# US 8,771,323 B2 · Bone implant and systems that controllably releases silver > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,771,323 B2 - Document ID: US8771323B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/231,219 - Filed: 2011-09-13 - Published: 2012-05-17 - Granted: 2014-07-08 - Earliest claimed: 2010-11-12 - Assignees: Silver Bullet Therapeutics, Inc. - Applicants: Houdin Dehnad; Bohdan Wolodymyr Chopko; Paul E. Chirico; Robert Vincent Mc Cormack - Inventors: Houdin Dehnad; Bohdan Wolodymyr Chopko; Paul E. Chirico; Robert Vincent Mc Cormack - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8771323B2 ## CPC - A61M 37/00: Other apparatus for introducing media into the body (for reproduction or fertilisation A61B17/425; apparatus for iontophoresis or cataphoresis A61N1/30); Percutany, i.e. introducing medicines into the body by diffusion through the skin (salt baths A61H33/04) - A61B 17/7266: {with fingers moving radially outwardly} - A61B 17/8625: {Shanks, i.e. parts contacting bone tissue} - A61B 17/863: {with thread interrupted or changing its form along shank, other than constant taper} - A61B 17/864: {hollow, e.g. with socket or cannulated} - A61B 17/8685: {comprising multiple separate parts} - A61C 8/0018: {characterised by the shape} - A61C 19/06: Implements for therapeutic treatment (radiation therapy A61N5/00) - A61F 2/28: Bones - A61K 33/30: Zinc; Compounds thereof - A61K 33/38: Silver; Compounds thereof - A61N 1/306: {Arrangements where at least part of the apparatus is introduced into the body} - A61B 17/686: {Plugs, i.e. elements forming interface between bone hole and implant or fastener, e.g. screw} - A61B 17/80: Cortical plates {, i.e. bone plates; Instruments for holding or positioning cortical plates, or for compressing bones attached to cortical plates} - A61B 17/869: {characterised by an open form, e.g. wire helix} - A61B 2017/00889: {antimicrobial, disinfectant} - A61B 2017/561: {Implants with special means for releasing a drug} - A61C 8/0012: {characterised by the material or composition, e.g. ceramics, surface layer, metal alloy (use of specific materials A61K6/00)} - 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)} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A61C: DENTISTRY; APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR ORAL OR DENTAL HYGIENE (non-driven toothbrushes A46B; {tongue scrapers A61B17/24;} preparations for dentistry A61K6/00; preparations for cleaning the teeth or mouth A61K8/00, A61Q11/00) - 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) - A61K: PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES (devices or methods specially adapted for bringing pharmaceutical products into particular physical or administering forms A61J3/00; chemical aspects of, or use of materials for deodorisation of air, for disinfection or sterilisation, or for bandages, dressings, absorbent pads or surgical articles A61L; soap compositions C11D) - A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B) ## Abstract Silver and/or zinc ion releasing implants, systems and method of operating, inserting and activating/inactivating them are described. In some variations the implant is configured as a bone implant that includes a bone-screw or intramedullary rod like body configured to receive a treatment cartridge having a plurality of ion-releasing members configured as an anode that can controllably engage with a catheter to turn galvanic release of ions on/off as desired. These devices may be configured to release silver ions (and/or zinc ions) above a predetermined level for a predetermined period of time and may maintain a concentration of ions over a relatively large volume of tissue. The ion-releasing members may be configured to reduce or prevent implant movement. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An implant for providing antimicrobial treatment to a bone, tissue or organ, the implant comprising: an elongate body having a threaded outer screw region; an inner channel within the elongate body; a plurality of exit channels extending from the inner channel and out through the threaded outer screw region; and a treatment cartridge, the treatment cartridge including a cartridge body configured to fit within and mate with the inner channel and a plurality of silver, zinc, or silver and zinc release members, each release member configured to extend from the cartridge body out through an exit channel. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The implant of claim 1 wherein a cross-sectional area of the inner channel comprises a non-circular shape. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The implant of claim 1, wherein the exit channels are configured to deflect the release members against the outer threaded region so that they deflect away from the implant. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The implant of claim 1, wherein the plurality of release members of the treatment cartridge are anodes; further wherein the threaded outer screw region comprises a metal cathode having a higher galvanic potential than the anodes so as to drive the galvanic release of silver, zinc, or silver and zinc from the release members. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The implant of claim 4, wherein the cathode comprises an irregular surface. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The implant of claim 1, wherein the treatment cartridge is configured to be removably connected in situ in the inner channel of the elongate body. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The implant of claim 1, wherein the release members comprises one or more flexible wires. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The implant of claim 1, wherein the treatment cartridge comprises a sampler element configured to obtain a sample from a patient in whom the implant has been implanted. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The implant of claim 1, wherein the elongate body comprises a material selected from the group consisting of palladium, platinum, and gold. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The implant of claim 1, wherein the treatment cartridge is configured to degrade within the body. ### Claim 11 An implant for providing antimicrobial treatment to a bone, tissue or organ, the implant comprising: an elongate body having a threaded screw region; an inner channel within the elongate body; a plurality of exit channels extending from the inner channel and out through the threaded screw region; and a treatment cartridge, the treatment cartridge including a cartridge body configured to mate with the inner channel, and a plurality of silver, zinc, or silver and zinc release members, each release member configured to extend from the cartridge body out through an exit channel; wherein the plurality of release members of the treatment cartridge are anodes, further wherein the threaded screw region comprises a comprises a metal cathode selected from the group consisting of palladium, platinum, and gold so as to drive the galvanic release of silver, zinc, or silver and zinc from the release members. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The implant of claim 11, wherein a cross-sectional area of the inner channel comprises a non-circular shape. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The implant of claim 11, wherein the exit channels are configured to deflect the release members against the threaded region so that they deflect away from the implant. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The implant of claim 11, wherein the cathode comprises an irregular surface. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The implant of claim 11, wherein the treatment cartridge is configured to be removably connected in situ in the inner channel of the elongate body. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The implant of claim 11, wherein the release members comprises one or more flexible wires. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The implant of claim 11, wherein the treatment cartridge comprises a sampler element configured to obtain a sample from a patient in whom the implant has been implanted. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The implant of claim 11, wherein the treatment cartridge is configured to degrade within the body.