Anti-microbial coating for medical devices
First Claim
1. A medical device intended for use in contact with an alcohol or water based electrolyte having an anti-microbial coating on its surface, comprising:
- a medical device formed of a substantially bioinert structural material; and
an anti-microbial coating formed on the surface of the medical device, said coating being formed from one or more anti-microbial metals and having sufficient atomic disorder such that the coating, in contact with an alcohol or water based electrolyte, releases ions, atoms, molecules or clusters of the anti-microbial metal into the alcohol or water based electrolyte at a concentration sufficient to provide a localized anti-microbial effect on a sustainable basis.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Anti-microbial coatings and method of forming same on medical devices are provided. The coatings are formed by depositing a biocompatible metal by vapor deposition techniques to produce atomic disorder in the coating such that a sustained release of metal ions sufficient to produce an anti-microbial effect is achieved. Preferred deposition conditions to achieve atomic disorder include a lower than normal substrate temperature, and one or more of a higher than normal working gas pressure and a lower than normal angle of incidence of coating flux. Anti-microbial powders formed by mechanical working to produce atomic disorder are also provided. The invention extends to other metal coatings and powders similarly formed so as to provide enhanced solubility.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A medical device intended for use in contact with an alcohol or water based electrolyte having an anti-microbial coating on its surface, comprising:
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a medical device formed of a substantially bioinert structural material; and an anti-microbial coating formed on the surface of the medical device, said coating being formed from one or more anti-microbial metals and having sufficient atomic disorder such that the coating, in contact with an alcohol or water based electrolyte, releases ions, atoms, molecules or clusters of the anti-microbial metal into the alcohol or water based electrolyte at a concentration sufficient to provide a localized anti-microbial effect on a sustainable basis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A medical device intended for use in contact with an alcohol or water based electrolyte having an anti-microbial coating on its surface, comprising:
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a medical device formed of a substantially bioinert structural material; and an anti-microbial coating formed on the surface of the medical device, said coating being formed from one or more anti-microbial metals and having sufficient atomic disorder such that the coating, in contact with an alcohol or water based electrolyte, releases ions, atoms, molecules or clusters of the anti-microbial metal into the alcohol or water based electrolyte at a concentration sufficient to provide a localized anti-microbial effect on a sustainable basis, the atomic disorder providing irregularities in surface topography and inhomogeneities in structure on a nanometer scale and being caused by high concentrations of one or more of point defects in a crystal lattice, vacancies, and line defects comprising dislocations, interstitial atoms, amorphous regions, grain and sub grain boundaries, relative to a normal ordered, crystalline state for the anti-microbial metal. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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Specification