Medical device

• US 8,801,681 B2
• Filed: 10/21/2005
• Issued: 08/12/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Argentum Medical LLC
• Original Assignee: Argentum Medical LLC
• Inventors: Flick, A. Bartholomew, Silver, Gregg, Miller, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Anderson, Lynne
• Application Number:
  US11/255,492
• Publication Number:
  US 20060264796A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,217 Days
• Field of Search: 602/44, 602/45, 602/48, 424443-449, 604304-305, 604/313
• US Class Current: 604/304
• 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 13/022 having more than one layer with different fluid retention characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/36 Surgical swabs, e.g. for absorbency or packing body cavities during surgery A61F13/38 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00119 elastic
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00251 with macroscopic openings
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00327 to create projections or depressions in surface
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00553 with detachable parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00578 conformable; soft or flexible, e.g. elastomeric
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00604 Multilayer
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/0074 containing foams
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00859 with macroscopic openings
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/0091 with disinfecting or anaesthetics means, e.g. anti-mycrobic
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00936 metal wound bandages with a metallic layer A61F2013/00234

Abstract

A medical device for example a wound dressing having antibacterial and optionally, antifungal properties, are provided together with methods for making the device. An exemplary dressing includes a layer of silver-containing fabric, (optionally) a layer of absorbent material, and (optionally) a layer of flexible air-permeable and/or water-impermeable material. The dressing can be used for prophylactic and therapeutic care and treatment of skin infections and surface wounds (including surgical incisions), as a packing material, and as a swab for surface cleaning.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a first conformable, conductive fabric comprising

a) fibers or foams coated with an anti-microbial metal, wherein the coated fibers or foams provide a surface resistance of about 10 ohms/cm² to about 0.001 ohms/cm² to the conductive fabric, wherein the fibers comprise multiple filaments; and

b) a plurality of apertures effective to provide the device with a liquid wicking value in a range of about 5% to 95% to allow removal of fluid from the wound through the device, wherein the apertures are positioned to facilitate uniform application of the device to a wound when the device is under negative pressure.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the apertures have a size range that allows liquids and gases to pass through.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the anti-microbial metal comprises silver.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the anti-microbial metal comprises approximately 5 to about 40 wt. % silver.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the surface resistance is no greater than approximately 5 Ω

/cm².

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the surface resistance is no greater than approximately 1 Ω

/cm².

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the fabric comprises one or more polymers, fibers, yarns, foams, or combinations thereof.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the one or more yarns comprises a synthetic polymer fiber and an elastic component.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the elastic component comprises a long-chain synthetic polymer comprising at least 85% of a segmented polyurethane.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the elastic component is not coated with the anti-microbial metal.

11. The device of claim 9, wherein the elastic component is wrapped around the synthetic polymer fiber.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the synthetic polymer fiber comprises nylon.

13. The device of claim 1, further comprising a second layer.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the second layer comprises a second layer of conformable, conductive fabric.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the second layer of conformable conductive fabric is separated from the first conformable, conductive fabric by a plurality of supports.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the supports comprise nylon.

17. The device of claim 15, wherein the supports are not coated with an anti-microbial metal.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the nylon supports are uniformly coated with silver.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the fabric comprises woven or knitted fibers or yarns.

20. The device of claim 17, wherein the fabric comprises non-woven fibers or yarns.

21. The device of claim 14, further comprising a third layer adjacent to said second layer, said third layer made of an air-permeable material.

22. The device of claim 14, further comprising a third layer adjacent to said second layer, said third layer made of a water-permeable material.

23. The device of claim 1, wherein the device maintains a transepithelial electrical potential of a wound at about −

10 mvolts to about −

70 mvolts.