Antimicrobial impregnated catheters and other medical implants

Abstract

A non-metallic antimicrobial impregnated medical implant, such as a catheter, and a method for impregnating a non-metallic medical implant with an antimicrobial agent is provided. The method for making the impregnated implant comprises the steps of forming an antimicrobial composition of an effective concentration to inhibit the growth of organisms, such as staphylococci, other gram-positive bacteria, gram-negative bacilli and Candida and applying the antimicrobial composition to at least a portion of the medical implant under conditions where the antimicrobial composition permeates the material of the medical implant. The antimicrobial composition is formed by dissolving an antimicrobial agent in an organic solvent, adding a penetrating agent to the composition, and adding an alkalinizing agent to the composition. The antimicrobial composition is preferably heated to a temperature between about 30.degree. C. and 70.degree. C. prior to applying the composition to the medical implant to enhance the adherence of the antimicrobial agent to the medical implant material. After the impregnated implant is removed from the antimicrobial solution, the impregnated implant is allowed to dry then rinsed with a liquid and milked to remove excess granular deposits and ensure uniform color of the impregnated implant.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.