Self-Disinfecting Catheters

该多阶段SBIR项目的总体目标是开发和商业化一种经济有效的抗生物膜生长和结垢的导尿管。生物膜是当水和营养物质可用时在润湿表面上形成的微生物群落。一旦形成，细胞就从生物膜中连续释放并被募集到生物膜中，从而向流体相提供稳定的潜在致病生物体和内毒素流。尿道导管由于其高表面体积比、间歇性流体流动和温暖温度的组合而特别易于生物膜生长。受污染的导尿管是留置导尿管患者的潜在感染源。申报导管将依赖于光催化氧化的既定能力来消除微生物生长。不使用化学试剂，催化剂的作用是保持清洁的表面，即使在使用过程中。消毒涂层是由一种无毒的化合物制成的，这种化合物是牙膏和许多食品中的常见成分。在第一阶段，ADA将利用大量的经验以及优秀的顾问专业知识来设计和制造可行性测试的原型。这些新型的自消毒导管预计将是可靠的，负担得起的，免维护。建议的商业应用：超过50%的微生物感染与生物膜的形成有关。在泌尿道中，生物膜形成与使用导尿管相关的感染有关。拟议的研究将设计，建造和测试一种自消毒导管，以防止生物膜的形成和生长。除了导尿管之外，该技术还可以应用于生物膜生长的其他部位，包括透析导管、医疗设备中的流体导管和医院水管。

The overall objective of this multiphase SBIR project is to develop and commercialize an economical and effective urethral catheter that resists biofilm growth and encrustation. Biofilms are communities of microorganisms that form on wetted surfaces when water and nutrients are available. Once formed, cells are continuously released from and recruited to the biofilm, providing a steady stream of potentially pathogenic organisms and endotoxins to the fluid phase. Urethral catheters are particularly prone to biofilm growth because of their combination of high surface to volume ratio, intermittent fluid flow and warm temperature. Contaminated urethral catheters are a potential source of infection for patients with in-dwelling catheters. The proposed catheter will rely on the established ability of photocatalytic oxidation to eliminate microorganism growth. No chemical reagents are used, and the catalyst acts to maintain a clean surface, even during use. The disinfecting coating is made of a non-toxic compounds that is a common ingredient in toothpaste and many foods. In Phase I, ADA will draw upon substantial prior experience as well as excellent consultant expertise to design and fabricate prototypes for feasibility testing. These novel, self-disinfecting catheters are expected to be reliable, affordable, and maintenance-free. PROPOSED COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS: More than 50% of all microbial infections are associated with the formation of biofilms. In the urinary tract, biofilm formation is associated with infections related to the use of catheters. The proposed research will design, build, and test a self-disinfecting catheter that will prevent biofilm formation and growth. In addition to urethral catheters this technology can be applied to other sites of biofilm growth including dialysis catheters, fluid conduits in medical equipment, and hospital waterlines.