Patent US5945153A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5945153A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Non-irritating antimicrobial coating for medical implants and a process for preparing same
Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
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Filing: 1997-07-29
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Granted: 1999-08-31
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Expires: 2017-07-29
Abstract
Abstract The present invention provides a process of forming an antimicrobial coating on a surface of a medical implant, the coating comprising an antimicrobially effective amount of antimicrobial metal atoms incorporated into a coating of amorphous carbonaceous material.
Inventors
- 👤 Geoffrey Dearnaley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 02:17
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61L; A61L27/00; A61L27/28; A61L27/30; A61L27/303; A61L27/306; C; C23; C23C; C23C14/00; C23C14/06; C23C14/0605; C23C16/00; C23C16/22; C23C16/26; C23C16/44; C23C16/48; C23C16/486; A61F; A61F2310/00; A61F2310/00389; A61F2310/00574
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
167 words
A process of forming an antimicrobial coating on a surface of a biomaterial comprising: exposing said surface of said biomaterial to a vacuum sufficient to permit a vaporized stream of a carbon-based diffusion pump fluid to condense onto said surface; depositing onto said surface metal atoms selected from the group consisting of silver, gold, and a combination thereof; directing onto said surface a vaporized stream of said carbon-based diffusion pump fluid under temperature conditions sufficient to condense said fluid onto said surface, thereby forming a diamond-like carbon precursor film; bombarding said diamond-like carbon precursor film with an energetic beam of ions under conditions effective to form on said surface an amorphous diamond-like carbon coating comprising a dispersion of said metal atoms; wherein said dispersion of said metal atoms in said diamond-like carbon coating is effective to provide gradual, controlled release of said metal from said on coating at a rate effective to impart antimicrobial protection, but insufficient to irritate tissue which comes into contact with said surface.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
167 words
A process of forming an antimicrobial coating on a surface of a biomaterial comprising: exposing said surface of said biomaterial to a vacuum sufficient to permit a vaporized stream of a carbon-based diffusion pump fluid to condense onto said surface; depositing onto said surface metal atoms selected from the group consisting of silver, gold, and a combination thereof; directing onto said surface a vaporized stream of said carbon-based diffusion pump fluid under temperature conditions sufficient to condense said fluid onto said surface, thereby forming a diamond-like carbon precursor film; bombarding said diamond-like carbon precursor film with an energetic beam of ions under conditions effective to form on said surface an amorphous diamond-like carbon coating comprising a dispersion of said metal atoms; wherein said dispersion of said metal atoms in said diamond-like carbon coating is effective to provide gradual, controlled release of said metal from said on coating at a rate effective to impart antimicrobial protection, but insufficient to irritate tissue which comes into contact with said surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said process is repeated until said diamond-like carbon coating has a thickness of between about 1-5 microns.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said energy is about 10 keV.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 2 wherein said energy is about 10 keV.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said metal atoms are silver atoms.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 2 wherein said metal atoms are silver atoms.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said amount of said metal atoms is about 10 metal atoms for every molecule of said carbon-based diffusion pump fluid.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process of claim 4 wherein said amount of said metal atoms is about 10 metal atoms for every molecule of said carbon-based diffusion pump fluid.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said depositing said metal atoms comprises sputtering said metal atoms onto said surface.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said depositing said metal atoms comprises sputtering said metal atoms onto said surface.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said carbon-based diffusion pump fluid comprises elements selected from the group consisting of oxygen, nitrogen, fluorine, and combinations thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said vacuum comprises a vacuum chamber evacuated to a pressure of about 10 -5 torr or less.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
129 words
A process of forming an antimicrobial coating on a surface of a medical implant comprising: exposing said implant to a vacuum sufficient to permit a vaporized stream comprising polyphenyl ether to condense onto said surface of said implant; depositing metal atoms selected from the group consisting of silver and gold onto said surface; directing said vaporized stream of polyphenyl ether onto said surface under temperature conditions sufficient to condense said precursor molecules onto said surface, thereby forming a diamond-like carbon precursor film; and bombarding said diamond-like carbon precursor film with an energetic beam of ions under conditions effective to form on said surface diamond-like carbon coating comprising an amount of said metal atoms sufficient to impart antimicrobial protection to said implant but insufficient to irritate adjacent tissues after implantation.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
129 words
A process of forming an antimicrobial coating on a surface of a medical implant comprising: exposing said implant to a vacuum sufficient to permit a vaporized stream comprising polyphenyl ether to condense onto said surface of said implant; depositing metal atoms selected from the group consisting of silver and gold onto said surface; directing said vaporized stream of polyphenyl ether onto said surface under temperature conditions sufficient to condense said precursor molecules onto said surface, thereby forming a diamond-like carbon precursor film; and bombarding said diamond-like carbon precursor film with an energetic beam of ions under conditions effective to form on said surface diamond-like carbon coating comprising an amount of said metal atoms sufficient to impart antimicrobial protection to said implant but insufficient to irritate adjacent tissues after implantation.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
163 words
A process of forming an antimicrobial coating on a surface of a biomaterial comprising: exposing said surface to a vacuum sufficient to permit a vaporized stream of a metallo-organic compound having vaporization properties similar to diffusion pump fluids to condense onto said surface; directing onto said surface an initial vaporized stream of said metallo-organic compound under temperature conditions sufficient to condense said metallo-organic compound onto said surface, wherein said metallo-organic compound comprises metal atoms selected from the group consisting of atoms of gold, silver, and a combination thereof; bombarding said surface with an energetic beam of ions under conditions effective to form an amorphous diamond-like carbon coating on said surface comprising a dispersion of said metal atoms; wherein said dispersion of said metal atoms in said diamond-like carbon coating is effective to provide gradual, controlled release of said metal from said on coating at a rate effective to impart antimicrobial protection, but insufficient to irritate tissue which comes into contact with said surface.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
163 words
A process of forming an antimicrobial coating on a surface of a biomaterial comprising: exposing said surface to a vacuum sufficient to permit a vaporized stream of a metallo-organic compound having vaporization properties similar to diffusion pump fluids to condense onto said surface; directing onto said surface an initial vaporized stream of said metallo-organic compound under temperature conditions sufficient to condense said metallo-organic compound onto said surface, wherein said metallo-organic compound comprises metal atoms selected from the group consisting of atoms of gold, silver, and a combination thereof; bombarding said surface with an energetic beam of ions under conditions effective to form an amorphous diamond-like carbon coating on said surface comprising a dispersion of said metal atoms; wherein said dispersion of said metal atoms in said diamond-like carbon coating is effective to provide gradual, controlled release of said metal from said on coating at a rate effective to impart antimicrobial protection, but insufficient to irritate tissue which comes into contact with said surface.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 14 wherein said metallo-organic compound comprises silver phthalocyanine.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 14 wherein said process is repeated until said diamond-like carbon coating has a thickness of between about 1-5 microns.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 15 wherein said process is repeated until said carbonaceous coating has a thickness of between about 1-5 microns.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 14 wherein said energy is about 10 keV.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said vacuum comprises a vacuum chamber evacuated to a pressure of about 10 -5 torr or less.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
173 words
A process of forming an antimicrobial coating on a surface of a medical implant comprising: exposing said surface to a vacuum sufficient to permit a vaporized stream of a carbon-based diffusion pump fluid other than an organosilicon to condense onto said surface of said medical implant; depositing onto said surface metal atoms selected from the group consisting of silver, gold, and a combination thereof; directing onto said surface a vaporized stream of said carbon-based diffusion pump fluid under temperature conditions sufficient to condense said fluid onto said surface to form a diamond-like carbon precursor film; bombarding said diamond-like carbon precursor film with an energetic beam of ions under conditions effective to form on said surface an amorphous diamond-like carbon coating comprising a dispersion of said metal atoms; wherein said dispersion of said metal atoms in said diamond-like carbon coating is effective to provide gradual, controlled release of said metal from said on coating at a rate effective to impart antimicrobial protection, but insufficient to irritate tissue which comes into contact with said surface.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
173 words
A process of forming an antimicrobial coating on a surface of a medical implant comprising: exposing said surface to a vacuum sufficient to permit a vaporized stream of a carbon-based diffusion pump fluid other than an organosilicon to condense onto said surface of said medical implant; depositing onto said surface metal atoms selected from the group consisting of silver, gold, and a combination thereof; directing onto said surface a vaporized stream of said carbon-based diffusion pump fluid under temperature conditions sufficient to condense said fluid onto said surface to form a diamond-like carbon precursor film; bombarding said diamond-like carbon precursor film with an energetic beam of ions under conditions effective to form on said surface an amorphous diamond-like carbon coating comprising a dispersion of said metal atoms; wherein said dispersion of said metal atoms in said diamond-like carbon coating is effective to provide gradual, controlled release of said metal from said on coating at a rate effective to impart antimicrobial protection, but insufficient to irritate tissue which comes into contact with said surface.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 20 wherein said vacuum comprises a vacuum chamber evacuated to a pressure of about 10 -5 torr or less.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
172 words
A process of forming an antimicrobial coating on a surface of a medical implant comprising: exposing said surface to a vacuum sufficient to permit a vaporized stream of a carbon-based diffusion pump fluid to condense onto a surface of said implant; subsequently depositing onto said surface metal atoms selected from the group consisting of silver, gold, and a combination thereof; thereafter directing onto said surface a vaporized stream of said carbon-based diffusion pump fluid under temperature conditions sufficient to condense said fluid onto said surface to form a diamond-like carbon precursor film; and subsequently bombarding said diamond-like carbon precursor film with an energetic beam of ions under conditions effective to form on said surface an amorphous diamond-like carbon coating comprising a dispersion of said metal atoms; wherein said dispersion of said metal atoms in said diamond-like carbon coating is effective to provide gradual, controlled release of said metal from said on coating at a rate effective to impart antimicrobial protection, but insufficient to irritate tissue which comes into contact with said surface.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
172 words
A process of forming an antimicrobial coating on a surface of a medical implant comprising: exposing said surface to a vacuum sufficient to permit a vaporized stream of a carbon-based diffusion pump fluid to condense onto a surface of said implant; subsequently depositing onto said surface metal atoms selected from the group consisting of silver, gold, and a combination thereof; thereafter directing onto said surface a vaporized stream of said carbon-based diffusion pump fluid under temperature conditions sufficient to condense said fluid onto said surface to form a diamond-like carbon precursor film; and subsequently bombarding said diamond-like carbon precursor film with an energetic beam of ions under conditions effective to form on said surface an amorphous diamond-like carbon coating comprising a dispersion of said metal atoms; wherein said dispersion of said metal atoms in said diamond-like carbon coating is effective to provide gradual, controlled release of said metal from said on coating at a rate effective to impart antimicrobial protection, but insufficient to irritate tissue which comes into contact with said surface.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 22 wherein said vacuum comprises a vacuum chamber evacuated to a pressure of about 10 -5 torr or less.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 22 wherein said carbon-based diffusion pump fluid comprises a fluid other than an organosilicon.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-08-30 | 2003-03-01 | 2003-08-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-08-30 | 2007-03-01 | 2007-08-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-08-30 | 2011-03-01 | 2011-08-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |