Patent US1680367A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4476590A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Antimicrobial surgical implants
Assignee: NATIONAL RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT Corp A BRITISH CORPORATION
•
Filing: 1981-03-26
•
Granted: 1984-10-16
•
Expires: 2001-03-26
Abstract
Abstract Surgical implants, especially endoprosthetic orthopaedic implants and sutures, are rendered antimicrobial by the presence of a bioerodible metallic silver component, especially a surface coating, which provides in vivo a sustained release of silver ions in a concentration sufficient to provide a localized antimicrobial effect but insufficient to cause significant damage to connective tissue. Latently bioerodible silver components of an implant can be activated by, for example, abrasion, heating to above about 180° C. or, especially, contact with hydrogen peroxide.
Inventors
- 👤 John T. Scales
- 👤 Michael J. Wilkinson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 17:16
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/30; A61F2/30767; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/56; A61B17/58; A61B17/68; A61B17/80; A61B17/84; A61B17/86; A61B17/866; A61L; A61L27/00; A61L27/50; A61L27/54; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/18; A61N1/20; A61B17/04; A61B17/06; A61B17/06166; A61F2002/30001; A61F2002/30003; A61F2002/3006; A61F2002/30062; A61F2002/30667; A61F2002/30677; A61F2002/30934; A61F2210/00; A61F2210/0004; A61F2310/00; A61F2310/00005; A61F2310/00011; A61F2310/00023; A61F2310/00389; A61F2310/00395; A61F2310/00419; A61F2310/0052; A61L2300/00; A61L2300/10; A61L2300/102; A61L2300/104; A61L2300/40; A61L2300/404; A61L2300/60; A61L2300/602; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S977/00; Y10S977/70; Y10S977/701; Y10S977/72; Y10S977/722
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
75 words
An endoprosthetic implant comprising a permanent implant structure formed of a substantially bioinert structural material providing permanent mechanical integrity to the implant, wherein a bioerodible metallic silver component is deposited to form a surface coating 25 to 500 Angstroms in thickness on said permanent implant structure and provides in vivo a sustained release of silver ions in a concentration sufficient to provide a localized anti-microbial effect but insufficient to cause significant damage to connective tissue.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
75 words
An endoprosthetic implant comprising a permanent implant structure formed of a substantially bioinert structural material providing permanent mechanical integrity to the implant, wherein a bioerodible metallic silver component is deposited to form a surface coating 25 to 500 Angstroms in thickness on said permanent implant structure and provides in vivo a sustained release of silver ions in a concentration sufficient to provide a localized anti-microbial effect but insufficient to cause significant damage to connective tissue.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
A surgical implant as claimed in claim 1 wherein the metallic silver is a silver alloy.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
A surgical implant as claimed in claim 1 which is an artificial joint and the silver component is deposited at a wear surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
A surgical implant as claimed in claim 1 wherein the silver component is constituted by a surface coating on at least part of the implant structure.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
A surgical implant as claimed in claim 1 wherein the silver is deposited in or on a substrate of more readily bioerodible material.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
78 words
A method of rendering antimicrobial an endoprosthetic implant comprising a permanent implant structure formed of a substantially bioinert structural material providing permanent mechanical integrity to the implant, said method comprising depositing on or in said implant structure coating of bioerodible metallic silver 25 to 500 Angstroms in thickness which will provide in vivo a sustained release of silver ions in a concentration sufficient to provide a localized antimicrobial effect but insufficient to cause significant damage to connective tissue.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
78 words
A method of rendering antimicrobial an endoprosthetic implant comprising a permanent implant structure formed of a substantially bioinert structural material providing permanent mechanical integrity to the implant, said method comprising depositing on or in said implant structure coating of bioerodible metallic silver 25 to 500 Angstroms in thickness which will provide in vivo a sustained release of silver ions in a concentration sufficient to provide a localized antimicrobial effect but insufficient to cause significant damage to connective tissue.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as claimed in claim 6 wherein said tratment to activate the latently bioerodible metallic silver component comprises heating at a temperature in excess of about 180° C.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as claimed in claim 6 wherin said treatment to activate the latently bioerodible metallic silver component comprises contact with hydrogen peroxide.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as claimed in claim 6 wherein the silver is deposited as a surface coating on at least part of the permanent implant structure.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as claimed in claim 6 wherein the surgical implant is an artificial joint and the silver is deposited on or at a wear surface.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as claimed in claim 6 wherein the silver is deposited in or on a substrate of more readily bioerodible material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as claimed in claim 6 wherein the silver is deposited by sputter coating, film evaporation or ion implantation.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
112 words
A method of prophylactic treatment of postoperative infection following endoprosthetic implant surgery, said method comprising selecting an endoprosthetic implant comprising a permanent implant structure formed of a substantially bioinert structural material providing permanent mechanical integrity to the implant and a latently bioerodible metallic silver component deposited on a permanent implant structure to a thickness of 25 to 500 Angstroms, treating said selected insert to render the metallic silver component thereof bioerodible to provide in vivo sustained release of silver ions in a concentration sufficient to provide a localized antimicrobial effect but insufficient to cause significant damage to connective tissue, and surgically implanting the thus activated implant in the human or animal body.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
112 words
A method of prophylactic treatment of postoperative infection following endoprosthetic implant surgery, said method comprising selecting an endoprosthetic implant comprising a permanent implant structure formed of a substantially bioinert structural material providing permanent mechanical integrity to the implant and a latently bioerodible metallic silver component deposited on a permanent implant structure to a thickness of 25 to 500 Angstroms, treating said selected insert to render the metallic silver component thereof bioerodible to provide in vivo sustained release of silver ions in a concentration sufficient to provide a localized antimicrobial effect but insufficient to cause significant damage to connective tissue, and surgically implanting the thus activated implant in the human or animal body.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as claimed in claim 13 wherein said treatment to activate the latently bioerodible metallic silver component comprises heating at a temperature in excess of about 180° C.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as claimed in claim 13 wherein said treatment to activate the latently bioerodible metallic silver component comprises contact with hydrogen peroxide.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
GB334627A
Cited
US2040806A
Cited
US3557795A
Cited
US4054139A
Cited
GB1582016A
Cited
US4263681A
Cited
GB1588933A
Cited
GB2053687A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-10-16 | 1988-04-16 | 1988-10-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-10-16 | 1992-04-16 | 1992-10-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-10-16 | 1996-04-16 | 1996-10-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |