Antimicrobial medical devices containing chlorhexidine free base and salt

Abstract

The present disclosure invention relates to medical devices treated with a solution comprising one or more solvents and a combination of chlorhexidine free base and a water-soluble chlorhexidine salt in a weight/weight ratio of between about 1:1 to about 1:5, preferably about 1:1.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An antimicrobial medical article prepared by treating a hydrophobic polymeric medical article, for an effective period of time, with a solution consisting essentially of one or more solvents and a mixture of chlorhexidine free base and a water-soluble chlorhexidine salt, wherein the weight/weight ratio of chlorhexidine free base and the water-soluble chlorhexidine salt in the solution is between 1:1 to 1:5. 
     
     
         2 . The antimicrobial medical article of  claim 1 , wherein the article is expanded polytetrafluoroethylene. 
     
     
         3 . The antimicrobial medical article of  claim 1 , wherein the article is a polytetrafluoroethylene soft tissue patch. 
     
     
         4 . A method of preparing a medical article comprising the steps of:
 (i) placing the medical article in a solution consisting essentially of (a) a solvent selected from the group consisting of water, reagent alcohol, tetrahydrofuran, dimethylsulfoxide, dimethylformamide, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, and mixtures thereof;   and (b) a mixture of chlorhexidine free base and a water-soluble chlorhexidine salt, wherein the weight/weight ratio of chlorhexidine free base and water-soluble chlorhexidine salt in the solution is between 1:1 to 1:5;   (ii) soaking the medical article in the solution for an effective period of time to allow the medical article to swell;   (iii) removing the medical article from the solution; and   (iv) drying the medical article.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the medical article is a hydrophobic polymeric medical article. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the hydrophobic polymeric medical article is selected from the group consisting of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene and a polytetrafluoroethylene soft tissue patch. 
     
     
         7 . An antimicrobial medical article prepared by treating a medical article, for an effective period of time, with a solution comprising a solvent and an antimicrobial mixture consisting essentially of chlorhexidine free base and a water-soluble chlorhexidine salt, wherein the molar ratio of chlorhexidine free base and the water-soluble chlorhexidine salt in the solution is between 1:1 and 1:5. 
     
     
         8 . The antimicrobial medical article of  claim 7 , wherein the article is a catheter. 
     
     
         9 . The antimicrobial medical article of  claim 7 , wherein the article is a hydrophobic polymeric medical article. 
     
     
         10 . The antimicrobial medical article of  claim 9 , wherein the hydrophobic polymeric medical article is selected from the group consisting of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene and a polytetrafluoroethylene soft tissue patch.