Medical apparatus and method for producing same

Abstract

A medical device that includes at least one antibiotic in a macromolecular substance that swells upon contact with a solvent. Also, a method for preparing an antibiotic-containing medical device that involves contacting a medical device having at least a portion of the surface formed from a swellable macromolecular substance, with a solvent that swells the macromolecular substance, contacting the swollen macromolecular substance with at least one antibiotic, and removing the solvent from the swollen macromolecular substance.

1 . A method for preparing an antibiotic-containing medical device comprising:
 (a) providing a medical device having at least a portion of the surface formed from a swellable macromolecular substance,   (b) contacting the medical device with a solvent that swells the macromolecular substance)   (c) contacting the swollen macromolecular substance with at least one antibiotic, and   (d) removing the solvent from the swollen macromolecular substrate.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the medical device comprises a synthetic resin. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the synthetic resin is selected from the group consisting of a polyurethane, a polyamide, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the solvent comprises an aprotic polar solvent. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the aprotic polar solvent is selected from the group consisting of dimethylformamide, dimethyl sulphoxide, dimethylacetamide, 2-butanone, acetone, acetinitrile, N-methylpyrrolidone, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the antibiotic is a water soluble antibiotic. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the water soluble antibiotic is selected from the group consisting of isepamicin sulphate, amikacin sulphate, tobramycin, kitasamycin tartrate, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the antibiotic is retained within the macromolecular substance. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the macromolecular substance comprises a meshwork structure, and the antibiotic is retained in said meshwork structure. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the solvent is removed from the swollen macromolecular substance by a method selected from the group consisting of drying, washing, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         11 . A medical device produced by the method of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         12 . A medical device comprising a synthetic resin comprising a macromolecular substance that swells upon contact with a solvent, and that has at least one antibiotic in the macromolecular substance. 
     
     
         13 . The medical device of  claim 12  wherein the synthetic resin is selected from the group consisting of a polyurethane, a polyamide, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The medical device of  claim 12  wherein the antibiotic is a water soluble antibiotic. 
     
     
         15 . The medical device of  claim 14  wherein the water soluble antibiotic is selected from the group consisting of isepamicin sulphate, amikacin sulphate, tobramycin, kitasamycin tartrate, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The medical device of  claim 12  wherein the solvent is an aprotic polar solvent. 
     
     
         17 . The medical device of  claim 12  wherein the medical device is selected from the group consisting of a catheter and a tube. 
     
     
         18 . The medical device of  claim 12  wherein at least a portion of the macromolecular substance comprises a meshwork structure and the antibiotic is retained in said meshwork structure. 
     
     
         19 . The medical device of  claim 18  wherein the antibiotic is a water soluble antibiotic. 
     
     
         20 . The medical device of  claim 18  wherein the solvent is an aprotic polar solvent. 
     
     
         21 . The medical device of  claim 18  wherein the medical device is selected from the group consisting of a catheter and a tube.