Debridement of devitalized tissue with hydrolytic enzyme product
AssigneeGerold K. V. Klein
InventorsGerold K. V. Klein, John C. Houck
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Abstract
Disclosure relates to novel hydrolytic enzyme product derived from the pineapple plant useful for the digestion, dissection and separation of non-viable, devitalized tissue, especially eschar tissue from viable tissue in a mammalian host.
Claims9
A method for debridement of devitalized tissue from a mammalian host which comprises contacting said tissue with an amount of an enzyme product or a physiologically acceptable alkali metal or acid addition salt thereof which is effective to hydrolyze that portion of the devitalized tissue which is in direct contact with adjacent vital tissue so that the devitalized tissue can be removed therefrom, and removing said devitalized tissue from the vital tissue, said enzyme product being a heat labile protein which is obtainable from bromelain, capable of debridement of devitalized tissue from a mammalian host, water soluble, free of caseinolytic activity;
- has a peak isoelectric point of about 6;
- comprises at least two subunits each subunit having a molecular weight of from about 14,300 to 15,000 daltons;
- is active in the absence of sulfhydryl activation and in the presence of sulfhydryl deactivating quantities of phenylmercuric acetate;
- and has a characteristic absorption peak in the ultraviolet region of the spectrum at 280 nm.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.