Scientists Working on a "Smart" Catheter

Scientists at the University of Michigan are hard at work on a "smart" catheter that would release bacteria-killing nitric oxide when an infection is beginning to develop. They presented their findings at the 244th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society, which was held in Philadelphia last week.

Currently existing "unintelligent" catheters can release antibiotics continuously, but these substances can quickly become depleted, lessening their effectiveness. The "smart" catheter would deliver the medication only when an infection is first detected.

The smart catheter would sense changes in the pH level around the catheter. Specific changes in pH indicate the critical point when bacteria have formed a sticky film on the catheter, signaling a developing infection.

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