Central Nervous System Administration of Medications by Means of Pelvic Venous Catheterization and Reversal of Batson's Plexus

Abstract

An infusor system for administering medications to a venous blood vessel in the body of a patient. The infusor system includes a flexible, elongated delivery tube having opposite ends. One of the ends is couplable to a supply of liquid medication, which is remote from the venous blood vessel. The system further includes a delivery component coupled to the other end of the delivery tube. This delivery component is adaptable to be placed in confronting relationship with the venous blood vessel so that medication from said supply may be introduced directly into the venous blood vessel and distributed in the body of the patient. The infusor system further includes a pressure-altering device used for increasing intraabdominal pressure in the body of the patient.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application is a division of, and claims the benefit of, the filing date of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 675,147, filed Sep. 30, 2003, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates generally to the administration of medications to patients, and specifically, to the administration of medications through the venous system of a patient, and more specifically, through the superficial to sacral venous system of a patient. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] The effective administration of medications for the treatment of disease symptoms and for the alleviation of pain, i.e., pain management, is an important aspect to the overall treatment of patients for both curable diseases and terminal illnesses. Particularly, the effective administration of medications in patients experiencing chronic pain associated with a terminal illness is particularl...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0021] The infusor system eliminates the large expenses associated with other procedures which involve administration and continual monitoring by professional medical personnel. The IV needle or indwelling catheter of the infusor system may be inserted into the superficial vein or veins of the pelvis or inguinal region including, but not limited to, the femoral vein, deep epigastric veins, deep circumflex iliac vein, internal iliac vein, internal pubic vein, common iliac vein, spermatic vein, dorsal vein of the penis, inguinal vein, pudendal vein, pubic veins, or genitofemoral vein and left therein while medication is supplied. Furthermore, medication administration can be easily initiated and terminated by simply starting or stopping the flow of medication to the delivery IV needle or indwelling catheter. The infusor system provides safe, effective and inexpensive pain management and is particularly useful in economically depressed third-world countries which have large numbers of terminally ill patients who do not have the monetary resources to afford continuous attention by medical professionals, even if such professionals are available. The medications dispensed through the infusor system are rapidly and efficiently absorbed into the necessary areas of the body for alleviation of the medical condition or the pain associated therewith. Furthermore, a large number of medications, such as chemotherapy medications and some anesthetics, may be introduced through the superficial vein or veins of the pelvis or inguinal region including but not limited to the femoral vein, deep epigastric veins, deep circumflex iliac vein, internal iliac vein, internal pubic vein, common iliac vein, spermatic vein, dorsal vein of the penis, inguinal vein, pudendal vein, pubic veins, or genitofemoral vein. An IV method of use of the infusor system is particularly effective for the efficient administration of medications directly into the intraspinal area for pain management.

[0023] Therefore, the infusor system of the present invention provides a more direct infusion of medication, either continuously or in bolus dosages, into the spinal cord and other vertebral structures, as compared to oral or parenteral administration, for more effective pain management. As such, analgesic medication, such as morphine, can be delivered in relatively higher concentrations to the spinal cord before circulating throughout the body and before significant dilution. Furthermore, the bypassing of liver metabolism provides a greater concentration of available medication to the necessary targeted areas. Since there are lower concentrations of the analgesics dispensed systemically within the body, side effects such as sedation, respiratory depression, nausea, and vomiting are reduced. Still further, utilizing the inventive method of the present invention, more costly injection procedures requiring skilled professionals are avoided when introducing medications within the epidural and intrathecal spaces of the spinal column.

Problems solved by technology

However, oral administration is oftentimes not possible due to an obstruction blocking the oral and gastrointestinal tract, or due to severe nausea / vomiting by the patient.

Such gastrointestinal problems are often experienced by terminally ill patients whose bodies are slowly deteriorating.

However, parenteral administration is invasive and usually painful to the patient.

Furthermore, parenteral administration of medications may not be possible if there is a lack of peripheral vasculature and blood flow cannot move to certain areas of the body.

Also, some terminally ill patients may refuse parenteral administration of medications.

Parenteral administration of medications is also not practical for long-term patient care due to the requirement that proper sites must be utilized for effective administration.

Terminally ill patients may not have the physical capability of performing an injection procedure, and if physically able, may not have the knowledge to properly choose an injection site and administer the medication.

When long-term patient care must be provided by an untrained person, injection techniques may become impossible to implement, requiring a patient to stay in a hospital or other medical facility indefinitely.

As such, suppositories do not provide the needed flexibility in the management of pain, which often requires quick bolus administrations to combat acute pain and acute worsening of pain.

Such continuous monitoring is expensive and often requires a skilled caregiver when the patient is either unable or unwilling to insert the suppository.

Approaches have been developed for delivering high concentrations of medications into the spinal cord; however, all such techniques are invasive and have associated risks related to the use of a catheter or pump for the injection or infusion.

Furthermore, most of these techniques are generally expensive, as they require administration and monitoring by skilled medical personnel.

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