Westaim Technologies

Kashmir Singh Gill

Robert Edward Burrell

Larry Roy Morris

Prasad Shrikrishna Apte

Sudhindra Bharat Sant

Roderick John Precht

Anti-microbial coatings and method of forming same on medical devices are provided. The coatings are preferably formed by depositing an anti-microbial, biocompatible metal by vapor deposition techniques to produce atomic disorder in the coating such that a sustained release of metal ions sufficient to produce an anti-microbial effect is achieved. Preferred deposition conditions to achieve atomic disorder include a lower than normal substrate temperature, and one or more of a higher than normal working gas pressure and a lower than normal angle of incidence of coating flux. Anti-microbial powders formed by vapor deposition or altered by mechanical working to produce atomic disorder are also provided. Novel anti-microbial silver materials are defined, characterized by having a positive rest potential, a T.sub.rec /T.sub.m less than 0.33, and a grain size less than 200 nm. Anti-microbial fine grain or nanocrystalline materials are provided, together with methods of preparation, wherein the anti-microbial metal if deposited in a matrix with atoms or molecules of a different material such as other biocompatible metals (ex. Ta), trapped or absorbed oxygen, or compounds of anti-microbial metals or biocompatible metals (ex. Ag0 or TaO).

Anti-microbial materials

Production of an anti-microbial effect in an alcohol or water based electrolyte is achieved by preparing silver materials that form complex ions other than Ag.sup.+, Ag.sup.2+, or Ag.sup.3+, and which produce an anti-microbial effect that is greater than that produced by an equivalent amount of silver as Ag.sup.+. Exemplary complex silver ions produced include Ag(CN).sub.2.sup.-, AgCN(.sub.aq)(ion pair), Ag(NH.sub.3).sub.2.sup.+, AgCl.sub.2.sup.-, Ag(OH).sub.2.sup.-, Ag.sub.2 (OH).sub.3.sup.-, Ag.sub.3 (OH).sub.4.sup.-, and Ag(S.sub.2 O.sub.3).sub.2.sup.3-. The silver materials may be prepared as powders or as solutions or suspensions containing the complex silver ions. The silver materials might also be prepared as coatings, foils, powders, or fine grain or nanocrystalline powders, which are formed with atomic disorder to provide sustained release of the complex silver ions.

Process for producing anti-microbial effect with complex silver ions

Anti-microbial coatings and method of forming same on medical devices are provided. The coatings are preferably formed by depositing an anti-microbial, biocompatible metal by vapour deposition techniques to produce atomic disorder in the coating such that a sustained release of metal ions sufficient to produce an anti-microbial effect is achieved. Preferred deposition conditions to achieve atomic disorder include a lower than normal substrate temperature, and one or more of a higher than normal working gas pressure and a lower than normal angle of incidence of coating flux. Anti-microbial powders formed by vapour deposition or altered by mechanical working to produce atomic disorder are also provided. Novel anti-microbial silver materials are defined, characterized by having a positive rest potential, a T.sub.rec /T.sub.m less than 0.33, and a grain size less than 200 nm. Anti-microbial fine grain or nanocrystalline materials are provided, together with methods of preparation, wherein the anti-microbial metal if deposited in a matrix with atoms or molecules of a different material such as other biocompatible metals (ex. Ta), trapped or absorbed oxygen, or compounds of anti-microbial metals or biocompatible metals (ex. Ag0 or TaO).

Anti-microbial coatings and method of forming same on medical devices are provided. The coatings are preferably formed by depositing an anti-microbial, biocompatible metal by vapor deposition techniques to produce atomic disorder in the coating such that a sustained release of metal ions sufficient to produce an anti-microbial effect is achieved. Preferred deposition conditions to achieve atomic disorder include a lower than normal substrate temperature, and one or more of a higher than normal working gas pressure and a lower than normal angle of incidence of coating flux. Anti-microbial powders formed by vapor deposition or altered by mechanical working to produce atomic disorder are also provided. Novel anti-microbial silver materials are defined, characterized by having a positive rest potential, a T.sub.rec /T.sub.m less than 0.33, and a grain size less than 200 nm. Anti-microbial fine grain or nanocrystalline materials are provided, together with methods of preparation, wherein the anti-microbial metal if deposited in a matrix with atoms or molecules of a different material such as other biocompatible metals (ex. Ta), trapped or absorbed oxygen, or compounds of anti-microbial metals or biocompatible metals (ex. AgO or TaO).

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Sherwood Park, Canada

Kashmir Singh Gill