Method for imparting antimicrobial characteristics to hydrophilic fabrics

• US 20090259157A1
• Filed: 04/14/2008
• Published: 10/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Tom Thomas
• Original Assignee: Tom Thomas
• Inventors: Thomas, Tom
• Application Number:
  US12/082,757
• Publication Number:
  US 20090259157A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 602/48
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 2300/00 Combinations or mixtures of active ingredients covered by classes A01N27/00 - A01N65/48 with other active or formulation relevant ingredients, e.g. specific carrier materials or surfactants, covered by classes A01N25/00 - A01N65/48
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 25/34 Shaped forms, e.g. sheets, not provided for in any other sub-group of this main group
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 59/16 Heavy metals; Compounds thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 15/18 containing inorganic materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 15/46 Deodorants or malodour counteractants, e.g. to inhibit the formation of ammonia or bacteria
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2300/102 Metals or metal compounds, e.g. salts such as bicarbonates, carbonates, oxides, zeolites, silicates
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2300/104 Silver, e.g. silver sulfadiazine
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2300/404 Biocides, antimicrobial agents, antiseptic agents
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 11/83 with metals; with metal-generating compounds, e.g. metal carbonyls; Reduction of metal compounds on textiles
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 16/00 Biochemical treatment of fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics, or fibrous goods made from such materials, e.g. enzymatic

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a method for imparting antimicrobial characteristics to hydrophilic fabrics. The method involves: (1) providing a hydrophilic fabric; (2) providing a first solution comprising at least one oligodynamic metal ion, wherein the first solution is free of basic nitrogen compounds; (3) contacting the hydrophilic fabric with the first solution to allow the hydrophilic fabric to absorb metal ions from the first solution; and (4) precipitating or reducing the metal ions that have been absorbed by the fabric so that the hydrophilic fabric contains an oligodynamic metal salt or free oligodynamic metal and has antimicrobial characteristics. The invention is also directed to disposable medical cloths having antimicrobial characteristics.

Claims

1. A method for imparting antimicrobial characteristics to hydrophilic fabric comprising the steps of:

a) providing a hydrophilic fabric;

b) providing a first solution comprising at least one oligodynamic metal ion, wherein the first solution is free of basic nitrogen compounds;

c) contacting the hydrophilic fabric with the first solution to allow the hydrophilic fabric to absorb metal ions from the first solution; and

d) precipitating the metal ions that have been absorbed by the fabric so that the hydrophilic fabric contains an oligodynamic metal salt and has antimicrobial characteristics.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said first solution is a solution of only one type of oligodynamic metal ion.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said oligodynamic metal ions comprise silver ions.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said first solution is a solution of two oligodynamic metal ions.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said hydrophilic fabric is selected from the group consisting of cotton, a cotton/polyester blend, and a composite of wood pulp and spunbonded polyester.

6. The method according to claim 1 wherein the hydrophilic fabric comprises about 65% wood pulp and about 35% spunbonded polyester.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said precipitating step comprises removing the hydrophilic material from the first solution and contacting the hydrophilic material with a second solution.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said second solution comprises water and a water-soluble salt which, upon contact with the hydrophilic fabric, will form a water-insoluble or sparingly-water soluble metal salt.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein said second solution comprises a water and a water-soluble salt chosen from the group consisting of sodium phosphate, sodium chloride, sodium carbonate, sodium sulfite, sodium sulfate, sodium bromide, sodium iodide, potassium chloride, potassium carbonate, potassium sulfate, potassium bromide, potassium iodide, potassium phosphate, potassium sulfite, calcium chloride, calcium bromide, calcium iodide, barium chloride, barium bromide, barium iodide, magnesium chloride, magnesium bromide, and magnesium iodide.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein the second solution is free of basic nitrogen compounds.

11. A fabric made according to the method of claim 1.

12. The fabric according to claim 11 wherein the fabric is disposable.

13. The fabric according to claim 12 wherein the fabric is a disposable medical cloth.

14. A method for imparting antimicrobial characteristics to hydrophilic fabric comprising the steps of:

a) providing a hydrophilic fabric;

b) providing a first solution comprising at least one oligodynamic metal ion, wherein the first solution is free of basic nitrogen compounds;

c) contacting the hydrophilic fabric with the first solution to allow the hydrophilic fabric to absorb metal ions from the first solution; and

d) reducing the metal ions that have been absorbed by the fabric so that the hydrophilic fabric contains free oligodynamic metal and has antimicrobial characteristics.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said reducing step comprises removing the hydrophilic material from the first solution and contacting the hydrophilic material with a second solution.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said second solution comprises water and a reducing agent.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said reducing agent is selected from the group consisting of glucose, formaldehyde, dextrin, oxalate, glyoxal, ascorbic acid, sorbitol, hydroxylamine, hydrazine, borohydride, dimethylamine borane, and salts thereof.

18. A fabric made according to the method of claim 14.

19. The fabric according to claim 18 wherein the fabric is disposable.

20. The fabric according to claim 19 wherein the fabric is a disposable medical cloth.

21. A fabric having antimicrobial characteristics comprising hydrophilic fibers consisting essentially of an insoluble metal salt absorbed onto or into said fibers.

22. The fabric of claim 21 wherein the fabric is disposable.

23. The fabric of claim 22 wherein the fabric is a disposable medical cloth.

24. The fabric of claim 21 having an antimicrobial effectiveness that results in a reduction in microbial activity of at least 90%.

25. The fabric of claim 21 having an antimicrobial effectiveness that results in a reduction in microbial activity of at least 95%.

26. The fabric of claim 21 having an antimicrobial effectiveness that results in a reduction in microbial activity of at least 99%.

27. The fabric of claim 21 having a hand which is within 90% of its hand when the fabric is untreated.

28. The fabric of claim 21 having a concentration of oligodynamic metal present in the fabric of between about 50 ppm and 10,000 ppm.

29. The fabric of claim 21 having a concentration of oligodynamic metal present in the fabric of between about 100 ppm and 3,000 ppm.

30. The fabric of claim 21 having a concentration of oligodynamic metal present in the fabric of between about 500 ppm and 2,000 ppm.

31. The fabric of claim 21 wherein the fabric has an antimicrobial effect against an organism selected from the group consisting of K. pneumoniae, S. aureus, methicillin-resistant S. aureus, and vancomycin-resistant E. faecalis.