WO1992013491A1 - Improved surgical hardware with bacteriostatic silver coating, and method of using same - Google Patents

Improved surgical hardware with bacteriostatic silver coating, and method of using same Download PDF

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Publication number
WO1992013491A1
WO1992013491A1 PCT/US1992/000209 US9200209W WO9213491A1 WO 1992013491 A1 WO1992013491 A1 WO 1992013491A1 US 9200209 W US9200209 W US 9200209W WO 9213491 A1 WO9213491 A1 WO 9213491A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
hardware
silver
surgical
silver coating
wound
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US1992/000209
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Claude Vidal
Russell J. Redmond
Original Assignee
Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company filed Critical Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company
Publication of WO1992013491A1 publication Critical patent/WO1992013491A1/en

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Classifications

    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61BDIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B17/00Surgical instruments, devices or methods, e.g. tourniquets
    • A61B17/064Surgical staples, i.e. penetrating the tissue

Definitions

  • This invention relates to surgical hardware of the type used to close wounds, and to an improved method of closing wounds using such hardware.
  • Various items of metal hardware have been developed to assist in closing wounds. At one time such hardware was made from solid silver. However, because of silver's high ductility and relatively low strength, silver hardware had to be made very coarse to have adequate mechanical properties. For many applications solid silver hardware was objectionably coarse. High strength metals such as stainless steel and titanium, permit more slender, clinically desirable hardware designs, and have for decades been the state of the art materials for surgical hardware.
  • Wound infection is always a serious concern because of its system-wide effect and retardation of normal wound healing, but when surgical hardware is required and used there are additional potential complications from wound infection including dehiscence or splitting of the wound, leakage from the wound, and formation of adhesions. While conventional steel and titanium hardware can be sterilized, it does not appear to have significant bacteriostatic effect, and may actually promote infection compared with other materials. Nevertheless, because these high strength metals permit the manufacture of such small, high strength hardware, these metals are still widely used.
  • the present invention provides an improved item of surgical hardware that provides the strength and compact size of a high strength metal such as stainless steel or titanium, and bacteriostatic properties to reduce the risk of wound infection.
  • This hardware allows wounds to be neatly and effectively closed, and provides some bacteriostatic action that reduces the risk of many of the complications encountered in the use of surgical hardware.
  • the invention relates to a staple, wire suture, clip, or other item of surgical hardware used in closing wounds.
  • the surgical hardware constructed according to the principles of the present invention comprises an item of surgical hardware that is made from a high strength metal, for example stainless steel or titanium, and which has a silver coating.
  • the silver coating may be either silver plating, or a coating of silver salt.
  • the method of closing wounds comprises closing the wounds with surgical hardware made from a high strength metal and which has a silver coating.
  • the hardware of the present invention provides all of the advantages of being constructed from a high strength metal, including high strength and compact size, and the additional benefit of bacteriostatic action which helps to reduce the risk of complications resulting from the use of the hardware.
  • the compact design permitted by the present invention ensures that the hardware has sufficient strength to hold the wound closed, and a sufficiently compact size that it does not unduly disturb the wound site or interfere with healing.
  • the cost of manufacturing hardware according to the principles of the present invention is only marginally higher than the cost of manufacturing conventional hardware.
  • the method of this invention provides a way to close wounds with reduced risk of infection and complications.
  • FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an internal (soft tissue) staple constructed according to the principles of this invention
  • FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of a skin staple constructed according to the principles of this invention
  • FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of a fascia staple constructed according to the principles of this invention
  • FIGURE 4 is a. perspective view of a vascular staple constructed according to the principles of this invention
  • FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of a vascular clip constructed according to the principles of this invention
  • FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of a wire suture constructed according to the principles of this invention.
  • FIGURE 7 is a cross-sectional view of the wire suture, taken along the plane of line 7-7 in Figure 6.
  • Surgical staples constructed according to the principles of the present invention are indicated generally as 20, 22, 24, and 26 in Figures 1 - 4.
  • a surgical clip constructed according to the principles of the present invention is indicated generally as 28 in Figure 5.
  • a wire suture constructed according to the principles of the present invention is indicated generally as 30 in Figure 6.
  • the staples 20 - 26, the clip 28, and the suture 30 are made from a high strength surgical metal such as a stainless steel or titanium.
  • the staples 20 - 26, the clip 28, and the wire suture 30 have a silver coating. This is best shown in Figure 7 where the suture is shown as comprising high strength surgical metal 32 with a silver coating 34.
  • the silver coating provides a bacteriostatic action that inhibits infection. Thus infection is less likely to propagate when the surgical hardware of the present invention is used, and thus there is a reduced risk from infection-related complications from the use of such hardware.
  • the silver coating may be silver plating applied by a hot dip or electro-deposition process, or some other method.
  • the coating may be a silver salt applied to the exterior of the item of hardware, for example silver nitrate, or silver-zinc allantoinate.
  • the method of the present invention relates to an improved method of closing surgical wounds with reduced risk of infection.
  • the method comprises the step of closing the wound with a staple, wire suture, clip or other item of surgical hardware made from a high strength metal that has a silver coating.
  • the bacteriostatic effect of the hardware of this invention was tested by introducing a silver coated staple according to the principles of this invention, a stainless steel staple, and titanium staple into two difference agar media: Trypticase Soy Sheep Agar and Mueller Hinton Agar.
  • Each of the staples was screened against staph aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeriginosa, and strep faecales.
  • the plates were inoculated with a standard turbidity of a 0.5 McFarland standard.
  • the staples were placed on top of the agar and the plates were incubated at 35°C for 24 hours.
  • only the silver coated staple of the present invention showed any bacteriostatic action showing a zone of inhibition around the staple.

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  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Surgery (AREA)
  • Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Biomedical Technology (AREA)
  • Nuclear Medicine, Radiotherapy & Molecular Imaging (AREA)
  • Medical Informatics (AREA)
  • Molecular Biology (AREA)
  • Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
  • Materials For Medical Uses (AREA)

Abstract

A staple, wire suture, clip, or other item of surgical hardware is disclosed which can be used to close a wound, made from a high strength metal to have a low profile design to minimize interference and disturbance of the wound, and having a bacteriostatic silver coating to reduce the risk of wound infection from the hardware. A method of closing surgical wounds with reduced risk of infection is also disclosed, the method includes the steps of closing the wound with a staple, wire suture, clip, or other item of surgical hardware made from a high strength metal that has a silver coating.

Description

IMPROVED SURGICAL HARDWARE WITH BACTERIOSTATIC SILVER COATING. AND METHOD OF USING SAME
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to surgical hardware of the type used to close wounds, and to an improved method of closing wounds using such hardware. Various items of metal hardware have been developed to assist in closing wounds. At one time such hardware was made from solid silver. However, because of silver's high ductility and relatively low strength, silver hardware had to be made very coarse to have adequate mechanical properties. For many applications solid silver hardware was objectionably coarse. High strength metals such as stainless steel and titanium, permit more slender, clinically desirable hardware designs, and have for decades been the state of the art materials for surgical hardware. Wound infection is always a serious concern because of its system-wide effect and retardation of normal wound healing, but when surgical hardware is required and used there are additional potential complications from wound infection including dehiscence or splitting of the wound, leakage from the wound, and formation of adhesions. While conventional steel and titanium hardware can be sterilized, it does not appear to have significant bacteriostatic effect, and may actually promote infection compared with other materials. Nevertheless, because these high strength metals permit the manufacture of such small, high strength hardware, these metals are still widely used.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an improved item of surgical hardware that provides the strength and compact size of a high strength metal such as stainless steel or titanium, and bacteriostatic properties to reduce the risk of wound infection. This hardware allows wounds to be neatly and effectively closed, and provides some bacteriostatic action that reduces the risk of many of the complications encountered in the use of surgical hardware. The invention relates to a staple, wire suture, clip, or other item of surgical hardware used in closing wounds. Generally, the surgical hardware constructed according to the principles of the present invention comprises an item of surgical hardware that is made from a high strength metal, for example stainless steel or titanium, and which has a silver coating. The silver coating may be either silver plating, or a coating of silver salt. Generally the method of closing wounds according to the present invention comprises closing the wounds with surgical hardware made from a high strength metal and which has a silver coating. The hardware of the present invention provides all of the advantages of being constructed from a high strength metal, including high strength and compact size, and the additional benefit of bacteriostatic action which helps to reduce the risk of complications resulting from the use of the hardware. The compact design permitted by the present invention ensures that the hardware has sufficient strength to hold the wound closed, and a sufficiently compact size that it does not unduly disturb the wound site or interfere with healing. The cost of manufacturing hardware according to the principles of the present invention is only marginally higher than the cost of manufacturing conventional hardware. The method of this invention provides a way to close wounds with reduced risk of infection and complications. These and other features and advantages will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an internal (soft tissue) staple constructed according to the principles of this invention; FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of a skin staple constructed according to the principles of this invention; FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of a fascia staple constructed according to the principles of this invention; FIGURE 4 is a. perspective view of a vascular staple constructed according to the principles of this invention; FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of a vascular clip constructed according to the principles of this invention; FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of a wire suture constructed according to the principles of this invention; and
FIGURE 7 is a cross-sectional view of the wire suture, taken along the plane of line 7-7 in Figure 6.
Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Surgical staples constructed according to the principles of the present invention are indicated generally as 20, 22, 24, and 26 in Figures 1 - 4. A surgical clip constructed according to the principles of the present invention is indicated generally as 28 in Figure 5. A wire suture constructed according to the principles of the present invention is indicated generally as 30 in Figure 6. Although the present invention is described with respect to staples, clips, and sutures, the invention is not so limited and relates to any item of surgical hardware of the type used to close wounds. The staples 20 - 26, the clip 28, and the suture 30 are made from a high strength surgical metal such as a stainless steel or titanium. Because they are constructed of a high strength material, these items have superior strength, and more importantly they can be designed to be small and compact so that they do not unnecessarily disturb the wound or interfere with proper healing. However, unlike any prior art item of surgical hardware, the staples 20 - 26, the clip 28, and the wire suture 30 have a silver coating. This is best shown in Figure 7 where the suture is shown as comprising high strength surgical metal 32 with a silver coating 34. The silver coating provides a bacteriostatic action that inhibits infection. Thus infection is less likely to propagate when the surgical hardware of the present invention is used, and thus there is a reduced risk from infection-related complications from the use of such hardware.
The silver coating may be silver plating applied by a hot dip or electro-deposition process, or some other method. Alternatively, the coating may be a silver salt applied to the exterior of the item of hardware, for example silver nitrate, or silver-zinc allantoinate.
The method of the present invention relates to an improved method of closing surgical wounds with reduced risk of infection. The method comprises the step of closing the wound with a staple, wire suture, clip or other item of surgical hardware made from a high strength metal that has a silver coating.
The bacteriostatic effect of the hardware of this invention was tested by introducing a silver coated staple according to the principles of this invention, a stainless steel staple, and titanium staple into two difference agar media: Trypticase Soy Sheep Agar and Mueller Hinton Agar. Each of the staples was screened against staph aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeriginosa, and strep faecales. The plates were inoculated with a standard turbidity of a 0.5 McFarland standard. The staples were placed on top of the agar and the plates were incubated at 35°C for 24 hours. As illustrated in the following table, only the silver coated staple of the present invention showed any bacteriostatic action showing a zone of inhibition around the staple.
Escherichia Pseudomonas Strep Staphaureus Coli Aeriginosa Faecales
Figure imgf000006_0001
In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained. As various changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limited sense.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
1. An improved staple, wire suture, clip, or other metallic item of surgical hardware of the type made from a high strength metal such as stainless steel or titanium, the improvement comprising a silver coating on the surface of the hardware.
2. The hardware according to claim I wherein the silver coating comprises silver plating.
3. The hardware according to claim 1 wherein the silver coating comprises silver salts.
4. A staple, wire suture, clip, or other item of surgical hardware used to close a wound, made from a high strength metal to have a low profile design to minimize interference and disturbance of the wound, and having a bacteriostatic silver coating to reduce the risk of wound infection from the hardware.
5. The hardware according to claim 4 wherein the silver coating comprises silver plating.
6. The hardware according to claim 4 wherein the silver coating comprises silver salts.
7. A method of closing surgical wounds with reduced risk of infection comprising the step of closing the wound with a staple, wire suture, clip or other item of surgical hardware made from a high strength metal that has a silver coating.
8. The method according to claim 4 wherein the silver coating comprises silver plating.
9. The method according to claim 4 wherein the silver coating comprises silver salts.
10. A surgical staple having bacteriostatic coating.
11. A surgical staple according to claim 1 wherein said bacteriostatic coating is silver.
PCT/US1992/000209 1991-02-06 1992-01-08 Improved surgical hardware with bacteriostatic silver coating, and method of using same WO1992013491A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US65335391A 1991-02-06 1991-02-06
US653,353 1991-02-06

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Cited By (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2001080920A2 (en) 2000-04-17 2001-11-01 Nucryst Pharmaceuticals Corp. Antimicrobial bioabsorbable materials
KR20020057446A (en) * 2001-01-04 2002-07-11 안정오 Operating Room with Gold or Silver
EP1449816A1 (en) 2003-02-20 2004-08-25 Gemtron Corporation Antimicrobial glass and glass-like products and method of preparing same
US6861570B1 (en) 1997-09-22 2005-03-01 A. Bart Flick Multilayer conductive appliance having wound healing and analgesic properties
US6989156B2 (en) 2001-04-23 2006-01-24 Nucryst Pharmaceuticals Corp. Therapeutic treatments using the direct application of antimicrobial metal compositions
WO2006021155A1 (en) * 2004-08-25 2006-03-02 Xiaoyan Ren Nano-silver thread
US7385101B2 (en) 2001-12-20 2008-06-10 Noble Fiber Technologies, Llc Antibiotic textile materials suitable for wound dressings and wound dressings incorporating the same
US8097017B2 (en) 2004-10-18 2012-01-17 Tyco Healthcare Group Lp Surgical fasteners coated with wound treatment materials
US20130302427A1 (en) * 2012-05-11 2013-11-14 Dentsply International Inc. Medical device having a surface comprising nanoparticles
US8636191B2 (en) 2003-05-09 2014-01-28 Covidien Lp Anastomotic staple with capillary which expels a bonding agent upon deformation
RU2517121C2 (en) * 2012-08-21 2014-05-27 Государственное научное учреждение Институт экспериментальной ветеринарии Сибири и Дальнего Востока Российской академии сельскохозяйственных наук (ГНУ ИЭВСиДВ Россельхозакадемии) Method for improving quality of surgical suture
RU2770277C1 (en) * 2021-08-23 2022-04-15 Федеральное государственное бюджетное учреждение науки Южный научный центр Российской академии наук (ЮНЦ РАН) Method for increasing the quantity and antibacterial activity of silver nanoparticles on a silk suture material
WO2023009082A1 (en) * 2021-07-30 2023-02-02 Dogan Oezcan Surgical skin staples with silver ion coating

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
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WO1981002668A1 (en) * 1980-03-27 1981-10-01 Nat Res Dev Orthopaedic implants
EP0046715A2 (en) * 1980-08-25 1982-03-03 United States Surgical Corporation Improved surgical staples
CH654738A5 (en) * 1985-02-26 1986-03-14 Ines Blaettler Surgical implants and repair plates
EP0206024A2 (en) * 1985-06-07 1986-12-30 Becton, Dickinson and Company Antimicrobial surfaces and inhibition of microorganism growth thereby
EP0255248A2 (en) * 1986-07-24 1988-02-03 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Antimicrobial wound dressing
EP0328421A2 (en) * 1988-02-11 1989-08-16 The Trustees Of Columbia University In The City Of New York Infection-resistant compositions, medical devices and surfaces and methods for preparing and using same
EP0406014A1 (en) * 1989-06-30 1991-01-02 Ethicon, Inc. Image enhancing surgical staple

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1981002668A1 (en) * 1980-03-27 1981-10-01 Nat Res Dev Orthopaedic implants
EP0046715A2 (en) * 1980-08-25 1982-03-03 United States Surgical Corporation Improved surgical staples
CH654738A5 (en) * 1985-02-26 1986-03-14 Ines Blaettler Surgical implants and repair plates
EP0206024A2 (en) * 1985-06-07 1986-12-30 Becton, Dickinson and Company Antimicrobial surfaces and inhibition of microorganism growth thereby
EP0255248A2 (en) * 1986-07-24 1988-02-03 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Antimicrobial wound dressing
EP0328421A2 (en) * 1988-02-11 1989-08-16 The Trustees Of Columbia University In The City Of New York Infection-resistant compositions, medical devices and surfaces and methods for preparing and using same
EP0406014A1 (en) * 1989-06-30 1991-01-02 Ethicon, Inc. Image enhancing surgical staple

Cited By (20)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6861570B1 (en) 1997-09-22 2005-03-01 A. Bart Flick Multilayer conductive appliance having wound healing and analgesic properties
WO2001080920A2 (en) 2000-04-17 2001-11-01 Nucryst Pharmaceuticals Corp. Antimicrobial bioabsorbable materials
KR20020057446A (en) * 2001-01-04 2002-07-11 안정오 Operating Room with Gold or Silver
US6989156B2 (en) 2001-04-23 2006-01-24 Nucryst Pharmaceuticals Corp. Therapeutic treatments using the direct application of antimicrobial metal compositions
US7385101B2 (en) 2001-12-20 2008-06-10 Noble Fiber Technologies, Llc Antibiotic textile materials suitable for wound dressings and wound dressings incorporating the same
EP1449816A1 (en) 2003-02-20 2004-08-25 Gemtron Corporation Antimicrobial glass and glass-like products and method of preparing same
US6921546B2 (en) 2003-02-20 2005-07-26 Gemtron Corporation Antimicrobial glass and glass-like products and method of preparing same
US8636191B2 (en) 2003-05-09 2014-01-28 Covidien Lp Anastomotic staple with capillary which expels a bonding agent upon deformation
US10092289B2 (en) 2003-05-09 2018-10-09 Covidien Lp Anastomotic staple with capillary which expels a bonding agent upon deformation
US9301762B2 (en) 2003-05-09 2016-04-05 Covidien Lp Anastomotic staple with capillary which expels a bonding agent upon deformation
US10736627B2 (en) 2003-05-09 2020-08-11 Covidien Lp Anastomotic staple with capillary which expels a bonding agent upon deformation
WO2006021155A1 (en) * 2004-08-25 2006-03-02 Xiaoyan Ren Nano-silver thread
US8435263B2 (en) 2004-10-18 2013-05-07 Covidien Lp Surgical fasteners coated with wound treatment materials
US8758404B2 (en) 2004-10-18 2014-06-24 Covidien Lp Surgical fasteners coated with wound treatment materials
US8097017B2 (en) 2004-10-18 2012-01-17 Tyco Healthcare Group Lp Surgical fasteners coated with wound treatment materials
US20130302427A1 (en) * 2012-05-11 2013-11-14 Dentsply International Inc. Medical device having a surface comprising nanoparticles
US9889237B2 (en) * 2012-05-11 2018-02-13 Dentsply Sirona Inc. Medical device having a surface comprising nanoparticles
RU2517121C2 (en) * 2012-08-21 2014-05-27 Государственное научное учреждение Институт экспериментальной ветеринарии Сибири и Дальнего Востока Российской академии сельскохозяйственных наук (ГНУ ИЭВСиДВ Россельхозакадемии) Method for improving quality of surgical suture
WO2023009082A1 (en) * 2021-07-30 2023-02-02 Dogan Oezcan Surgical skin staples with silver ion coating
RU2770277C1 (en) * 2021-08-23 2022-04-15 Федеральное государственное бюджетное учреждение науки Южный научный центр Российской академии наук (ЮНЦ РАН) Method for increasing the quantity and antibacterial activity of silver nanoparticles on a silk suture material

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