University System of Maryland

The United States Government As Represented by the Department of Veterans Affairs

Paul E Bigeleisen

Mark E Shirtliff

Cha-Min Tang

Samuel M Galvagno, Jr

Kyle Kenney

A thermo-responsive ultrasound coupling gel that contains a thermo-responsive polymer such as poly(n-isopropyl acrylamide), the gel having a phase shift at a temperature in the range of 32 to 35° C. such that the gel has a loss factor G″/G' of >1 at <32° C. and a loss factor G″/G′ of <1 at >35° C. The gel can also contain at least one of a solvent and gelling agent. Methods and uses for the thermo-responsive ultrasound coupling gel in an ultrasound and/or ultrasound guided procedure.

Thermo-responsive ultrasound coupling gel, and methods and uses thereof

A device disclosed herein includes a tubular member which is flexible and configured to receive ultraviolet (UV) light from a UV illumination coupler. The tubular member contains a lumen defining a longitudinal interior space within the tubular member, a tubular body bounded by an inner wall defining an outer boundary of the lumen and an outer wall defining an outer surface of the tubular member, at least one optical fiber disposed outside of the interior space not parallel to an axis of the lumen and adapted to receive the UV light from the UV illumination coupler, and a protective component adapted to prevent substantively all of the UV light emitted from the optical fiber from exiting the outer wall. Methods for producing and using such devices are also disclosed herein.

Ultraviolet sterilizing drainage catheter

Ultraviolet Sterilizing Drainage Catheter

Growing community of inventors

Baltimore, MD, United States of America

Paul E Bigeleisen