Catheter with an anchoring tip for chronic joint capsule perfusion

An orthopedic catheter for long-term access to the synovial joint is anchored by a hollow threaded tap that penetrates the capsule through a hole drilled in the surrounding bone. The proximal end of the catheter is connected to either an implantable drug infusion pump or an implantable access port for continuous or intermittent perfusion or sampling. Four catheters were evaluated in dogs. Three were attached to ports, the fourth to a pump. Water (one trial, 22 weeks) and hyaluronic acid (HA) (5 mg/ml; two trials of 8 weeks each) were administered through ports twice weekly in 1.5 ml boluses; 5 mg/ml HA was delivered by pump (1 trial of 33 weeks) at 0.31 ml/day.