Iontophoretic material containing carbon and metal granules

• US 6,060,000 A
• Filed: 03/09/1998
• Issued: 05/09/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Implemed, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Implemed, Inc.
• Inventors: Milder, Fredric L., Hausslein, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): KOPEC, MARK T
• Application Number:
  US09/037,156
• Time in Patent Office: 792 Days
• Field of Search: 252/503, 252/510, 252/511-514, 604/20, 604/264, 604/265, 428/208, 428/305.5
• US Class Current: 252/510
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30767 Special external or bone-contacting surface, e.g. coating for improving bone ingrowth
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/36 Femoral heads ; Femoral endoprostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/3662 Femoral shafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/2821 Bone stimulation by electromagnetic fields or electric current for enhancing ossification
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30064 Coating or prosthesis-covering structure made of biodegradable material
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/0052 Coating made of silver or Ag-based alloys
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00574 Coating or prosthesis-covering structure made of carbon, e.g. of pyrocarbon
• 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 2300/108 Elemental carbon, e.g. charcoal
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2300/404 Biocides, antimicrobial agents, antiseptic agents
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2300/62 Encapsulated active agents, e.g. emulsified droplets
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2300/80 characterised by a special chemical form
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/303 Carbon
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/306 Other specific inorganic materials not covered by A61L27/303 - A61L27/32
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/443 with carbon fillers
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/446 with other specific inorganic fillers other than those covered by A61L27/443 or A61L27/46
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/54 Biologically active materials, e.g. therapeutic substances A61L27/227 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 29/103 Carbon
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 29/106 Inorganic materials other than carbon
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 29/126 : having a macromolecular matrix
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 29/16 : Biologically active materials, e.g. therapeutic substances A61L29/048 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 31/084 : Carbon; Graphite
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 31/086 : Phosphorus-containing materials, e.g. apatite
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 31/126 : containing carbon fillers
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 31/128 : containing other specific inorganic fillers not covered by A61L31/126 or A61L31/127
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 31/16 : Biologically active materials, e.g. therapeutic substances A61L31/047 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/056 : Transvascular endocardial electrode systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/20 : continuous direct currents
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/303 : Constructional details electrodes for external use A61N1/0428
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/306 : Arrangements where at least part of the apparatus is introduced into the body
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/249954 : With chemically effective material or specified gas other than air, N, or carbon dioxide in void-containing component

Abstract

A material is provided that uses controlled electrical current derived from two dissimilar galvanic materials to drive oligodynamic metal ions into solution. Exemplary materials include carbon and silver.

Claims

1. A material comprising:

a base material capable of being transitioned from a flowable state to a non-flowable state;

a plurality of carbon granules distributed in the base material; and

a plurality of metal granules distributed in the base material,

such that the metal granules release a biologically effective iontophoretic flow of metal ions without application of electrical power when the material is exposed to an electrolytic solution.

2. The mate rial of claim 1, wherein the base material is conductive.

3. The material of claim 1, wherein the base material is ion permeable.

4. The material of claim 1, wherein the base material is substantially transparent and wherein the plurality of carbon and the metal granules are distributed in a predetermined pattern in the base material.

5. The material of claim 1, further comprising pigment in the base material.

6. The material of claim 5, wherein the base material is an ink.

7. The material of claim 1, wherein the plurality of metal granules consist of silver granules.

8. A material consisting of:

an ion permeable base material capable of being transitioned from a flowable state to a non-flowable state;

a plurality of carbon granules distributed in the base material; and

a plurality of silver granules distributed in the base material,

such that a biologically effective iontophoretic flow of metal ions is spontaneously released from the material when the material is exposed to an electrolytic solution.

9. A material comprising:

a substantially transparent base material capable of being transitioned from a flowable state to a non-flowable state;

a plurality of carbon granules distributed in the base material; and

a plurality of metal granules distributed in the base material, wherein the plurality of metal granules and the plurality of carbon granules are distributed in a predetermined pattern in the base material

wherein the predetermined pattern includes alpha-numeric characters, and

wherein metal ions are released from the material when the material is exposed to an electrolytic solution.

10. A material comprising:

a substantially transparent base material capable of being transitioned from a flowable state to a non-flowable state;

a plurality of carbon granules distributed in the base material; and

a plurality of metal granules distributed in the base material, wherein the plurality of metal granules and the plurality of carbon granules are distributed in a predetermined pattern in the base material

wherein the predetermined pattern includes measurement indicia, and

wherein metal ions are released from the material when the material is exposed to an electrolytic solution.