Patent ID: 7393501

Claim:
A method for inhibiting biofilm formation associated with an indwelling catheter, the catheter comprising a stabilizing balloon, an inflation channel, and a vibrating piezo element coupled to a surface of the catheter, the method comprising: causing the piezo element to vibrate in a combination of vibrational modes, to cause a combination of acoustic wave modes, the combination of acoustic wave modes causing: surface acoustic waves to be generated on the external and internal surfaces of the catheter, wherein the wave type of the surface acoustic waves is selected from the group consisting of Rayleigh and Lamb waves; an acoustic wave to be generated in a liquid filling the inflation channel; and resonance in the stabilizing balloon, the resonance within the stabilizing balloon generating vibrations in liquid exiting the catheter and surface acoustic waves on the catheter; wherein the surface acoustic waves inhibit biofilm formation on surfaces of said catheter.