Medical devices having improved antimicrobial/antithrombogenic properties

摘要

An enhanced antimicrobial antithrombogenic medical device is formed by using an oligodynamic metal and a noble metal with a polymer, and forming the mixture into a device. By using low concentrations of conductive polymers or ionophoric compounds, non-conductive, or highly plasticized polymers can be likewise blended into an iontophoretic-capable composition. The surface of the device may be treated with a solvent to remove the top surface of the polymer and create surface voids in the composition in order to expose previously encapsulated iontophoretic materials. This surface treatment results in a larger reaction area of the iontophoretic capable composition that produces larger yields of bacteriostatic oligodynamic ions for a longer duration thereby increasing the antimicrobial effectiveness of the composition. The surface of the antimicrobial composition may be treated with an anticoagulant such as heparin or heparin complexed with a quaternary ammonium salt for an added bacteriostatic effect.