Method for peritoneal removal of electrolytes and inflammatory mediators

Abstract

A method of peritoneal removal of electrolytes and inflammatory mediators. The method begins with infusing a treatment solution into the peritoneal cavity of a patient by way of a catheter. The treatment solution is drained from the peritoneal cavity by way of the catheter. During the draining, the treatment solution is filtered for removing electrolytes and inflammatory mediators.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of peritoneal removal of electrolytes and inflammatory mediators, the method comprising:
 infusing a treatment solution into the peritoneal cavity of a patient by way of a catheter;   draining, by way of the catheter, the treatment solution from the peritoneal cavity; and   filtering electrolytes and inflammatory mediators from the treatment solution while the treatment solution is draining.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein filtering electrolytes and inflammatory mediators further comprises:
 positioning a filter in fluid communication with the catheter, the filter comprising:
 a proximal end; 
 a distal end; 
 a lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends; and 
 a filler within the lumen of the filter, the filler configured to remove electrolytes, inflammatory mediators, or both by size exclusion. 
   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the filler is selected from the group consisting of:
 a polymer, a resin, or diffusion tubes configured to remove inflammatory mediators.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , the filler comprising a binding agent configured to selectively bind electrolytes, inflammatory mediators, or both. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the binding agent is selected from the group consisting of:
 a polymer, a resin, or diffusion tubes configured to remove inflammatory mediators.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein infusing the treatment solution further comprises:
 a treatment solution container fluidically coupled to a distal end of the catheter, the treatment solution container configured to support the treatment solution.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein infusing the treatment solution further comprises:
 elevating the treatment solution container above an infusion site of the patient.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein draining the treatment solution further comprises:
 lowering the treatment solution container below an infusion site of the patient.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 elevating the treatment solution container above an infusion site of the patient for infusing the treatment solution; and   lowering the treatment solution container below the infusion site for draining the treatment solution.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the treatment solution comprises:
 saline; and   a binding agent configured to selectively bind electrolytes, inflammatory mediators, or both.   
     
     
         11 . A method of peritoneal removal of electrolytes and inflammatory mediators, the method comprising:
 elevating a treatment solution container above an infusion site of the patient;   while elevating, infusing a treatment solution from the treatment solution into the peritoneal cavity of the patient by way of a catheter;   lowering the treatment solution container below the infusion site for draining the treatment solution;   while lowering, draining, by way of the catheter, the treatment solution from the peritoneal cavity; and   filtering electrolytes and inflammatory mediators from the treatment solution during the infusing, during the draining, or both.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein filtering electrolytes and inflammatory mediators further comprises:
 positioning a filter in fluid communication with the catheter, the filter comprising:
 a proximal end; 
 a distal end; 
 a lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends; and 
 a filler within the lumen of the filter, the filler configured to remove electrolytes, inflammatory mediators, or both. 
   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the filler is selected from the group consisting of:
 a polymer, a resin, or diffusion tubes configured to remove inflammatory mediators.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein filtering electrolytes and inflammatory mediators further comprises:
 positioning a filter in fluid communication with the catheter, the filter comprising:
 a proximal end; 
 a distal end; 
 a lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends; and 
 a filler within the lumen of the filter, the filler comprising a binding agent configured to selectively bind electrolytes, inflammatory mediators, or both. 
   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the binding agent is selected from the group consisting of:
 a polymer, a resin, or diffusion tubes configured to remove inflammatory mediators.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the treatment solution comprises:
 saline; and   a binding agent configured to selectively bind electrolytes, inflammatory mediators, or both.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 re-instilling the treatment solution by, again, elevating the treatment solution container above the infusion site.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 again draining the treatment solution by again lowering the treatment solution container to below the infusion site.   
     
     
         19 . A method of peritoneal removal of electrolytes and inflammatory mediators, the method comprising:
 implanting a filter cartridge in the peritoneal cavity of a patient;   infusing a treatment solution into the peritoneal cavity of a patient; and   drawing the treatment solution from the peritoneal cavity through the filter cartridge;   wherein the filter cartridge comprises a binding agent enclosed within a porous surgical packing material.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein drawing the treatment solution further comprises:
 pulling the treatment solution from the peritoneal cavity by way of a would drain.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the wound drain is fluidically coupled to a pump. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 re-instilling the treatment solution into the peritoneal cavity.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the binding agent is configured to selectively bind electrolytes, inflammatory mediators, or both. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the binding agent is selected from the group consisting of:
 a polymer, a resin, or diffusion tubes configured to remove inflammatory mediators.