Bone implant and systems that controllably releases silver

• US 8,771,323 B2
• Filed: 09/13/2011
• Issued: 07/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Silver Bullet Therapeutics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Silver Bullet Therapeutics, Inc.
• Inventors: Dehnad, Houdin, Chopko, Bohdan Wolodymyr, Chirico, Paul E., Mc Cormack, Robert Vincent
• Primary Examiner(s): WOODALL, NICHOLAS W
• Application Number:
  US13/231,219
• Publication Number:
  US 20120123485A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,029 Days
• Field of Search: 606300-321, 607 50- 51, 604/891.1, 604/93.01, 623/16.11
• US Class Current: 606/304
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/686 Plugs, i.e. elements forming interface between bone hole and implant or fastener, e.g. screw
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7266 with fingers moving radially outwardly
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/80 Cortical plates , i.e. bone plates; Instruments for holding or positioning cortical plates, or for compressing bones attached to cortical plates
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8625 Shanks, i.e. parts contacting bone tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/863 with thread interrupted or changing its form along shank, other than constant taper
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/864 hollow, e.g. with socket or cannulated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8685 comprising multiple separate parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/869 characterised by an open form, e.g. wire helix
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00889 antimicrobial, disinfectant
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/561 Implants with special means for releasing a drug
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 19/06 Implements for therapeutic treatment radiation therapy A61N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 8/0012 characterised by the material or composition, e.g. ceramics, surface layer, metal alloy use of specific materials A61K6/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 8/0018 characterised by the shape
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/28 Bones joints A61F2/30
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 33/30 Zinc; Compounds thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 33/38 Silver; Compounds thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/00 Other apparatus for introducing media into the body for reproduction or fertilisation A61B17/425; apparatus for iontophoresis or cataphoresis A61N1/30; Percutany, i.e. introducing medicines into the body by diffusion through the skin salt baths A61H33/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/306 Arrangements where at least part of the apparatus is introduced into the body

Abstract

Silver and/or zinc ion releasing implants, systems and method of operating, inserting and activating/inactivating them are described. In some variations the implant is configured as a bone implant that includes a bone-screw or intramedullary rod like body configured to receive a treatment cartridge having a plurality of ion-releasing members configured as an anode that can controllably engage with a catheter to turn galvanic release of ions on/off as desired. These devices may be configured to release silver ions (and/or zinc ions) above a predetermined level for a predetermined period of time and may maintain a concentration of ions over a relatively large volume of tissue. The ion-releasing members may be configured to reduce or prevent implant movement.

Claims

1. An implant for providing antimicrobial treatment to a bone, tissue or organ, the implant comprising:

an elongate body having a threaded outer screw region;

an inner channel within the elongate body;

a plurality of exit channels extending from the inner channel and out through the threaded outer screw region; and

a treatment cartridge, the treatment cartridge including a cartridge body configured to fit within and mate with the inner channel and a plurality of silver, zinc, or silver and zinc release members, each release member configured to extend from the cartridge body out through an exit channel.

2. The implant of claim 1 wherein a cross-sectional area of the inner channel comprises a non-circular shape.

3. The implant of claim 1, wherein the exit channels are configured to deflect the release members against the outer threaded region so that they deflect away from the implant.

4. The implant of claim 1, wherein the plurality of release members of the treatment cartridge are anodes;

further wherein the threaded outer screw region comprises a metal cathode having a higher galvanic potential than the anodes so as to drive the galvanic release of silver, zinc, or silver and zinc from the release members.

5. The implant of claim 4, wherein the cathode comprises an irregular surface.

6. The implant of claim 1, wherein the treatment cartridge is configured to be removably connected in situ in the inner channel of the elongate body.

7. The implant of claim 1, wherein the release members comprises one or more flexible wires.

8. The implant of claim 1, wherein the treatment cartridge comprises a sampler element configured to obtain a sample from a patient in whom the implant has been implanted.

9. The implant of claim 1, wherein the elongate body comprises a material selected from the group consisting of palladium, platinum, and gold.

10. The implant of claim 1, wherein the treatment cartridge is configured to degrade within the body.

11. An implant for providing antimicrobial treatment to a bone, tissue or organ, the implant comprising:

an elongate body having a threaded screw region;

an inner channel within the elongate body;

a plurality of exit channels extending from the inner channel and out through the threaded screw region; and

a treatment cartridge, the treatment cartridge including a cartridge body configured to mate with the inner channel, and a plurality of silver, zinc, or silver and zinc release members, each release member configured to extend from the cartridge body out through an exit channel;

wherein the plurality of release members of the treatment cartridge are anodes, further wherein the threaded screw region comprises a comprises a metal cathode selected from the group consisting of palladium, platinum, and gold so as to drive the galvanic release of silver, zinc, or silver and zinc from the release members.

12. The implant of claim 11, wherein a cross-sectional area of the inner channel comprises a non-circular shape.

13. The implant of claim 11, wherein the exit channels are configured to deflect the release members against the threaded region so that they deflect away from the implant.

14. The implant of claim 11, wherein the cathode comprises an irregular surface.

15. The implant of claim 11, wherein the treatment cartridge is configured to be removably connected in situ in the inner channel of the elongate body.

16. The implant of claim 11, wherein the release members comprises one or more flexible wires.

17. The implant of claim 11, wherein the treatment cartridge comprises a sampler element configured to obtain a sample from a patient in whom the implant has been implanted.

18. The implant of claim 11, wherein the treatment cartridge is configured to degrade within the body.