Antimicrobial Sutures and Methods of Making Them

Abstract

Multifilament sutures are prepared by permeating the suture with an antimicrobial solution and applying an antimicrobial coating to the suture.

1 - 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A braided suture having antimicrobial properties comprising an elongate braided structure formed from a plurality of polymeric filaments, said filaments being formed from a polymeric material that is absorbable under physiological conditions, and a coating material disposed on said elongate braided structure, said coating comprising:
 a film-forming polymer;   a salt of a fatty acid ester; and   an antimicrobial agent selected from the group consisting of antibiotics, antiseptics, disinfectants and combinations thereof.   
     
     
         24 . The braided suture of  claim 23  having a first end and a second end, said braided suture having a needle fixedly attached to one end thereof. 
     
     
         25 . The braided suture of  claim 23  wherein the film-forming polymer is selected from the group consisting of glycolide, lactide, caprolactone, trimethylene carbonate, dioxanones, dioxepanones and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         26 . The braided suture of  claim 23  wherein the film-forming polymer comprises a glycolide/caprolactone copolymer. 
     
     
         27 . The braided suture of  claim 23  wherein the salt of a fatty acid ester is selected from the group consisting of calcium stearoyl lactylate, magnesium stearoyl lactylate, aluminum stearoyl lactylate, barium stearoyl lactylate, zinc stearoyl lactylate, calcium palmityl lactylate, magnesium palmityl lactylate, aluminum palmityl lactylate, barium palmityl lactylate, zinc palmityl lactylate, calcium olelyl lactylate, magnesium olelyl lactylate, aluminum olelyl lactylate, barium olelyl lactylate, and zinc olelyl lactylate. 
     
     
         28 . The braided suture of  claim 23  wherein the salt of a fatty acid ester is calcium stearoyl lactylate. 
     
     
         29 . The braided suture of  claim 23  wherein the antimicrobial agent comprises at least one antiseptic. 
     
     
         30 . The braided suture of  claim 23  wherein the antimicrobial agent comprises triclosan. 
     
     
         31 . The braided suture of  claim 23  wherein said film-forming polymer comprises a glycolide/caprolactone copolymer, said salt of a fatty acid ester comprises calcium stearoyl lactylate, and said antimicrobial agent comprises triclosan.