Iontophoretic structure for medical devices
First Claim
1. An iontophoretic structure comprising:
- a first material having a first galvanic electrical potential;
a second material having a second galvanic electrical potential and a conductive polymer separating said first material from said second material, said conductive polymer having a predetermined resistivity and controlling a current flow produced between said first material and said second material when said iontophoretic structure is in contact with an electrolytic fluid.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An iontophoretic structure for medical devices is provided that uses controlled electrical current derived from two dissimilar galvanic materials to drive oligodynamic metal ions into solution to kill bacteria on and near the device to which the structure is affixed. In one embodiment, a first galvanic material separated from a second galvanic material by a resistive material produces an anti-bacterial current flow when placed in contact with an electrolytic fluid. In another embodiment, a cylindrical elastomeric catheter incorporates a first and a second galvanic material separated by a resistive material which controls a current flow between the galvanic materials when the catheter is immersed in an electrolytic fluid. The galvanic materials can be dissimilar metal powders embedded in a conductive polymer substrate that forms an iontophoretic composite material, or dissimilar metals arranged in layers separated by a resistive layer. In yet another embodiment, the iontophoretic composite material is configured as an infection control sleeve that covers a portion of an ordinary catheter or cannula. Methods of protecting implantable medical devices and body structures with the iontophoretic structures are also provided.
223 Citations
15 Claims
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1. An iontophoretic structure comprising:
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a first material having a first galvanic electrical potential; a second material having a second galvanic electrical potential and a conductive polymer separating said first material from said second material, said conductive polymer having a predetermined resistivity and controlling a current flow produced between said first material and said second material when said iontophoretic structure is in contact with an electrolytic fluid. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An iontophoresis catheter comprising:
an elastomeric cylindrical wall having an outer wall surface and an inner wall surface, said inner wall surface defining a lumen for containing a fluid, and a distal end and a proximal end, each said end having at least one opening to permit introduction or evacuation of said fluid from said lumen, said wall comprising a first material having a first galvanic electrical potential and a second material having a second galvanic electrical potential, said first and second materials separated by a conductive polymer having a predetermined resistivity for controlling a current flow produced between said first material and said second material when said iontophoresis catheter is in contact with an electrolytic fluid. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An iontophoresis catheter comprising:
an elastomeric cylindrical wall having an outer wall surface and an inner wall surface, said inner wall surface defining a lumen for containing a fluid, and a distal end and a proximal end, each said end having at least one opening to permit introduction or evacuation of said fluid from said lumen, said elastomeric cylindrical wall comprising a first metal powder and a second metal powder embedded in a conductive polymer having a predetermined resistivity for controlling a current flow produced between said first and second metal powder when said iontophoresis catheter is contact with an electrolytic fluid.
Specification