Actively sterile surfaces

Details Actively sterile surfaces Actively sterile surfaces

1993-08-23

1997-12-09

Krynski, William

Stock material or miscellaneous articles

Structurally defined web or sheet

Discontinuous or differential coating, impregnation or bond

4284111, 428434, 428457, 428458, 428461, 428689, 604905, B32B 300

Patent

active

056958579

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to actively antimicrobial surfaces useful in avoiding, preventing and treating bacterial, fungal and microbial infections generally by releasing substances which are active in suppressing such organisms.
It has been appreciated for some time that certain ions and compounds are very effective antimicrobials for treating and/or killing bacterial and fungal entities. Metallic silver and silver salts have been used to inhibit growth of microorganisms on fresh wounds and the like. Silver nitrates have been commonly used as bactericidal agents.
A problem with the in vivo use of metal for metal ion therapy in preventing and treating infections is that the results have never been too spectacular. This is primarily due to the very low concentration of active metal ions and, in most situations, the rapid decline in the presence of metal ions when derived from salt solutions as administered to the infected area.


BACKGROUND ART

Considerable research work has been conducted in the field of silver metal treatment of bacterial infections. A variety of silver coated nylon cloths and fibers have been investigated, such as disclosed in Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, March 1983, pp. 356-359, Deitch et al, "Silver-Nylon: a New Antimicrobial Agent"; Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, January 1987, pp. 93-99, MacKeen et al, "Silver-Coated Nylon Fiber as an Antibacterial Agent"; and in The Journal of Trauma, Volume 27, No. 3, Deitch et al, "Silver Nylon Cloth: In vitro and in vivo Evaluation of Antimicrobial Activity".
In the last noted reference, the use of a weak direct current to increase the rate of release of silver ions was investigated to determine the impact of the increased presence of silver ions. This aspect has been further investigated by several groups as reported in Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, February 1976, pp. 357-358, Berger et al, "Electrically Generated Silver Ions: Quantitative Effects on Bacterial and Mammalian Cells"; Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, November 1976, pp. 856-860, Berger et al, "Antifungal Properties of Electrically Generated Metallic Ions"; American Journal of Veterinary Research, Volume 41, No. 6, pp. 964-966, Colmano et al, "Activation of Antibacterial Silver Coatings on Surgical Implants by Direct Current: Preliminary Studies in Rabbits"; and Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Volume 77, No. 3, March 1986, Falcone et al, "Inhibitory Effects of Electrically Activated Silver Material on Cutaneous Wound Bacteria".
The technique of applying a current to a silver coated dressing or purifying devices or medical devices are also disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,291,125; 4,411,648 and published U.K. Patent Application 2,189,677. It is thus apparent that considerable work has been conducted in the field of supplying silver ions in the area of infection or microbial contamination to control and eliminate microbial growth. This concept has been extrapolated further into the field of water treatment, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,407,865 where sand or diatomaceous earth is coated with metallic silver to provide a sterilizing effect as the contaminated waters flow over the filtered material.
It is apparent that sources of silver ions for instance would be particularly useful in surgical and other types of wound dressings. This aspect has been investigated and reported in U.S. Pat. No. 3,800,792, Canadian Patent 1,212,879 and published U.K. Patent Application 2,134,791. Metallic silver is incorporated into the dressing in one form or another and through dissolution silver ions are released into the treated area. U.K. Patent Application 2,134,791 discloses that composites containing various metals, such as silver, gold, palladium, platinum and tin are useful in surgical dressings, where the preferred metal is silver. It is postulated that the slow release of silver ions is facilitated by a galvanic interaction with the moss; i.e., substrate, of the dressing with added metallic or nonmetallic compounds. However, this patent is s

REFERENCES:
patent: 4476590 (1984-10-01), Scales et al.
patent: 4615705 (1986-10-01), Scales et al.
patent: 4886505 (1989-12-01), Haynes et al.
patent: 5320908 (1994-06-01), Sodervall et al.

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