Multilayer Conductive Appliance Having Wound Healing and Analgesic Properties

• US 20080033506A1
• Filed: 05/07/2007
• Published: 02/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Argentum Medical LLC
• Original Assignee: Argentum International LLC
• Inventors: Flick, A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,093,444 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/50
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/01008 characterised by the material
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/06 specially adapted for feet or legs; Corn-pads; Corn-rings
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/069 Decubitus ulcer bandages
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/104 for the hands or fingers A61F13/107 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/20 Tampons, e.g. catamenial tampons; Accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00093 tubular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00157 for burns or skin transplants A61F2013/00187 takes precedence; not adhering to the wound A61F2013/00217
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/0034 with triboelectric materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00412 for use with needles, tubes or catheters
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00519 for treating burn
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00536 for draining or irrigating wounds
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/0054 for deep wounds
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00919 for physical therapy, e.g. cold or magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00923 triboelectricity
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00936 metal
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 15/18 containing inorganic materials
• 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 would 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 medical device for treating a portion of the body of a living organism comprising, at least one layer of conductive material;

wherein the conductive material comprises a resistance less than about 1000 Ω

/cm²; and

wherein no external energy source or galvanic cell action is required to alter the electrodynamic processes of a portion of the body of a living organism.

2. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the conductive material is at least partially composed of a metal or metal alloy.

3. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the conductive material is at least partially composed of a material selected from the group consisting of polymers, carbon composites, elastomers, and silicon matrix containing metal particles.

4. The medical device of claim 2, 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.

5. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the medical device is a wound dressing.

6. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the medical device is an orthotic appliance.

7. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the medical device is a dental appliance.

8. The medical device of claim 5, wherein the wound dressing is shaped for a use around external fixture pin structures.

9. The medical device of claim 5, wherein the wound dressing is shaped for use around ostomy sites.

10. The medical device of claim 5, wherein the wound dressing is shaped for a use around catheter sites.

11. The medical device of claim 5, wherein the wound dressing is shaped for a use around catheter sites.

12. The medical device of claim 5, wherein the wound dressing is shaped for packing body cavities.

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

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

17. The medical device of claim 14 wherein the appliance has a tubular shape.

18. The medical device of claim 17 wherein the tubular shape comprises a wound drain.

15. A medical device, comprising, a wound dressing incorporated into an appliance.

wherein the wound dressing comprises a plurality of layers of a fibrous material;

wherein the material contains nonmetalized fibers and fibers that are at least partially coated with a metallic material to yield metalized fibers, each layer being joined to an adjacent layer and having a ratio of metalized fibers to nonmetalized fibers; and

wherein the layers form a gradient of metalized fiver to nonmetalized fiber ratios, the highest ratio layer capable of being placed in a contact with a wound site.

16. The medical device of claim 15, wherein the appliance is shaped for a use selected from the group consisting of orthopedic, dental, catheter, packing a body cavity, an ostomy site, a tracheostomy site, and around external fixture pin structures.

19. A method for accelerating healing and treating pain of a portion of the body of a living organism comprising:

a.) applying a medical device for treating a portion of the body of a living organism comprising, at least one layer of conductive material;

wherein the conductive material comprises a resistance less than about 1000 Ω

/cm²; and

wherein no external energy source or galvanic cell action is required to alter the electrodynamic processes of a portion of the body of a living organism;

b.) altering the electric parameters of the portion of the body without using an external energy source or galvanic cell action; and

c.) lowering the electrical resistance and increasing the current of the portion of the body.