Catheter allowing variable dosing of an active agent
A drug eluting catheter includes an active agent, such as a drug or chemical substance, which is integrated with the catheter and allows variable dosing of the agent for elution to the patient's body. The catheter includes a dosing region and graduated markings or is associated with a measurement device that includes graduated markings that correspond to a range of dose of the active agent associated with the catheter. By removing or masking an undesired dosing region prior to administration, a user may vary the dosage to suit a patient's needs.
1. A catheter system comprising:
a catheter comprising a dosing region; and
an active agent coated or embedded at the dosing region; and
a measurement device having graduated markings, wherein the graduated markings are indicative of a dosage of the active agent.
2. The catheter system of claim 1 , wherein the graduated markings are selected from the group consisting of lines, dots, alphanumeric characters, symbols, and fenestrations.
3. The catheter system of claim 1 , wherein the graduated markings include one or more colors.
4. A catheter comprising:
a dosing region;
an active agent coated or embedded at the dosing region; and
graduated markings disposed at the dosing region, wherein the graduated markings are indicative of a dosage of the active agent.
5. A method of administering an agent to a patient comprising:
providing a catheter comprising:
a dosing region; and
an agent coated or embedded at the dosing region;
providing a measurement device comprising graduated markings, wherein the graduated markings are indicative of a dosage of the agent; and
removing or masking a portion of the dosing region corresponding to a specific dosage of the agent.
6. A method of varying a dosage of an active agent comprising:
providing a catheter comprising:
a dosing region; and
an agent coated or embedded at the dosing region;
providing a measurement device comprising graduated markings, wherein each of the graduated markings is indicative of a different dosage of the active agent; and
removing or masking a portion of the dosing region corresponding to a specific dosage of the active agent.
7. A method of administering an agent to a patient comprising:
providing a catheter comprising:
a dosing region;
an agent coated or embedded at the dosing region; and
graduated markings disposed at the dosing region, wherein each of the graduated markings is indicative of a different dosage of the active agent; and
removing Or masking a portion of the dosing region corresponding to a specific dosage of the active agent.
8. A method of varying a dosage of an agent comprising:
providing a catheter comprising:
a dosing region;
an agent coated or embedded at the dosing region; and
graduated markings disposed at the dosing region, wherein each of the graduated markings is indicative of an incremental dosage of the active agent; and
removing or masking a portion of the dosing region corresponding to a dosage of the active agent required for treating a patient having a particular weight.
9. The catheter system of claim 1 , wherein the active agent is a sclerosing agent.
10. The catheter system of claim 9 , wherein the sclerosing agent is selected from a group consisting of talc, tetracycline, doxycycline, minocycline, doxorubicin, providone iodine, bleomycin, TGFβ and silver nitrate.
11. The catheter system of claim 5 , wherein the active agent is a sclerosing agent.
12. The catheter system of claim 11 , wherein the sclerosing agent is selected from a group consisting of talc, tetracycline, doxycycline, minocycline, doxorubicin, providone iodine, bleomycin, TGFβ and silver nitrate.