Bone implant and systems that controllably releases silver

• US 9,108,051 B2
• Filed: 01/23/2013
• Issued: 08/18/2015
• 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 Cormick, Robert Vincent
• Primary Examiner(s): WOODALL, NICHOLAS W
• Application Number:
  US13/748,546
• Publication Number:
  US 20130144204A1
• Time in Patent Office: 937 Days
• Field of Search: 607/50, 607/51, 604/891.1, 604/93.01, 623/16.11, 606600-331
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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. A system for the controllable galvanic release of silver, zinc or, silver and zinc ions from an implant to prevent or treat infection, the system including:

an implant having an elongate body and configured to be inserted into a bone, tissue, or organ and to hold a silver, zinc, or silver and zinc releasing treatment cartridge;

a cathode on the implant, the cathode comprising a material having a higher galvanic potential than silver or zinc;

a removable treatment cartridge having a cartridge body comprising a silver, zinc or, silver and zinc anode, wherein the cartridge body is configured to mate with a channel in the implant and to extend through an opening in the implant, wherein the anode and cathode are configured to be controllably placed in electrical contact, driving galvanic release of silver, zinc or, silver and zinc from the cartridge, and wherein the anode and cathode are configured to be controllably removed from electrical contact to stop the galvanic release of silver, zinc, or silver and zinc; and

a switchable control configured to regulate electrical contact between the anode and cathode.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the cathode comprises a material selected from the group consisting of:

palladium, platinum, and gold.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the cathode and anode are configured to generate a galvanic current greater than about 0.2 μ

amps when in electrical contact.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the cathode comprises an irregular surface.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the cathode comprises a foamed metal.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the implant comprises a threaded outer surface.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the treatment cartridge comprises a plurality of silver, zinc, or silver and zinc release members configured to extend from the implant when the cartridge is engaged therewith.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the silver, zinc, or silver and zinc release members comprise silver, zinc, or silver and zinc release arms.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the switchable control is configured for remote activation.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the switchable control comprises a magnet.