The Procter Gamble Company

Donald S Lucas

Roger L Stone

Robert V Mustacich

Eugene R Cooper

The present invention relates to medical polymers and devices made therefrom, and is based on the discovery that certain carboxylate antimicrobial agents can be releasably incorporated into permeable polymers. The walls of medical devices such as catheters can be fashioned from such polymers. In use, the antimicrobial agent diffuses from the walls to the surface of the device to form an antimicrobial barrier on the surface of the device and a zone of microbial inhibition on tissue surfaces surrounding the device, thereby effectively supplementing the body's own natural microbial barriers where they have been compromised. The bacterial contamination-resistant carboxylate-plus-polymer compositions herein can be used in the manufacture of a wide variety of medical devices, especially urinary catheters, intravenous catheters, wound dressings, and the like.

Antimicrobial polymer compositions

Disinfecting solutions for use with hydrophilic soft contact lenses, containing effective amounts of C.sub.5 -C.sub.12 fatty acids, especially octanoic acid, are disclosed. These solutions provide broad spectrum antimicrobial efficacy together with rapid and complete desorption of the fatty acid antimicrobial from the contact lens material, resulting in a minimization of irritation and sensitization risks to the user. The method of disinfecting hydrophilic soft contact lenses using C.sub.5 -C.sub.12 fatty acids is also disclosed.

Disinfecting solutions for hydrophilic contact lenses

At least part of an antimicrobial catheter for use in humans and lower animals comprises a permeable polymer. The polymer must be in contact with both the environment external to the catheter and with a liquid reservoir of antimicrobial agent flowing through the lumen of the catheter, said liquid reservoir comprising an aqueous solution containing at least a minimum lethal concentration of a straight-chain carboxylic acid or carboxylic acid salt having from 4 to 9 carbon atoms. In use, the antimicrobial agent diffuses from the liquid reservoir through the polymer and provides a zone of microbial inhibition around the external surface of the catheter. The invention thus prevents nosocomial infections resulting from the use of catheters by inhibiting microorganisms at and around the placement site of the catheter when the catheter is inserted into the body of a human or lower animal.

Growing community of inventors

Fairfield, OH, United States of America

Donald S Lucas