Method of making an antimicrobial tympanostomy tube
First Claim
1. A method of making a tympanostomy tube that is biologically compatible with the otologic tissue of the middle ear and that exhibits antimicrobial activity sufficient to alleviate the incidence of otorrhea following surgery, said method comprising the steps ofmixing a microporous, gas permeable silicone gum resin in the form of a paste with a silver compound in the form of particles;
- milling the mixture to uniformly disperse the silver compound particles throughout the silicone paste;
forming the milled product into a tympanostomy tube;
post curing the tympanostomy tube; and
obtaining an antimicrobial effect with the tympanostomy tube by migration of the silver compound to the surface of the tube via pores in the resin.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An antimicrobial tympanostomy tube used to alleviate bacteriostatic infections following myringotomy which is compatible with otologic tissue associated with the middle ear. The tube is formed from a microporous thermoplastic or thermoset resin having incorporated therein 0.5 to about 15% by weight of a silver compound capable of migrating to the surface of tube sidewalls to impart a therapeutically effective level of antibacterial activity throughout the sidewall surface so as to provide long-term prevention of infections which may otherwise result during or after surgery or implantation of the tube.
54 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A method of making a tympanostomy tube that is biologically compatible with the otologic tissue of the middle ear and that exhibits antimicrobial activity sufficient to alleviate the incidence of otorrhea following surgery, said method comprising the steps of
mixing a microporous, gas permeable silicone gum resin in the form of a paste with a silver compound in the form of particles; -
milling the mixture to uniformly disperse the silver compound particles throughout the silicone paste;
forming the milled product into a tympanostomy tube;
post curing the tympanostomy tube; and
obtaining an antimicrobial effect with the tympanostomy tube by migration of the silver compound to the surface of the tube via pores in the resin. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
-
7. A method of making a tympanostomy tube that is biologically compatible with the otologic tissue of the middle ear and that exhibits antimicrobial activity sufficient to alleviate the incidence of otorrhea following surgery, said method comprising the steps of
mixing a microporous, gas permeable elastomeric resin with a silver compound in the form of particles; -
uniformly dispersing the silver compound particles throughout the resin;
forming the resin with the uniformly dispersed particles therein into a tympanostomy tube;
post curing the tympanostomy tube; and
obtaining an antimicrobial effect with the tympanostomy tube by migration of the silver compound to the surface of the tube via pores in the resin. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A method of making a tympanostomy tube that is biologically compatible with the otologic tissue of the middle ear and that exhibits antimicrobial activity sufficient to alleviate the incidence of otorrhea following surgery, said method comprising the steps of
mixing a microporous, gas-permeable elastomeric resin with a silver compound in the form of particles; -
uniformly dispersing the silver compound particles throughout the resin;
forming the resin with the uniformly dispersed particles therein into a tympanostomy tube;
post curing the tympanostomy tube; and
obtaining an antimicrobial effect with the tympanostomy tube by leaching antimicrobial silver ions from the tube. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification