Anti-microbial coating for medical devices
AssigneeWestaim Technologies, Inc.
InventorsRobert Edward Burrell, Larry Roy Morris
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Anti-microbial coatings and method of forming same on medical devices are provided. The coatings are formed by depositing a biocompatible metal by vapor deposition techniques to produce atomic disorder in the coating such that a sustained release of metal ions sufficient to produce an anti-microbial effect is achieved. Preferred deposition conditions to achieve atomic disorder include a lower than normal substrate temperature, and one or more of a higher than normal working gas pressure and a lower than normal angle of incidence of coating flux. Anti-microbial powders formed by mechanical working to produce atomic disorder are also provided. The invention extends to other metal coatings and powders similarly formed so as to provide enhanced solubility.
Claims25
A medical device intended for use in contact with an alcohol or water based electrolyte having an anti-microbial coating on its surface, comprising:
- a medical device formed of a substantially bioinert structural material;
- and
- an anti-microbial coating formed on the surface of the medical device, said coating being formed from one or more anti-microbial metals and having sufficient atomic disorder such that the coating, in contact with an alcohol or water based electrolyte, releases ions, atoms, molecules or clusters of the anti-microbial metal into the alcohol or water based electrolyte at a concentration sufficient to provide a localized anti-microbial effect on a sustainable basis.
A medical device intended for use in contact with an alcohol or water based electrolyte having an anti-microbial coating on its surface, comprising:
- a medical device formed of a substantially bioinert structural material;
- and
- an anti-microbial coating formed on the surface of the medical device, said coating being formed from one or more anti-microbial metals and having sufficient atomic disorder such that the coating, in contact with an alcohol or water based electrolyte, releases ions, atoms, molecules or clusters of the anti-microbial metal into the alcohol or water based electrolyte at a concentration sufficient to provide a localized anti-microbial effect on a sustainable basis, the atomic disorder providing irregularities in surface topography and inhomogeneities in structure on a nanometer scale and being caused by high concentrations of one or more of point defects in a crystal lattice, vacancies, and line defects comprising dislocations, interstitial atoms, amorphous regions, grain and sub grain boundaries, relative to a normal ordered, crystalline state for the anti-microbial metal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.