[ 0019 ] fig1 a illustrates an embodiment of the invention . the embodiment comprises a cuff 1 made of a polymeric material 5 such as a foam . the term “ cuff ” is defined as any sleeve , sheath or fitting through which the medical device can be inserted for a snug or tight fit . as shown in fig2 b , which is a top view of the cuff 1 , the polymeric material 5 that makes up the cuff 1 will generally be in a ring - like shape having an outer surface 20 and an outer diameter 21 . the opening 22 in the polymeric material 5 of the cuff 1 has an inner diameter 23 . although the opening 22 is shown as a circular hole , the opening 22 can have other shapes as well . referring again to fig1 a , the cuff 1 is removably attached to a medical device 2 , i . e . the cuff 1 can be removed after it is attached to the medical device 2 . the cuff 1 can be attached immediately prior to or immediately after the insertion of the medical device 2 into the body of the patient . the term “ immediately prior to ” means within an hour before attachment of the cuff to the medical device . the term “ immediately after ” means within 1 hour after attachment of the cuff to the medical device . by attaching the cuff onto the medical device immediately before or after insertion of the medical device into the body minimizes the possibility that the antimicrobial agent will leak or migrate from the point of entry of the device . [ 0021 ] fig1 b illustrates the medical device 2 with the cuff 1 attached thereon , while the medical device 2 is inserted into the body of the patient 3 . the cuff 1 remains outside the body of the patient 3 when the medical device is inserted into the body . furthermore , the cuff 1 is located in the proximity or near the point of entry 4 of the medical device 2 into the body of the patient 3 to provide an antimicrobial effect at the point of entry 4 . the terms “ point of entry ” or “ entry port ” are defined as the point of penetration on the surface of the skin of the patient at which the medical device is inserted . when removably attached , the cuff of the present invention remains outside of the patient &# 39 ; s body at all times , but in the proximity of the point of entry . the term “ proximity of the point of entry ” is defined as sufficiently close to the point of entry such that the cuff will provide an antimicrobial effect at the point of entry . preferably , the cuff surrounds the point of entry of the device or is in direct contact with the point of entry . [ 0023 ] fig2 a illustrates a side view of the cuff 1 of the invention before it is attached to the medical device 2 . fig2 b illustrates the top view of the cuff 1 . as shown in fig2 b , the polymeric material 5 of the cuff 1 in this embodiment has an outer surface 20 having a circular circumference . the outer surface 20 need not have a circular circumference , but instead can be in a variety of shapes , e . g ., square or triangular circumference . [ 0024 ] fig2 c shows a portion of a medical device 2 , such as a catheter . fig2 t ) shows a cross - sectional view of the medical device 2 along lines a - a of fig2 c . the medical device has an outer diameter 24 . [ 0025 ] fig2 e shows the cuff 1 in fig2 a and 2b when it is attached to the medical device 2 . fig2 f shows a cross - sectional view of the cuff 1 attached to the medical device 2 along line b - b of fig2 e . in this embodiment , the cuff 1 is attached to the medical device 2 by inserting an end 25 of the medical device 2 into the opening 22 of the cuff 1 . the cuff 1 is then moved along the medical device 2 , e . g ., by sliding it , until it reaches the desired point on the medical device 2 . the opening 22 preferably has a diameter 23 that is smaller than the outer diameter 24 of the portion of the medical device 2 onto which the cuff 1 is to be attached . because the diameter 23 of the opening 22 of the cuff 1 is smaller than the outer diameter 24 of the portion of the medical device 2 onto which the cuff 1 is to be attached , the cuff 1 fits snugly around the medical device 2 as shown in fig2 f . the snug fit ensures that the cuff and medical device will not shift with respect to each other so that the maximum amount of antimicrobial agent can be delivered to or near the point of entry of the medical device . furthermore , because of the snug fit between the cuff and the medical device , there is no need for the use of an adhesive for adhering the cuff to the body of the patient to prevent the shifting of the cuff . avoiding the use of such adhesive is desirable because application of the adhesive to the patient &# 39 ; s skin can irritate the skin and result in other adverse effects , such as lack of compatibility between the antimicrobial agents used and the adhesives . [ 0026 ] fig3 a shows a side view of a cuff 1 of the invention and fig3 b shows a top view of the cuff 1 . the cuff 1 has a split 30 that extends : ( 1 ) between the opening 22 and the outer surface 20 of the polymeric material 5 of the cuff 1 ( as shown in fig3 b ) and ( 2 ) through the entire thickness of the cuff 1 ( as shown in fig3 a ). the split 30 allows the cuff 1 to be opened , as shown in fig3 c , so that the cuff 1 can be readily placed around or attached to the medical device 2 ( as shown in fig3 d ). when the cuff 1 is attached to the medical device 2 , the split 30 will close or will become sealed as shown in fig3 e , which is a cross - sectional view of the cuff 1 attached to the medical device 2 along line c - c in fig3 d . since the diameter 23 of the opening 22 of the cuff 1 is smaller that the outer diameter of the medical device 2 , the cuff 1 fits snugly around the medical device 2 . when the cuff 1 has a split 30 , the cuff can be attached to the medical device either immediately before or after the medical device 2 is implanted into the body . in addition , an adhesive can be used to seal the split . fig3 f shows a view of fig3 c along line s - s . an adhesive is placed on at least one surface 32 of the split 30 to assist the sealing of the split 30 when the cuff 1 is attached to the medical device 2 . for instance , as shown in fig3 c , an adhesive paper comprising a piece of release paper 31 and an adhesive applied to one surface of the release paper 31 can be placed at the surfaces 32 of the split 30 . the adhesive is placed against the surface 32 of the split 30 . after the cuff 1 is attached to the desired location of the medical device 2 , the release paper 31 is removed . the surfaces 32 of the split 30 are then squeezed together to seal the split 30 . [ 0028 ] fig4 a shows a side view of another embodiment of the cuff 1 of the invention . fig4 b shows a top view of this cuff 1 before it is attached to the medical device 2 . the cuff 1 comprises a polymeric material 5 having a ring - like shape . this polymeric material 5 is attached to a spreader 40 , which has a ring - like shape with an opening . the spreader 40 comprises tabs 41 located at the opening of the spreader 40 . the spreader 40 can be in an opened position ( see fig4 c , which is a side view of the cuff and fig4 d , which is a top view of the cuff in an opened position ) or a closed position ( fig4 b ). as shown in fig4 d , the cuff 1 can be opened by pulling apart the tabs 41 of the spreader 40 . when the cuff 1 is opened , it is in a relaxed position ( fig4 d ). the cuff 1 can then be placed around the medical device 2 as shown in fig4 e . the tabs 41 are then squeezed together to close the cuff 1 as in fig4 f , which is a cross - sectional view along line d - d of fig4 e . the tabs 41 can close or lock in place when they are snapped together as shown in fig4 f . the skilled artisan is aware of other methods for closing the cuff 1 . there are various other methods for closing the cuffs , including higher - cost methods such as magnetic means . the cuff of the present invention can be used with any medical device capable of being inserted or implanted into the body of a patient . these devices include devices for treating blood vessels , the urinary tract , coronary vasculature , the esophagus , the trachea , the colon , and the biliary tract . such devices include without limitation catheters , tracheotomy tubes , wound drains and any other type of intravenous tube . the medical device can be made from a variety of materials , preferably the device is made from polymer , such as polyethylene , polyamides , polyimides , pebax or similar material commonly in use in manufacturing such devices . also , the cuff of the present invention can be made from a number of appropriate absorbent materials . preferred materials are polyurethane foam and other foam materials that are lightweight and sponge - like and can be easily formed into cuffs and attached and removed from medical devices . latex can also be used . generally any open cell foam material is acceptable . the shape of the polymeric material used to make the cuff can be of any shape as long as it includes an opening or aperature into which the medical device can be inserted . preferably , the opening is round . also , the diameter of the opening should be equal to or slight smaller than the outer diameter of the portion of the medical device onto which the cuff is to be attached to ensure a snug fit . the antimicrobial agents that are suitable for the present invention may be any antimicrobial agent commonly used in the field . one preferred antimicrobial agent is iodine . j . lin et al ., “ prevention of shunt infections in an animal model using iodine - impregnated catheters , “ child &# 39 ; s nervous system , vol . 16 ( 8 ), p . 536 ( august 2000 ). the cuff of the present invention is made by first selecting an appropriate polymeric material for the cuff . this material is then shaped into a ring - like shape or cuff . one of skill in the art is aware of methods of shaping the polymeric material into such a shape . some examples are molding or die cutting into the desired shape . thereafter , the polymeric material can be charged with the antimicrobial agent by dipping the material into a solution of the antimicrobial agent . one of skill in the art is aware of other methods for charging the material . in one embodiment of the present invention , after the polymeric material is shaped into a cuff , the material can be charged with an antimicrobial agent and then packaged separately from the medical device prior to attachment of the cuff to the medical device . when it is time for the cuff to be attached to the medical device , the cuff can be unpackaged and thereafter attached to the device . such separate packaging of the cuff from the medical device minimizes chances that the antimicrobial agent will leak or migrate from the portion of the medical device that will be in proximity to the point of entry of the medical device . alternatively , the cuff may be packaged without charging the polymeric material with the antimicrobial agent . when it is time to attach the cuff to the medical device , the cuff can be unpackaged and then charged with the antimicrobial agent before the cuff is attached to the medical device . preferably , the cuff is charged immediately before attachment to the medical device , i . e . within 1 hour before attachment . this embodiment also avoids the problems of leaking and migration of the antimicrobial agent , thereby maximizing the concentration of the antimicrobial agent at the point of entry of the medical device . it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that while the invention has been described above in connection with particular embodiments , the invention is not necessarily so limited and that numerous other embodiments , examples , uses , modifications and departures from the embodiments described herein may be made without departing form the inventive concept . also , the references mentioned herein are incorporated by reference .
an entry port cuff for providing antimicrobial properties to a medical device having a portion that is insertable into the body of a patient is disclosed . the cuff , which is charged with an antimicrobial agent , is removably attached to the medical device immediately prior to or immediately after insertion of said medical device into the body . the cuff is attached to the medical device in a manner such that the cuff is located outside of the body and in the proximity of the point of entry of the medical device into the body . also , the cuff is substantially free of an adhesive for adhering the cuff to the body . methods for using and making the entry port cuff are also described .