Medical article with adhered antimicrobial metal

• US 6,190,407 B1
• Filed: 12/31/1998
• Issued: 02/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: St Jude Medical Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: St Jude Medical Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Guzik, Donald S., Finucane, Hallie A., Tweden, Katherine S., Ogle, Matthew F., Holmberg, William R., Schroeder, Richard F., Mirsch, M. William II, Bergman, Darrin J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Willse, David H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Koh, Choon P.
• Application Number:
  US09/224,178
• Time in Patent Office: 782 Days
• Field of Search: 623/11, 623/1, 623/2, 623/12, 623/66, 623/901, 623/1.5, 623/1.51, 623/1.54, 606/76, 604/265, 427/2.24, 427/2.31, 427/455
• US Class Current: 623/1.51
• 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 59/16 Heavy metals; Compounds thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2412 with soft flexible valve members, e.g. tissue valves shaped like natural valves check valves with flexible valve members in general F16K15/14
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 15/18 containing inorganic materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 15/44 Medicaments
• 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: A61L 2300/45 Mixtures of two or more drugs, e.g. synergistic mixtures
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/30 Inorganic materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/306 Other specific inorganic materials not covered by A61L27/303 - A61L27/32
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/54 Biologically active materials, e.g. therapeutic substances A61L27/227 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 29/10 Inorganic materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 29/16 Biologically active materials, e.g. therapeutic substances A61L29/048 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 31/16 Biologically active materials, e.g. therapeutic substances A61L31/047 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 31/00 Antiinfectives, i.e. antibiotics, antiseptics, chemotherapeutics
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 623/901 Method of manufacturing prosthetic device
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31692 Next to addition polymer from unsaturated monomers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31707 Next to natural rubber

Abstract

A variety of new ways can be used for associating antimicrobial elemental metal with a medical article. The associated antimicrobial metal reduces the risk of infection associated with the medical use of the medical article. New medical articles are produced by some of these new approaches. Some of the methods involve ways of adjusting the dissociation rate of associated elemental metal such that desired degrees of antimicrobial activity can be achieved over selected periods of time.

Claims

1. A medical article comprising fabric, said fabric comprising first threads, fibers or yarns associated with a first elemental metal and second threads, fibers or yarns associated with a second elemental metal and not with the first elemental metal interspersed with said first threads, fibers or yarns associated with said first elemental metal, wherein the first threads, fibers or yarns are not associated with the second elemental metal and wherein said first elemental metal comprises an antimicrobial elemental metal and where said second elemental metal alters the dissociation rate of said first elemental metal when said fabric contacts an aqueous solution.

2. The medical article of claim 1 wherein said first antimicrobial elemental metal comprises silver and said second elemental metal comprises aluminum.

3. The medical article of claim 1 wherein said fabric has cuts to increase the surface area of said antimicrobial elemental metal.

4. The medical article of claim 1 wherein said first threads, fibers or yarns are associated with elemental metal by a method comprising:

depositing Simultaneously a plurality of elemental metals, at least one of which is an antimicrobial metal, in association with a biocompatible material to form an amorphous deposit of elemental metal.

5. The medical article of claim 1 wherein said fabric is treated by a method comprising:

contacting said medical article in vitro with an oxidizing agent selected from the group consisting of a flame, super oxides, oxygen radicals, ozone, hydrogen sulfide, permanganate, Grignard reagents, metal ions with suitable redox potentials, sulfur and nitric acid.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said oxidizing agent comprises super oxides, oxygen radicals, ozone, hydrogen sulfide, permanganate, Grignard reagents, metal ions with suitable redox potentials, sulfur or nitric acid.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein said oxidizing agent comprises a flame.

8. The medical article of claim 1 wherein the fabric is porous.

9. The medical article of claim 3 wherein the mechanical durability of the fabric is not compromised.

10. The medical article of claim 4 wherein the deposition is performed by vapor phase deposition.

11. The medical article of claim 4 wherein the deposition is performed by ion-beam-assisted deposition.

12. The medical article of claim 4 wherein the plurality of metals comprises silver and aluminum.