Method for coating substrate with antimicrobial agent and product formed thereby

1 . A method for coating a foam for placement on a wound site, the method comprising the steps of:

combining a hydrophilic gel with silver to create a coating solution;

agitating the coating solution in a closed environment;

placing the foam in the closed environment;

saturating the foam with the coating solution;

removing excess solution from the saturated foam; and

drying the saturated foam.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the foam comprises polyurethane.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the coating solution comprises a silver hydrogel polymer.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the coating contains PVP.

5 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the coating contains Chitosan.

6 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the coating contains silver sodium aluminosilicate.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of placing the solution in a holding tank after the step of combining the hydrophilic gel.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the environment is a dark environment to prevent the foam from changing color.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the foam comprises reticulated polyurethane die cut.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of saturating the foam with the solution is accomplished through soaking the foam in the solution.

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of saturating the foam with the solution is accomplished through squeezing the foam in the solution to allow the foam to absorb the solution.

12 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of weighing the saturated foam after the step of saturating the foam.

13 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising the step of weighing the foam a second time after the step of drying the foam.

14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of drying the saturated foam comprises placing the foam in a convectional forced-air oven set to a predetermined temperature for a predetermined amount of time.

15 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising packaging the foam in a moisture vapor transmission rate pouch to limit exposure of the foam to light and to humidity.

16 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

placing the foam on a wound site;

covering the wound site with a drape;

connecting a vacuum hose at one end to the foam through the drape and at the other end to a vacuum;

applying negative pressure to the wound site to pull pathogens and other harmful material through the foam to kill the pathogens and harmful material.

17 . A method for treating a wound, comprising the steps of:

combining a hydrophilic gel with silver to create a coating solution;

agitating the coating solution in a holding tank;

placing the foam in the holding tank;

saturating the foam with the coating solution by soaking the foam in the coating solution for a predetermined amount of time;

removing excess solution from the foam by rolling the saturated foam through a roller;

drying the foam in a convection oven at a temperature of about 90° C. for at least about 6 minutes to completely dry the foam;

applying the foam to a wound surface;

connecting a vacuum to the foam;

draping the wound surface; and

applying negative pressure to the wound via the vacuum, wherein harmful materials from the wound are neutralized via the coating on the foam.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the coating solution comprising a debriding agent.

19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the coating comprises anesthetizing agents.

20 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the coating comprises a growth factor.