System for preventing bacterial infections in needle trajectories

Abstract

The invention relates to a system for preventing bacterial infections in needle trajectories, comprising: a percutaneous surgical instrument ( 1 ) percutaneously introducible into a tissue ( 3 ) of a patient, such as a biopsy needle, and having an outer surface made of an electrically conductive material; a contact electrode ( 4 ) applicable to the skin ( 3 a) of a patient; a silver coating or element (P) arranged on or forming part of the instrument ( 1 ), and configured, sized and provided so as to break down by means of electrochemical release when a current is applied thereto, releasing silver ions into its surroundings; and an electric current generator ( 2 ) arranged and configured for generating a current and inducing the temporary circulation thereof between the instrument ( 1 ) acting as an anode, the tissue ( 3 ) and the contact electrode ( 4 ) acting as a cathode, respectively, with a specific magnitude and duration for producing a massive and sudden release of silver ions for the purpose of preventing post-treatment bacterial infections.

1 - 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A method for preventing post-treatment microbial infections after a surgical intervention in a patient in need thereof, comprising conducting the surgical intervention using a system comprising:
 a surgical instrument with a proximal end and an electrically conductive distal portion, the electrically conductive distal portion including a distal end, the distal end being introducible into a tissue of a patient, and the electrically conductive distal portion and the proximal end being electrically connected to one another;   a contact electrode applicable to a skin region of said patient; and   an electric current generator with a first terminal directly or indirectly connected to at least the distal portion of said surgical instrument and a second terminal connected to said contact electrode,   wherein the surgical instrument comprises a metal coating, said metal coating being arranged in at least the distal portion of said surgical instrument, and said metal coating being configured, sized and provided so as to break down through electrochemical release when a positive current is applied to the surgical instrument, to produce corrosion of the metal coating and to release metal ions into said tissue when the surgical instrument is introduced therein;   wherein the metal ions have antimicrobial properties with to toxicity for humans;   wherein said electric current generator is arranged and configured to generate said positive current to induce a temporary circulation of the positive current between the surgical instrument, the tissue and the contact electrode, respectively, with positive polarity in the first terminal and negative polarity in the second terminal, said positive current producing said break down of the metal coating;   and,   wherein metal from the surface of the metal coating is broken down as metal ions because of said application of the positive current;   such that, as a result of said release of metal ions, the metal ions precipitate as a low solubility salt thereby forming a series of dispensing units that cause the metal ions to be released gradually over a prolonged period of time, assuring an ion environment with antimicrobial effect remains for said period of time once the surgical instrument has been withdrawn from the patient.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the electrically conductive distal portion of the surgical instrument is metallic. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the surgical instrument is a percutaneous surgical instrument. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the percutaneous surgical instrument is a biopsy instrument. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the biopsy instrument is a biopsy needle. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the biopsy needle is a TRUCUT-type needle. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the metal coating comprises silver, zinc, or a combination thereof, and wherein the metal ions comprise silver ions, zinc ions, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the surgical intervention is a biopsy. 
     
     
         31 . The method  claim 30 , wherein the biopsy is an oral biopsy, an endoscopic biopsy, a thyroid biopsy, a central nervous system biopsy, or a prostate biopsy. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the low solubility salt is a silver chloride salt, silver nitrate salt, silver phosphate salt, zinc chloride salt, zinc nitrate salt, zinc phosphate salt or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the chloride ions, nitrate ions, or phosphate ions in the chloride salt, nitrate salt, phosphate salt are naturally occurring in the tissue. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 23 , where the positive current has an average current density measured on a surface of the distal end between 1 mA/cm 2  and 1000 mA/cm 2 . 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 23 , where the positive current has an instantaneous value between 1 mA and 100 mA. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 23 , where the positive current has a duration of between 0.1 and 60 seconds. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the application of the positive current breaks down at least 10 μg of metal per cm 2  of surface of the metal coating. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the prolonged period of time is hours. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the prolonged period of time is days. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the thickness of the metal coating is between 10 nanometers and 100 micrometers. 
     
     
         41 . A method for performing a biopsy in a patient in need thereof, comprising taking a biopsy sample from a tissue of a patient by using a system comprising:
 a biopsy instrument with a proximal end and an electrically conductive distal portion, the electrically conductive distal portion including a distal end, the distal end being introducible into the tissue of the patient, and the electrically conductive distal portion and the proximal end being electrically connected to one another;   a contact electrode applicable to a skin region of said patient; and   an electric current generator with a first terminal directly or indirectly connected to at least the distal portion of said biopsy instrument and a second terminal connected to said contact electrode,   wherein the biopsy instrument comprises a metal coating, said metal coating being arranged in at least the distal portion of said biopsy instrument, and said metal coating being configured, sized and provided so as to break down through electrochemical release when a positive current is applied to the biopsy instrument, to produce corrosion of the metal coating and to release metal ions into said tissue when the biopsy instrument is introduced therein;   wherein the metal ions have antimicrobial properties with low toxicity for humans;   wherein said electric current generator is arranged and configured to generate said positive current to induce a temporary circulation of the positive current between the biopsy instrument, the tissue and the contact electrode, respectively, with positive polarity in the first terminal and negative polarity in the second terminal, said positive current producing said break down of the metal coating; and,   wherein metal from the surface of the metal coating is broken down as metal ions because of said application of the positive current;   such that, as a result of said release of metal ions, the metal ions precipitate as a low solubility salt thereby forming a series of dispensing units that cause the metal ions to be released gradually over a prolonged period of time, assuring an ion environment with antimicrobial effect remains for said period of time once the biopsy instrument has been withdrawn from the patient.   
     
     
         42 . A method for delivering prolonged release antimicrobial dispensing units to a tissue of a patient in need thereof comprising using a system comprising:
 an instrument with a proximal end and an electrically conductive distal portion, the electrically conductive distal portion including a distal end, the distal end being introducible into the tissue of the patient, and the electrically conductive distal portion and the proximal end being electrically connected to one another;   a contact electrode applicable to a skin region of said patient; and   an electric current generator with a first terminal directly or indirectly connected to at least the distal portion of said instrument and a second terminal connected to said contact electrode,   wherein the instrument comprises a metal coating, said metal coating being arranged in at least the distal portion of said instrument, and said metal coating being configured, sized and provided so as to break down through electrochemical release when a positive current is applied to the instrument, to produce corrosion of the metal coating and to release metal ions into said tissue when the instrument is introduced therein;   wherein the metal ions have antimicrobial properties with low toxicity for humans;   wherein said electric current generator is arranged and configured to generate said positive current to induce a temporary circulation of the positive current between the instrument, the tissue and the contact electrode, respectively, with positive polarity in the first terminal and negative polarity in the second terminal, said positive current producing said break down of the metal coating; and,   wherein metal from the surface of the metal coating is broken down as metal ions because of said application of the positive current;   such that, as a result of said release of metal ions, the metal ions precipitate as a low solubility salt thereby delivering a series of dispensing units to the tissue that cause the metal ions to be released gradually over a prolonged period of time, assuring an ion environment with antimicrobial effect remains for said period of time in the tissue once the instrument has been withdrawn from the patient.