Multilayer conductive appliance having wound healing and analgesic properties

• US 7,230,153 B2
• Filed: 04/29/2005
• Issued: 06/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Argentum Medical LLC
• Original Assignee: Argentum International LLC
• Inventors: Flick, A. Bart
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis; Kim M.
• Application Number:
  US11/119,354
• Publication Number:
  US 20050244484A1
• Time in Patent Office: 774 Days
• Field of Search: 602 41- 43, 602/48
• US Class Current: 602/48
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/00051 Accessories for dressings
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/00063 comprising medicaments or additives, e.g. odor control, PH control, debriding, antimicrobic drug delivery dressings A61K9/70; chemical aspect of the additives A61L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/01034 characterised by a property
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/0206 with absorbent fibrous layers, e.g. woven or non-woven absorbent pads or island dressings
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00919 for physical therapy, e.g. cold or magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00936 metal
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0468 Specially adapted for promoting wound healing
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0484 Garment electrodes worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0496 characterised by using specific chemical compositions, e.g. hydrogel compositions, adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/205 for promoting a biological process
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/326 for promoting growth of cells, e.g. bone cells
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36017 with leads or electrodes penetrating the skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36021 for treatment of pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 17/02 for treating wounds, ulcers, burns, scars, keloids, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 31/04 Antibacterial agents
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24041 Discontinuous or differential coating, impregnation, or bond
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24993 Fiber is precoated

Abstract

A dressing for promoting healing and pain relief of the body of a living organism having a pathologic condition has at least one layer of conductive material having a resistance no greater than 1000 Ω/cm². When placed proximate a portion of the body of the living organism suffering from the pathologic condition, the dressing alters the electrodynamic processes occurring in conjunction with said pathologic condition to promote healing and pain relief in the living organism. When used as a wound dressing, the conductive material is placed in contact with tissue around the periphery of the wound and with the wound, lowering the electrical potential and resistance of the wound and increasing the wound current. In an exemplary embodiment, the conductive material is a multi-ply nylon fabric plated with silver by an autocatalytic electroless plating process and with the plies in electrical continuity. The dressing provides an antimicrobial and analgesic effect. The dressing may be provided for numerous applications and may include other layers such as an absorbent layer, a semi-permeable layer and additional layer of conductor material. Multilaminate embodiments of the present invention exhibit conductive material concentration gradients and, potentially, a capacitive effect when sequential conductor layers are insulated by intervening layers.

Claims

1. A wound dressing for treating a pathology in a portion of a living organism, comprising, at least one layer of conformable, conductive fabric having a surface resistance of 10 Ohms/in² to 0.001 Ohms/in² wherein the at least one layer of conformable, conductive fabric comprises a biologically inert polymer uniformly coated with a metal or a metal alloy.

2. The wound dressing of claim 1, wherein the polymer is nylon, polyethylene, polypropylene, wool, silk, cotton, or elastomers.

3. The wound dressing of claim 1, wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of silver, gold aluminum, nickel, tin, stainless steel, copper, and combinations thereof, and the metal alloy is selected from the group consisting of aluminum-copper, aluminum-magnesium, copper-gold, copper-nickel, copper-palladium, gold-palladium, gold-silver, iron-nickel and silver-palladium, and combinations thereof.

4. The wound dressing of claim 1, wherein the wound dressing is an orthotic appliance.

5. The wound dressing of claim 1, wherein the wound dressing is a dental appliance.

6. The wound dressing of claim 1, wherein the wound dressing is shaped for a use around external fixture pin structures.

7. The wound dressing of claim 1, wherein the wound dressing is shaped for a use around ostomy sites.

8. The wound dressing of claim 1, wherein the wound dressing is shaped for use around tracheostomy sites.

9. The wound dressing of claim 1, wherein the wound dressing is shaped for a use around catheter sites.

10. The wound dressing of claim 1, wherein the wound dressing is shaped for packing body cavities.

11. The wound dressing of claim 1, wherein the wound dressing has a tubular shape.

12. The wound dressing of claim 11, wherein the tubular shape is incorporated into a wound drain.

13. The wound dressing of claim 1, wherein the surface resistance of the conformable, conductive fabric is 1 Ohm/in² to 0.001 Ohm/in².

14. A medical device comprising:

conformable, conductive fabric comprising a biologically inert polymer uniformly coated with an antimicrobial metal, wherein said conformable, conductive fabric has a surface resistance of 10 Ohms/in² to 0.001 Ohms/in².

15. The medical device of claim 14, further comprising a moisture retaining layer.

16. The medical device of claim 14, wherein said polymer is coated using a solution electroless plating process.

17. The medical device of claim 16, wherein said metal comprises silver.

18. The medical device of claim 14, wherein the conductive layer comprises a surface resistance of 1 Ohm/in² to 0.001 Ohm/in².

19. The wound dressing of claim 14, wherein the biologically inert polymer is electrolessly plated with a metal or metal alloy.

20. The wound dressing of claim 19, wherein the metal or metal alloy comprises silver.