Multilayer conductive appliance having wound healing and analgesic properties

• US 20050244484A1
• Filed: 04/29/2005
• Published: 11/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Argentum Medical LLC
• Original Assignee: Argentum International LLC
• Inventors: Flick, A. Bart
• Granted Patent: US 7,230,153 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 424/445
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/00034 characterized by a property
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/00051 Accessories for dressings
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/00063 comprising medicaments or additives, e.g. odor control, PH control, debriding, antimicrobic drug delivery dressings A61K9/70; chemical aspect of the additives A61L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/01034 characterised by a property
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/0206 with absorbent fibrous layers, e.g. woven or non-woven absorbent pads or island dressings
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00919 for physical therapy, e.g. cold or magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00936 metal
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0468 Specially adapted for promoting wound healing
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0484 Garment electrodes worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0496 characterised by using specific chemical compositions, e.g. hydrogel compositions, adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/205 for promoting a biological process
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/326 for promoting growth of cells, e.g. bone cells
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36017 with leads or electrodes penetrating the skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36021 for treatment of pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 17/02 for treating wounds, ulcers, burns, scars, keloids, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 31/04 Antibacterial agents
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24041 Discontinuous or differential coating, impregnation, or bond
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24993 Fiber is precoated

Abstract

A dressing for promoting healing and pain relief of the body of a living organism having a pathologic condition has at least one layer of conductive material having a resistance no greater than 1000 Ω/cm². When placed proximate a portion of the body of the living organism suffering from the pathologic condition, the dressing alters the electrodynamic processes occurring in conjunction with said pathologic condition to promote healing and pain relief in the living organism. When used as a wound dressing, the conductive material is placed in contact with tissue around the periphery of the wound and with the wound, lowering the electrical potential and resistance of the wound and increasing the wound current. In an exemplary embodiment, the conductive material is a multi-ply nylon fabric plated with silver by an autocatalytic electroless plating process and with the plies in electrical continuity. The dressing provides an antimicrobial and analgesic effect. The dressing may be provided for numerous applications and may include other layers such as an absorbent layer, a semi-permeable layer and additional layer of conductor material. Multilaminate embodiments of the present invention exhibit conductive material concentration gradients and, potentially, a capacitive effect when sequential conductor layers are insulated by intervening layers.

Claims

1. A wound dressing for treating a pathology in a portion of a living organism, comprising, at least one layer of conformable, conductive fabric having a surface resistance of less than about 1000 Ohms/cm²,

wherein the at least one layer of conformable, conductive fabric comprises a biologically inert polymer uniformly coated with a metal or a metal alloy.

3. The wound dressing of claim 1, wherein the polymer is nylon, polyethylene, polypropylene, wool, silk, cotton, or elastomers.

4. The wound dressing of claim 1, wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of silver, gold aluminum, nickel, tin, stainless steel, copper, and combinations thereof, and the metal alloy is selected from the group consisting of aluminum-copper, aluminum-magnesium, copper-gold, copper-nickel, copper-palladium, gold-palladium, gold-silver, iron-nickel and silver-palladium, and combinations thereof.

6. The wound dressing of claim 1, wherein the wound dressing is an orthotic appliance.

7. The wound dressing of claim 1, wherein the wound dressing is a dental appliance.

8. The wound dressing of claim 1, wherein the wound dressing is shaped for a use around external fixture pin structures.

9. The wound dressing of claim 1, wherein the wound dressing is shaped for a use around ostomy sites.

10. The wound dressing of claim 1, wherein the wound dressing is shaped for use around tracheostomy sites.

11. The wound dressing of claim 1, wherein the wound dressing is shaped for a use around catheter sites.

12. The wound dressing of claim 1, wherein the wound dressing is shaped for packing body cavities.

13. The wound dressing of claim 1, wherein the device has a tubular shape.

14. The wound dressing of claim 13, wherein the tubular shape is incorporated into a wound drain.

20. The wound dressing of claim 1, wherein the surface resistance of the conformable, conductive fabric is less than about 1 Ohm/in².

2. (canceled)

5. (canceled)

15-19. -19. (canceled)

21. A medical device comprising:

conformable, conductive fabric comprising a biologically inert polymer uniformly coated with an antimicrobial metal, wherein said conformable, conductive fabric has a surface resistivity of less than about 1 Ohm/in².

22. The medical device of claim 21, further comprising a moisture retaining layer.

23. The medical device of claim 21, wherein said polymer is coated using a solution electroless plating process.

24. The medical device of claim 23, wherein said metal comprises silver.

25. The medical device of claim 21, wherein the conductive layer comprises a surface resistance of less than about 1000 ohms/cm².

26. The wound dressing of claim 21, wherein the fibers are electrolessly plated with a metal or metal alloy.

27. The wound dressing of claim 26, wherein the metal of metal alloy comprises silver.