Method for applying antimicrobial to proximal end of catheter

1. A method of delivering an antimicrobial composition to the proximal end of a transdermal catheter, the method comprising:

a) providing a transdermal catheter implanted within a patient, the transdermal catheter having a proximal end located outside of the patient and a distal end located at least partially within a blood vessel of the patient, the catheter comprising:

i) a hub located at the proximal end of the catheter,

ii) exterior threads on the proximal end of the hub, and

iii) an interior channel in the hub leading from an opening at the proximal end of the catheter to a lumen in the catheter, wherein at least a portion of the interior channel has a tapered interior surface;

b) providing an antimicrobial composition delivery device for insertion into the proximal opening of the catheter, the antimicrobial composition delivery device comprising:

i) a retaining ring comprising threads configured to engage the exterior threads on the catheter hub;

ii) a soluble non-liquid antimicrobial composition located on the threads of the retaining ring; and

iii) a tapered member configured for insertion into the catheter hub, the tapered member configured to substantially seal the proximal end of the catheter;

c) injecting a liquid lock solution into the transdermal catheter such that at least the proximal end of the transdermal catheter is substantially filled with the lock solution;

d) applying a clamp across the proximal end of the catheter, the clamp substantially preventing the flow of fluids across the clamped portion of the catheter; and

after applying the clamp, insertion of the tapered member of the antimicrobial delivery device into the hub located at the proximal end of the catheter so as to displace liquid lock solution from the interior of the catheter hub to the exterior of the catheter hub such that at least a portion of the antimicrobial composition on the threads of the retaining ring is transferred to the threads of the hub.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising evaporation of at least a portion of the displaced liquid lock solution so as to form a deposit of non-dissolved antimicrobial composition on the threads of the retaining ring.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising exposing the retaining ring to moisture sufficient to redissolve at least a portion of the antimicrobial composition located on the threads of the retainer ring.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising evaporation of at least a portion of the displaced liquid lock solution so as to form a deposit of non-dissolved antimicrobial composition on the threads of the hub.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising exposing the hub to moisture sufficient to redissolve at least a portion of the antimicrobial composition located on the threads of the hub.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the antimicrobial composition comprises a chlorhexidine composition.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising a resilient seal located on the retainer ring, the resilient seal configured to provide a seal between the retaining ring and the hub after insertion of the antimicrobial composition delivery device into the proximal opening of the catheter.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising an elongate member located on the antimicrobial deliver device, the elongate member configured for insertion into the hub of the transdermal catheter along with the tapered member.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein upon insertion of the elongate member into the hub, the elongate member displaces a portion of the liquid lock solution from the interior of the hub to the exterior of the hub.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the elongate member has a volume of at least 25 percent of the volume of the tapered member.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the elongate member has a length of at least 100 percent of the length of the tapered member.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the step of injecting a liquid lock solution into the transdermal catheter such that at least the proximal end of the transdermal catheter is substantially filled with the lock solution comprises:

i) using a syringe to inject the liquid lock solution, the syringe partially inserted into the catheter hub;

ii) upon removing the syringe from the hub, the syringe tip leaves a unfilled void at the proximal end of the hub, and

iii) wherein the tapered member and elongate member have a volume greater than the volume of the unfilled void.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the volume of the tapered member is greater or equal than the void volume.

14. The method of claim 8 , further comprising an antimicrobial composition positioned on the elongate member.

15. The method of claim 8 , wherein upon insertion of the elongate member and tapered member of the antimicrobial delivery device into the hub:

the interior of the hub defines a first volume of lock solution, a second volume of lock solution, and a third volume of lock solution;

the first and third volumes of lock solution being separated by the second volume of lock solution; and

the second volume of lock solution having a constriction such that the second volume has a smaller cross sectional area than the average cross sectional area of the first volume of lock solution or third volume of lock solution.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the second volume is less than the first volume, and the first volume is less than the third volume.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein upon insertion of the elongate member and tapered member into the hub, antimicrobial concentration in the first volume is initially higher than antimicrobial concentration in the third volume.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the antimicrobial concentration in the first volume after 48 hours is at least ten times higher than the antimicrobial concentration in the third volume.

19. The method of claim 8 , wherein upon insertion of the elongate member and tapered member of the antimicrobial delivery device into the hub:

the interior of the catheter defines a first volume of lock solution, a second volume of lock solution, and a third volume of lock solution,

the first volume of lock solution having an average diameter greater than the average diameter of the second volume,

the second volume of lock solution having an average cross sectional area less than the average cross sectional area of first volume and third volume, and

the third volume of lock solution having a cross sectional area substantially equal to the average lumen cross sectional area of the catheter proximal to the clamp.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the first volume of lock solution comprises lock solution located in the portion of the interior channel of the hub between the end of the tapered member and the end of the tapered interior surface of the interior channel; wherein the second volume of lock solution located between the end of the tapered interior surface of the interior channel and the end of the elongate member; and wherein the third volume of lock solution comprises lock solution located within the catheter between the end of the elongate member and the clamp.

21. The method of claim 8 , wherein the antimicrobial composition forms a precipitate that possesses antimicrobial properties.

22. The method of claim 1 , wherein the transdermal catheter is a hemodialysis catheter having two hubs, and wherein two antimicrobial devices are installed on the two hubs.

23. A method of delivering an antimicrobial composition into the proximal end of a transdermal catheter, the method comprising:

a) providing a transdermal catheter implanted within a patient, the transdermal catheter having a proximal end located outside of the patient and a distal end located at least partially within a blood vessel of the patient, the catheter comprising:

i) a hub located at the proximal end of the catheter,

ii) exterior threads on the proximal end of the hub, and

iii) an interior channel in the hub leading from an opening at the proximal end of the catheter to a lumen in the catheter, wherein at least a portion of the interior channel has a tapered interior surface;

b) providing an antimicrobial composition delivery device for insertion into the proximal opening of the catheter, the antimicrobial composition delivery device comprising:

i) a retaining ring comprising threads configured to engage the exterior threads on the catheter hub;

ii) a soluble non-liquid antimicrobial composition located on the threads of the retaining ring;

iii) a tapered member configured for insertion into the catheter hub, the tapered member configured to substantially seal the proximal end of the catheter; and

iv) an elongate member located on the antimicrobial deliver device, the elongate member configured for insertion into the hub of the transdermal catheter along with the tapered member;

c) injecting a liquid lock solution into the transdermal catheter such that at least the proximal end of the transdermal catheter is substantially filled with the lock solution;

d) clamping the transdermal catheter; and

e) insertion of the tapered member and elongate member of the antimicrobial delivery device into the hub located at the proximal end of the clamped catheter so as to displace the liquid lock solution from the interior of the catheter hub to the exterior of the catheter hub such that at least a portion of the antimicrobial composition on the threads of the retaining ring is transferred to the threads of the hub;

wherein upon insertion of the elongate member into the hub, the elongate member displaces a portion of the liquid lock solution from the interior of the hub to the exterior of the hub.

24. The method of claim 23 , further comprising evaporation of at least a portion of the displaced liquid lock solution so as to form a deposit of non-dissolved antimicrobial composition on the threads of the hub.

25. The method of claim 24 , further comprising exposing the hub to moisture sufficient to redissolve at least a portion of the antimicrobial composition located on the threads of the hub.

26. The method of claim 25 , wherein the antimicrobial composition forms a precipitate that possesses antimicrobial properties.

27. The method of claim 23 , wherein the antimicrobial composition comprises a chlorhexidine composition.

28. The method of claim 23 , wherein the step of injecting a liquid lock solution into the transdermal catheter such that at least the proximal end of the transdermal catheter is substantially filled with the lock solution comprises:

i) using a syringe to inject the liquid lock solution, the syringe partially inserted into the catheter hub;

ii) upon removing the syringe from the hub, the syringe tip leaves a unfilled void at the proximal end of the hub, and

iii) wherein the tapered member and elongate member have a volume greater than the volume of the unfilled void.

29. A method of delivering an antimicrobial composition into the proximal end of a transdermal catheter, the method comprising:

a) providing a transdermal hemodialysis catheter implanted within a patient, the transdermal hemodialysis catheter having a proximal end located outside of the patient and a distal end located at least partially within a blood vessel of the patient, the catheter comprising:

i) a hub located at the proximal end of the catheter,

ii) exterior threads on the proximal end of the hub, and

iii) an interior channel in the hub leading from an opening at the proximal end of the catheter to a lumen in the catheter, wherein at least a portion of the interior channel has a tapered interior surface;

b) providing an antimicrobial composition delivery device for insertion into the proximal opening of the catheter, the antimicrobial composition delivery device comprising:

i) a retaining ring comprising threads configured to engage the exterior threads on the catheter hub;

ii) a soluble chlorhexidine composition located on the threads of the retaining ring; and

iii) a tapered member configured for insertion into the catheter hub, the tapered member configured to substantially seal the proximal end of the catheter; and

iv) an elongate member located on the antimicrobial deliver device, the elongate member configured for insertion into the hub of the transdermal catheter along with the tapered member;

c) injecting a liquid lock solution into the transdermal catheter such that at least the proximal end of the transdermal catheter is substantially filled with the lock solution; wherein injecting the liquid lock solution comprises:

i) using a syringe to inject the liquid lock solution, the syringe partially inserted into the catheter hub;

ii) clamping the transdermal catheter;

iii) upon removing the syringe from the hub, the syringe tip leaves a unfilled void at the proximal end of the hub, and

iv) wherein the tapered member and elongate member have a volume greater than the volume of the unfilled void;

e) insertion of the tapered member and elongate member of the antimicrobial delivery device into the hub located at the proximal end of the clamped catheter so as to displace liquid lock solution from the interior of the catheter hub to the exterior of the catheter hub such that at least a portion of the chlorhexidine composition on the threads of the retaining ring is transferred to the threads of the hub;

f) formation of a precipitate of the chlorhexidine composition in the hub of the catheter;

g) evaporation of at least a portion of the displaced liquid lock solution so as to form a deposit of non-dissolved antimicrobial composition on the threads of the hub; and

h) exposing the hub to moisture sufficient to redissolve at least a portion of the antimicrobial composition located on the threads of the hub.