# US 11,026,429 B2 · Antimicrobial straw

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- Number: US 11,026,429 B2
- Document ID: US11026429B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/964,219
- Filed: 2018-04-27
- Published: 2018-08-30
- Granted: 2021-06-08
- Earliest claimed: 2014-01-29
- Assignees: WilMarc Holdings, LLC
- Applicants: WilMarc Holdings, LLC
- Inventors: William A. Coulson; Marcia Coulson
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11026429B2

## CPC

- A01N 59/16: Heavy metals; Compounds thereof
- A01N 25/10: Macromolecular compounds
- A01N 25/34: Shaped forms, e.g. sheets, not provided for in any other sub-group of this main group
- A47G 21/18: Drinking straws or the like ({as integral parts of drinking containers A47G19/2266;} for therapeutic purposes A61J15/00 {; adapted to emerge from drinking containers when opened B65D77/283})
- A47G 21/183: {with means for changing the flavour of the liquid}
- A61J 7/0038: {Straws}
- A61J 15/0026: {Parts, details or accessories for feeding-tubes (external tubes from medical containers to a connector outside of the body A61M39/08)}
- A61L 29/041: {obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds}
- A61L 29/06: obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
- A61L 29/126: {having a macromolecular matrix}
- A61L 29/16: Biologically active materials, e.g. therapeutic substances {(A61L29/048 takes precedence)}
- A61M 39/08: Tubes; Storage means specially adapted therefor
- A61L 2300/104: Silver, e.g. silver sulfadiazine
- A61L 2300/404: Biocides, antimicrobial agents, antiseptic agents
- A61M 2205/0205: Materials having antiseptic or antimicrobial properties, e.g. silver compounds, rubber with sterilising agent
- A61M 2207/00: Methods of manufacture, assembly or production
- A01N: PRESERVATION OF BODIES OF HUMANS OR ANIMALS OR PLANTS OR PARTS THEREOF (preservation of food or foodstuff A23); BIOCIDES, e.g. AS DISINFECTANTS, AS PESTICIDES OR AS HERBICIDES (preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes which kill or prevent the growth or proliferation of unwanted organisms A61K); PEST REPELLANTS OR ATTRACTANTS; PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS
- A47G: HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT (book-ends A47B5/00; knives B26B)
- A61J: CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE
- A61L: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES (preservation of bodies or disinfecting characterised by the agents employed A01N; preserving, e.g. sterilising, food or foodstuffs A23; preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes A61K)
- A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)}

## Abstract

A polymeric tubular conduit including a polymeric tubular conduit wall having an outer tubular layer coaxially overlaying an inner tubular layer which defines a continuous tubular passage along a polymeric tubular conduit length of the polymeric tubular conduit; whereby the outer tubular layer, the inner tubular layer, or combinations thereof, include an amount of antimicrobial agent. The amount of antimicrobial agent can be sufficient to kill or inhibit growth of microorganisms in contact with a corresponding polymeric tubular conduit wall external surface, polymeric tubular conduit wall internal surface, or combinations thereof, of the polymeric tubular conduit wall.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of making a polymeric tubular conduit, comprising:
forming a polymeric tubular conduit wall having an outer tubular layer coaxially overlaying an inner tubular layer which defines a continuous tubular passage along a polymeric tubular conduit length of said polymeric tubular conduit;
wherein said outer tubular layer comprises an amount of antimicrobial agent; and
wherein said amount of antimicrobial agent is characterized by at least one of the following:
(i) wherein said amount of antimicrobial agent is not greater than about 3% by weight of said inner tubular layer;
(ii) wherein said antimicrobial agent has a median particle size distribution which is not less than about 0.5 micrometers; and
(iii) wherein said antimicrobial agent comprises silver-containing zeolites; and
wherein an amount of silver ions in said silver-containing zeolites is in a range of between about 0.5% to about 20% by weight of said silver-containing zeolites.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein said step of forming is done by:
forming said inner tubular layer from a first polymeric material; and
forming said outer tubular layer from a second polymeric material, wherein said amount of antimicrobial agent is combined with said second polymeric material.

### Claim 3

A method of making a polymeric tubular conduit, said method comprising:
forming a polymeric tubular conduit wall having an outer tubular layer coaxially overlaying an inner tubular layer which defines a continuous tubular passage along a polymeric tubular conduit length of said polymeric tubular conduit;
wherein said inner tubular layer comprises an amount of antimicrobial agent; and
wherein said amount of antimicrobial agent is characterized by at least one of the following:
(i) wherein said amount of antimicrobial agent is not greater than about 3% by weight of said inner tubular layer;
(ii) wherein said antimicrobial agent has a median particle size distribution which is not less than about 0.5 micrometers; and
(iii) wherein said antimicrobial agent comprises silver-containing zeolites; and
wherein an amount of silver ions in said silver-containing zeolites is in a range of between about 0.5% to about 20% by weight of said silver-containing zeolites.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein said step of forming is done by:
forming said inner tubular layer from a first polymeric material; and
forming said outer tubular layer from a second polymeric material, wherein said amount of antimicrobial agent is combined with said first polymeric material.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein said step of forming is done by coextruding said first and second polymeric materials to form said polymeric tubular conduit comprising said polymeric tubular conduit wall having said outer tubular layer coaxially overlaying said inner tubular layer.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, further comprising cooling said coextruded polymeric tubular conduit to a temperature below a softening point of said first and second polymeric materials.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein said cooled polymeric tubular conduit provides a drinking straw.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein said cooled polymeric tubular conduit provides medical tubing.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, further comprising:
cutting said cooled polymeric tubular conduit across said polymeric tubular conduit length to provide a plurality of discrete polymeric tubular conduits.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein said plurality of discrete polymeric tubular conduits provides a plurality of discrete drinking straws.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein said amount of antimicrobial agent is sufficient to kill microorganisms which contact a polymeric tubular conduit wall external surface of said polymeric tubular conduit wall.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein said amount of antimicrobial agent is sufficient to inhibit growth of microorganisms which contact a polymeric tubular conduit wall external surface of said polymeric tubular conduit wall.

### Claim 13 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein said amount of antimicrobial agent is sufficient to kill microorganisms which contact a polymeric tubular conduit wall external surface of said polymeric tubular conduit wall.

### Claim 14 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein said amount of antimicrobial agent is sufficient to inhibit growth of microorganisms which contact a polymeric tubular conduit wall external surface of said polymeric tubular conduit wall.

### Claim 15 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, further comprising:
coextruding said first and second polymeric materials to form said polymeric tubular conduit comprising said polymeric tubular conduit wall having said outer tubular layer coaxially overlaying said inner tubular layer.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, further comprising cooling said coextruded polymeric tubular conduit to a temperature below a softening point of said first and second polymeric materials.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, wherein said cooled polymeric tubular conduit provides a drinking straw.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, wherein said cooled polymeric tubular conduit provides medical tubing.

### Claim 19 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, further comprising:
cutting said cooled polymeric tubular conduit across said polymeric tubular conduit length to provide a plurality of discrete polymeric tubular conduits.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, wherein said plurality of discrete polymeric tubular conduits provides a plurality of discrete drinking straws.