# US 11,224,471 B2 · Bone implants for the treatment of infection > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,224,471 B2 - Document ID: US11224471B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/532,350 - Filed: 2019-08-05 - Published: 2019-11-28 - Granted: 2022-01-18 - Earliest claimed: 2009-08-27 - Assignees: Silver Bullet Therapeutics, Inc. - Applicants: Silver Bullet Therapeutics, Inc. - Inventors: Houdin Dehnad; Bohdan Wolodymyr Chopko; Paul E. Chirico - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11224471B2 ## CPC - A61B 17/866: {Material or manufacture} - A61B 17/56: Surgical instruments or methods for treatment of bones or joints; Devices specially adapted therefor - A61L 31/022: {Metals or alloys} - A61L 31/088: {Other specific inorganic materials not covered by A61L31/084 or A61L31/086} - A61L 31/16: Biologically active materials, e.g. therapeutic substances {(A61L31/047 takes precedence)} - A61M 25/0084: {being one or more injection needles} - A61B 2017/00893: {pharmaceutically effective} - A61B 2017/561: {Implants with special means for releasing a drug} - A61F 2002/30677: {Means for introducing or releasing pharmaceutical products, e.g. antibiotics, into the body} - A61F 2310/00113: Silver or Ag-based alloys - A61L 2300/102: Metals or metal compounds, e.g. salts such as bicarbonates, carbonates, oxides, zeolites, silicates - A61L 2300/104: Silver, e.g. silver sulfadiazine - A61L 2300/404: Biocides, antimicrobial agents, antiseptic agents - A61L 2300/602: Type of release, e.g. controlled, sustained, slow - A61L 2400/16: Materials with shape-memory or superelastic properties - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - 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)} - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) ## Abstract Described herein are devices, systems and methods for treating disease and/or infection by the release of silver from an implant over an extended period of time. In particular, the devices described herein may be used to treat infections such as osteomyelitis by the controlled release of silver ions from multiple sites of an extended-use implant. This implant typically includes a plurality of arms that both anchor and help distribute the released ions within the tissue. Power may be applied to release the silver ions into the tissue. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A bone implant to treat or prevent infection, the implant comprising: an implant body configured to be coupled to a bone; a removable antimicrobial ion releasing member comprising an antimicrobial ion reservoir configured to be coupled to the implant body; a galvanic reactor metal on the implant body; wherein the implant is configured to galvanically drive release of antimicrobial ions when the galvanic reactor metal on the implant body is in electrical communication with the antimicrobial ion reservoir. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The implant of claim 1 configured as an implantable screw. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The implant of claim 1, wherein the antimicrobial ion comprises silver and/or zinc. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The implant of claim 1, wherein the implant body comprises a hollow elongate member. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The implant of claim 1, further comprising a channel within the implantable body configured to hold the removable antimicrobial ion releasing member. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The implant of claim 5, further comprising a deflection pathway within the channel configured to deflect the antimicrobial ion releasing member away from the implant body as the antimicrobial ion releasing member is coupled to the implant body. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The implant of claim 1, wherein the antimicrobial ion releasing member comprises a shape-memory material. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The implant of claim 1, wherein the antimicrobial ion releasing member comprises a nickel titanium alloy covered by an adhesion layer and a silver coating. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The implant of claim 1, wherein the antimicrobial ion releasing member is configured to extend from the implant body. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The implant of claim 1, wherein the antimicrobial ion releasing member comprises a sharpened wire. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The implant of claim 1, wherein the antimicrobial ion releasing member comprises two arms configured to extend from the implant body in a deployed configuration. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The implant of claim 1, wherein the antimicrobial ion releasing member is configured to release silver. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The implant of claim 1, wherein the antimicrobial ion reservoir comprises a silver coating. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The implant of claim 1, wherein the implant body comprises titanium. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The implant of claim 1, wherein the implant body comprises a plating from the platinum group on the periodic table. ### Claim 16 A bone implant to treat or prevent infection, the implant comprising: an implant body having a threaded region configured to be coupled to a bone; a removable antimicrobial ion releasing member comprising an antimicrobial ion reservoir configured to be coupled to the implant body within a channel in the implant body; a galvanic reactor metal on the implant body; wherein the implant is configured to galvanically drive release of antimicrobial ions when the galvanic reactor metal on the implant body is in electrical communication with the antimicrobial ion reservoir. ### Claim 17 A bone implant to treat or prevent infection, the implant comprising: an implant body having a threaded region configured to be coupled to a bone; a removable member comprising a galvanic reactor metal, the removable member configured to be coupled to the implant body within a channel in the implant body; an antimicrobial ion reservoir on the implant body; wherein the implant is configured to galvanically drive release of antimicrobial ions when the galvanic reactor metal is in electrical communication with the antimicrobial ion reservoir.