Medical article with adhered antimicrobial metal

• US 6,267,782 B1
• Filed: 08/31/1998
• Issued: 07/31/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: St Jude Medical Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories)
• Original Assignee: St Jude Medical Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories)
• Inventors: Ogle, Matthew F., Holmberg, William R., Tweden, Katherine S., Schroeder, Richard F., Mirsch, M. William II, Bergman, Darrin J., Guzik, Donald S., Finucane, Hallie A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Isabella, David J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Koh, Choon P.
• Application Number:
  US09/143,989
• Time in Patent Office: 1,065 Days
• Field of Search: 623/11, 623/1-2, 623/12, 623/901, 623/66, 623/1.1, 623/1.46, 606/76, 604/265, 428/461, 428/465
• US Class Current: 623/1.1
• 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 method for preparing a medical article comprising biocompatible material selected from the group consisting of tissue and biological polymer, said method comprising:

combining a metal composition and said biocompatible material in a solution under reducing conditions provided by the addition of a chemical reducing agent in the solution or by applying a current to the solution with said biocompatible material acting as a cathode, where said reducing conditions induce a reaction in which said metal composition is reduced that results in the deposition of antimicrobial metal in association with said biocompatible material.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said metal composition comprises a silver composition.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said metal composition comprises Ag, Au, Pt, Pd, Ir, Cu, Sn, Sb, Pb, Bi, Zn, or combinations thereof.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said biocompatible material comprises tissue.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said biological material comprises a biological polymer.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said deposited antimicrobial metal comprises elemental metal.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said deposited antimicrobial metal comprises a metal compound.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said biocompatible material comprises thread, fiber or yarn, and said method further comprises weaving said thread, fiber or yarn into a fabric.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said reducing conditions are produced by the addition of a chemical reducing agent to the solution.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said chemical reducing agent comprises an aldehyde.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein said reducing conditions are supplied by applying a current to the solution with said biocompatible material acting as a cathode.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the biocomatible material comprises a biological polymer.