Method for producing a silver-containing wound care device

A process for producing a wound care device having a surface, at least a portion of which is coated with a non-electrically conductive finish,

• wherein each coated wound care device exhibits a controlled silver-ion release rate of less than about 25 μg/cm2 of silver ions over a 24 hour period, and wherein said finish exhibits antimicrobial properties;
• said process comprising the steps of:
• (a) providing said wound care device;
• (b) providing said non-electrically conductive finish, wherein (1) said non-electrically conductive finish comprises silver zirconium phosphate, at least one binder material selected from the group consisting of polyurethane binders and acrylic binders, and at least one halide ion containing compound selected from the group consisting of metal halides and hydrohalic acids, (2) said finish is substantially free from alkali metal ions, and (3) molar ratio between the amount of halide ions available in said finish and the amount of silver ions available in said finish is 1:10 to 5:1;
• and
• (c) applying said non-electrically conductive finish to at least a portion of said surface without causing discoloration of said surface, wherein said finish contains amounts of silver zirconium phosphate, said at least one binder material, and said at least one halide ion containing compound effective to exhibit a controlled silver-ion release that is antimicrobially effective and less than about 25 μg/cm2 of silver ions over a 24 hour period.

A process for producing a microdenier nonwoven wound care device having a surface, at least a portion of which is coated with a non-electrically conductive finish,

• wherein each coated wound care device exhibits a controlled silver-ion release rate of less than about 10 μg/cm2 of silver ions over a 24 hour period, and wherein said finish exhibits antimicrobial properties;
• said process comprising the steps of:
• (a) providing said wound care device;
• (b) providing said non-electrically conductive finish, wherein (1) said non-electrically conductive finish comprises silver zirconium phosphate, at least one binder material selected from the group consisting of polyurethane binders and acrylic binders, and at least one halide ion containing compound selected from the group consisting of metal halides and hydrohalic acids, (2) said finish is substantially free from alkali metal ions, and (3) molar ratio between the amount of halide ions available in said finish and the amount of silver ions available in said finish is 1:10 to 5:1;
• and
• (c) applying said non-electrically conductive finish to at least a portion of said surface without causing discoloration of said surface, wherein said finish contains amounts of silver zirconium phosphate, said at least one binder material, and said at least one halide ion containing compound effective to exhibit a controlled silver-ion release that is antimicrobially effective and less than about 10 μg/cm2 of silver ions over a 24 hour period.