ANTI-INFECTIVE MEDICAL DEVICE AND PRODUCTION METHOD

摘要

Methods of providing and/or maintaining anti-infective activity to a medical device generally comprising exposing the medical device to an anti-infective oxidant and transferring the anti-infective oxidant into a wall of the medical device. One embodiment comprises exposing a medical device which is at least in part within a patient to the anti-infective oxidant. Another embodiment comprises exposing a medical device to an aqueous solution which produces the anti-infective oxidant and transferring a sufficient amount of the anti-infective oxidant into the medical device wall to provide the medical device with anti-infective activity. Another aspect of the invention is directed to an oxidant-releasing member which has the anti-infective oxidant releasably contained therein and which is configured to be disposed adjacent to the medical device. Presently preferred medical devices useful in the method of the invention include catheters such as venous, arterial, and urinary catheters, generally comprising an elongated catheter shaft having a lumen extending therein, and optionally having a balloon on the shaft in fluid communication with the catheter lumen.