Antimicrobial containing solventless hot melt adhesive composition

Abstract

An adhesive composition having dispersed therein a broad spectrum antimicrobial agent for use in medical applications, such as an adhesive for surgical drapes, wound dressings and tapes. The adhesive is composed of acrylic polymers, tackifiers and a preferred antimicrobial agent, diiodomethyl-p-tolylsulfone. The adhesive composition is essentially solventless and capable of application in a hot melt process while maintaining stability at elevated temperatures in the range of 275° F. to 350° F., which not only allows hot melt application, but allows for ethylene oxide sterilization under heat stress.

What is claimed:  
     
         1 . A hot melt adhesive composition having antimicrobial properties for skin contact applications comprising: 
 a. an acrylic polymer; and    b. an effective amount of diiodomethyl-p-tolylsulfone dispersed throughout said polymer.    
     
     
         2 . The adhesive composition of  claim 1 , wherein said acrylic polymer comprises a mixture of a low molecular weight solid acrylic polymer and a medium molecular weight solid acrylic polymer.  
     
     
         3 . The adhesive composition of  claim 2 , wherein said low molecular weight acrylic polymer has a molecular weight between about 90,000 and about 120,000 and said medium molecular weight acrylic polymer has a molecular weight between about 140,000 and about 160,000.  
     
     
         4 . The adhesive composition of  claim 2 , wherein the ratio of low molecular weight polymer to medium molecular weight polymer is about 1 to 4.  
     
     
         5 . The adhesive composition of  claim 2 , further comprising an effective amount of a tackifier.  
     
     
         6 . The adhesive composition of  claim 1 , wherein the concentration of diiodomethyl-p-tolylsulfone in said polymer composition is about 0.1% to about 2% by weight.  
     
     
         7 . The adhesive composition of  claim 1 , wherein said acrylic polymer has a melt temperature between about 275° F. and about 350° F.  
     
     
         8 . A hot melt adhesive composition having antimicrobial properties comprising: 
 a. an essentially 100% solids acrylic polymer for hot melt application; and    b. an effective amount of diiodomethyl-p-tolylsulfone dispersed throughout said acrylic polymer.    
     
     
         9 . The adhesive composition of  claim 8 , wherein said acrylic polymer comprises a mixture of a low molecular weight solid acrylic polymer and a medium molecular weight solid acrylic polymer.  
     
     
         10 . The adhesive composition of  claim 9 , wherein said low molecular weight acrylic polymer has a molecular weight between about 90,000 and about 120,000 and said medium molecular weight acrylic polymer has a molecular weight between about 140,000 and about 160,000.  
     
     
         11 . The adhesive composition of  claim 10 , wherein the ratio of low molecular weight polymer to medium molecular weight polymer is about 1 to 4.  
     
     
         12 . The adhesive composition of  claim 8 , further comprising an effective amount of a tackifier.  
     
     
         13 . The adhesive composition of  claim 8 , wherein the concentration of diiodomethyl-p-tolylsulfone in said polymer composition is about 0.1% to about 2% by weight.  
     
     
         14 . The adhesive composition of  claim 8 , wherein said acrylic polymer has a melt temperature between about 275° F. and about 350° F.  
     
     
         15 . A surgical drape comprising: 
 a. a sheet of polymeric substrate;    b. a coating of an adhesive composition overlying said polymeric substrate wherein said adhesive composition is hot melt applied to said substrate and includes an acrylic polymer having an effective amount of diiodomethyl-p-tolylsulfone dispersed throughout said adhesive composition.    
     
     
         16 . The surgical drape of  claim 15  wherein said substrate comprises a sheet of co-polyester.  
     
     
         17 . The surgical drape of  claim 15 , wherein said acrylic polymer comprises a mixture of a low molecular weight solid acrylic polymer and a medium molecular weight solid acrylic polymer.  
     
     
         18 . The surgical drape of  claim 17 , wherein the ratio of low molecular weight polymer to medium molecular weight polymer is about 1 to 4.  
     
     
         19 . The surgical drape of  claim 15 , wherein the concentration of diiodomethyl-p-tolylsulfone in said polymer composition is about 0.1% to about 2% by weight.  
     
     
         20 . The surgical drape of claim.15, wherein said acrylic polymer has a melt temperature between about 275° F. and about 350° F.  
     
     
         21 . The surgical drape of  claim 15  further comprising an antimicrobial agent applied to said surgical drape on the side opposite said coating of an adhesive composition.