Treatment devices providing targeted antimicrobial action

• US 7,157,614 B1
• Filed: 12/21/2001
• Issued: 01/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fountainhead, LLC
• Original Assignee: Fountainhead, LLC
• Inventors: Kania, Bruce G., Becker, Robert O., Scofield, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Bennett; Henry
• Assistant Examiner(s): DIXON, ANNETTE FREDRICKA
• Application Number:
  US10/027,394
• Time in Patent Office: 1,838 Days
• Field of Search: 602 41- 59, 128/888, 128/889, 424443-449
• US Class Current: 602/41
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 33/38 Silver; Compounds thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0063 Periodont

Abstract

A treatment device having an antimicrobial sheet material operably connected to an appliance. The antimicrobial material includes a first layer of polymeric material such as a gel composition containing a block copolymer and mineral oil, and a second layer that contains a bactericidal metal such as silver. The appliance retains the antimicrobial material in a selected position in the user'"'"'s mouth, nose, or other body cavity; it may assume a variety of configurations depending on position and extent of the treatment site.

Claims

1. A treatment device, comprising:

an antimicrobial sheet material having

a first layer of a gel composition including a block copolymer and mineral oil, and

a second layer engaging at least one side of said first layer, said second layer containing a bactericidal metal; and

means for retaining said antimicrobial sheet material in a selected position in a body cavity of a user.

2. The device is recited in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said bactericidal metal is silver.

3. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said bactericidal metal is crystalline silver.

4. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein said bactericidal metal further comprises silver, said silver mechanically attached to said second layer so that, when said layer is wetted, at least a portion of said silver is released in the form of ionic silver.

5. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein said second layer further comprises silver-containing nylon fabric.

6. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein said second layer is selected from the group consisting of (a) a coating on said first layer, said coating containing said bactericidal metal, (b) a quantity of said bactericidal metal in said first layer, and (c) a silver-containing material attached to said first layer.

7. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein said antimicrobial sheet material further comprises at least one third layer engaging another side of said first layer, said at least one third layer made of moisture-absorbing material, moisture-permeable material, or moisture-impermeable material, or gas-permeable material.

8. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein said retaining means further comprises a dental appliance.

9. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein said retaining means further comprises a tether.

10. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein said retaining means further comprises an appliance made of a somewhat flexible, conformable material.

11. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein said retaining means further comprises a shapeable appliance.