Medical devices with galvanic particulates

Abstract

Implantable medical devices having galvanic particulates are disclosed. The particulates may be coated onto at least part of a surface of the medical device. In addition, the galvanic particulates may be contained in the material used to manufacture the antimicrobial medical devices, or may be embedded into the surface of the medical devices. The present invention also provides novel coating methods and processing methods. The present invention further provides a combination of galvanic particulates with an aqueous gel, a method of making this combination, and a method of treatment using this combination. The devices and compositions may have advantageous characteristics and effects including anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, tissue regeneration promoting, and pain reduction or elimination.

1 . A composition comprising a galvanic particulate and an aqueous gel. 
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the galvanic particulate comprises a first conductive material and a second conductive material, wherein both said first conductive material and said second conductive material have surfaces which are at least partially exposed, wherein the particle size of said particulate is from about 10 nanometers to about 100 micrometers, wherein the second conductive material comprises from about 0.01 percent to about 10 percent, by weight, of the total weight of said particulate, and wherein the difference of the standard potentials of the first conductive material and the second conductive material is at least about 0.2 V. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 2  wherein the first conductive material is selected from the group consisting of zinc and magnesium, and the second conductive material is selected from the group consisting of copper and silver. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the aqueous gel comprises a carboxylmethylcellulose. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 4  wherein the composition comprises 0.15 mg/ml to 2.5 mg/ml galvanic particulate/carboxylmethylcellulose gel. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the aqueous gel comprises hyaluronic acid. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 6  wherein the composition comprises 0.15 mg/ml to 1 mg/ml galvanic particulate/hyaluronic acid gel. 
     
     
         8 . A method of treatment of osteoarthritis comprising the steps of providing a composition comprising a galvanic particulate and an aqueous gel, and delivering the composition into a joint. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the galvanic particulate comprises a first conductive material and a second conductive material, wherein both said first conductive material and said second conductive material have surfaces which are at least partially exposed, wherein the particle size of said particulate is from about 10 nanometers to about 100 micrometers, wherein the second conductive material comprises from about 0.01 percent to about 10 percent, by weight, of the total weight of said particulate, and wherein the difference of the standard potentials of the first conductive material and the second conductive material is at least about 0.2 V. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the first conductive material is selected from the group consisting of zinc and magnesium, and the second conductive material is selected from the group consisting of copper and silver. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the aqueous gel comprises a carboxylmethylcellulose. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the composition comprises 0.15 to 2.5 mg/ml galvanic particulate/carboxylmethylcellulose gel. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the aqueous gel comprises hyaluronic acid. 
     
     
         14 . The composition of  claim 13  wherein the composition comprises 0.15 mg/ml to 1 mg/ml galvanic particulate/hyaluronic acid gel. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 8  wherein delivering the composition into a joint consists of injecting the composition intra-articularly into the joint. 
     
     
         16 . A method preparing a composition comprising the steps of providing a galvanic particulate, providing an aqueous gel, and mixing the galvanic particulate with the aqueous gel. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the galvanic particulate comprises a first conductive material and a second conductive material, wherein both said first conductive material and said second conductive material have surfaces which are at least partially exposed, wherein the particle size of said particulate is from about 10 nanometers to about 100 micrometers, wherein the second conductive material comprises from about 0.01 percent to about 10 percent, by weight, of the total weight of said particulate, and wherein the difference of the standard potentials of the first conductive material and the second conductive material is at least about 0.2 V. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the first conductive material is selected from the group consisting of zinc and magnesium, and the second conductive material is selected from the group consisting of copper and silver. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the aqueous gel comprises a carboxylmethylcellulose. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the composition comprises 0.15 mg/ml to 2.5 mg/ml galvanic particulate/carboxylmethylcellulose gel. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the aqueous gel comprises hyaluronic acid. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the composition comprises 0.15 mg/ml to 1 mg/ml galvanic particulate/hyaluronic acid gel.