer screen  50  traversing a fluid path  52  within an interior chamber  54  inside the body  20  of the device  10 . The electrical screen  50  includes multiple layers that are either positively or negatively charged by means of power supplied by a battery  56  connected in series with the screen  50 . When a pathogen  58  such as a bacteria travels along the fluid path  52  and attempts to penetrate the screen  50 , the size of the pathogen will cause it to come into contact or close proximity with layers of opposite charge in the screen  50 . When the pathogen  58  is thus situated, it will complete a circuit between the two layers causing electricity to transfer from one layer across the pathogen into the other layer, electrocuting or otherwise electrifying the pathogen  58 . When the pathogen  58  is electrocuted or electrified, the pathogen  58  is either killed or harmed to the point that it is rendered harmless to the vascular system of a patient. 
         [0038]    The electrical screen  50  may be continuously powered by the battery  56  or other power source, and may be turned off by a device  10  operator during drug delivery along the fluid path  52  or during a blood draw along the same fluid path  52 . When the screen  50  is not turned off, it delivers a continuous, small charge across the various layers of the screen  50  needed to kill or harm organisms as they attempt to penetrate the screen  50 . The electrical multi-layered screen  50  may traverse a fluid path  52  or may reside in, on, around, or near any interior chamber  54  of the device  10 . 
         [0039]    Referring now to  FIG. 5 , a vascular access device  10  includes a septum  22  with biocide barbs residing within a slit  24  of the septum  22 . 
         [0040]    Referring now to  FIG. 6 , a close up view of the slit  24  of  FIG. 5  is shown with the slit  24  shown in open position. The slit  24  includes biocide barbs  60  in a substantially enlarged view. The biocide barbs  60  will be small enough to be able to penetrate the cell of a pathogen and may include carbon nano-tubes. A sharp edge of each of the biocide barbs is sufficiently sharp and small to cut, pierce, shear, or otherwise fragment a surface, cell, or capsule of a pathogen as the pathogen travels at the normal speed of a fluid flow and comes into contact with a barb  60 . When a cell wall of the pathogen is cut by a barb  60 , the cell will become disarmed and/or ultimately die. 
         [0041]    Referring now to  FIG. 7A , a vascular access device  10  such as a separate access device  26  may include multiple layers of biocide barbs  62  along its fluid path  64 . The layers  62  may be in the form of grids, sheets, materials, and/or other organized or asymmetrical groupings of biocide barbs similar to the biocide barbs  60  described with reference to  FIG. 6 . As fluid travels along the length of the tip  30  of the separate access device  26 , any pathogen traveling along the fluid path  64  will be cut and will subsequently die as a result of its contact with a barb within one of the biocide layers  62 . 
         [0042]    Also shown in  FIG. 7B  is a close-up cross section view taken along lines A-A of the tip  30  revealing a biocide grid as one of the multiple layers  62 . In  FIG. 7C  a further close-up view reveals the individual biocide barbs  60  located between the separate portions  66  of the biocide grid  62 . In  FIG. 7D  an even further close-up view of an individual biocide barb  60  reveals the proportionate size of the barb in relation to a pathogen  68 . The barb is shown penetrating or otherwise tearing the cell wall of the pathogen  68  in a manner which causes the internal contents of the pathogen  68  to exit its cell wall, initiating cell death of the pathogen  68 . 
         [0043]    The embodiments described with reference to  FIGS. 5 through 7D  will preferably be employed in a vascular access device that is used for fluid, but not blood, infusion into the vascular system of a patient. The barbs  60  of these embodiments should not be employed in combination with a blood draw or blood transfusion, as the barbs  60  may cause damage to the healthy blood cells within the fluid that is being transmitted. 
         [0044]    Referring now to  FIG. 8 , a vascular access device  10  includes a filter  70 . The filter  70  is small enough to screen out any agent the size of a pathogen or other microbe. Such agents may be as small as, and larger than, any pathogen. The filter  70  may be included along any portion of the fluid path of the device  10  or any device that is connected in series with the device  10  along an extravascular system  28  (see  FIG. 1 ). 
         [0045]    Referring now to  FIG. 9 , a vascular access device  10  includes a silver coated wire mesh as a filter  72 . Since silver is a natural biocide for pathogens, as the pathogens pass through the silver coated wire mesh  72 , they will be harmed or killed prior to infusion into the vascular system of a patient. Any other material that is coated with any of the agents mentioned in Table 1 or any other biocidal agent with similar properties may be included in any filter or similar mesh as the wire mesh  72  shown in  FIG. 9 . 
         [0046]    The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its structures, methods, or other essential characteristics as broadly described herein and claimed hereinafter. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative, and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims, rather than by the foregoing description. All changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0