Antimicrobial Suture Packaging with Adsorbent Stabilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Packaged antimicrobial medical devices have a limited shelf life due to the increase of antimicrobial agents like triclosan over time, which can lead to reduced effectiveness against bacterial colonization, increasing the risk of surgical site infections.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an adsorbent material within the packaging to adsorb a portion of the antimicrobial agent over time, combined with specific time, temperature, and pressure conditions to vapor transfer an effective amount of the antimicrobial agent to the medical device, thereby maintaining its antimicrobial properties and extending the shelf life.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If antimicrobial agents are applied to medical devices to prevent bacterial colonization, then bacterial inhibition is improved, but the shelf life is reduced due to agent degradation over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a containment compartment as an intermediary between the antimicrobial agent and the external environment. This compartment controls the release of the antimicrobial agent, allowing it to maintain effective concentrations for bacterial inhibition while preventing rapid degradation, thus extending shelf life without compromising reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies time, temperature, and pressure conditions to vaporize and transfer the antimicrobial agent from the containment compartment to the medical device. By controlling these parameters, the system maintains the antimicrobial agent in a stable state during storage (extending shelf life) while enabling effective transfer when needed (maintaining bacterial inhibition effectiveness)
2Reliability
If antimicrobial agents are transferred to packaging components to prevent bacterial colonization on the package, then bacterial inhibition is improved, but the antimicrobial agent depletes faster reducing shelf life
Solution Approach 1:
The containment compartment serves as a controlled intermediary that regulates the transfer of antimicrobial agent to the package. It provides a sustained release mechanism that prevents rapid depletion of the agent, maintaining both package protection and extended shelf life
Solution Approach 2:
The system preliminarily prepares the antimicrobial agent in the containment compartment under controlled conditions, allowing it to be transferred gradually to the package only when needed. This preliminary positioning enables the package to acquire antimicrobial properties without the agent depleting too quickly, thus extending shelf life
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The use of adsorbent materials in packaging significantly extends the shelf life of antimicrobial medical devices by stabilizing antimicrobial agent levels, ensuring sustained bacterial inhibition and reducing the risk of surgical site infections.
Implementation Method 1
providing an adsorbent material effective to adsorb a portion of the antimicrobial agent over time
Implementation Method 2
subjecting the suture, the inner package and the inner surface of the outer package to time, temperature and pressure conditions sufficient to vapor transfer an effective amount of the antimicrobial agent
Data Source
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AI summary
A method of making a packaged antimicrobial suture having improved shelf life. The method comprising the steps of providing an inner package having a source of antimicrobial agent, providing an adsorbent material effective to adsorb a portion of the antimicrobial agent over time, positioning a suture within the inner package, the suture comprising one or more surfaces, covering the inner package with an outer package having an inner surface and subjecting the suture, the inner package and the inner surface of the outer package to time, temperature and pressure conditions sufficient to vapor transfer an effective amount of the antimicrobial agent from the antimicrobial agent source to the suture and the inner package, thereby substantially inhibiting bacterial colonization on the suture and the inner package, wherein the packaged antimicrobial suture exhibits improved shelf life. A packaged antimicrobial suture and a method of increasing the shelf life of a packaged antimicrobial medical device are also provided.