Antimicrobial wound closure materials, including antimicrobial sutures, and method for closing a wound using the same

1. An antimicrobial suture comprising at least one filament and an antimicrobial consisting of taurolidine carried by said at least one filament;

wherein said at least one filament comprises a material selected from the group consisting of polyglycolide (PGA), poly-p-dioxanone, poly ε-caprolactone, poly(glycolide-trimethylene carbonate) block copolymer and glycolide-dioxanone-trimethylene carbonate triblock copolymer;

wherein said taurolidine is incorporated in a taurolidine-containing matrix of material;

wherein said at least one filament is extruded;

and further wherein said taurolidine-containing matrix of material is co-extruded with said at least one filament.

2. An antimicrobial suture according to claim 1 wherein said at least one filament comprises a single filament.

3. An antimicrobial suture according to claim 1 wherein said at least one filament comprises a plurality of filaments.

4. An antimicrobial suture according to claim 3 wherein said plurality of filaments adhere to one another so as to constitute a singular structure.

5. An antimicrobial suture according to claim 4 wherein said plurality of filaments are co-extruded so as to form a composite structure.

6. An antimicrobial suture according to claim 4 wherein said plurality of filaments are braided together so as to constitute a singular structure.

7. An antimicrobial suture according to claim 1 wherein said at least one filament is resorbable.

8. An antimicrobial suture according to claim 1 wherein said at least one filament is non-resorbable.

9. An antimicrobial suture according to claim 1 wherein said at least one filament comprises a polymer.

10. An antimicrobial suture according to claim 9 wherein said at least one filament comprises a homopolymer.

11. An antimicrobial suture according to claim 1 wherein said at least one filament comprises a copolymer.

12. An antimicrobial suture according to claim 1 wherein said at least one filament comprises a matrix of material.

13. An antimicrobial suture according to claim 12 wherein said taurolidine-containing matrix of material is disposed within said matrix of material.

14. An antimicrobial suture according to claim 12 wherein said taurolidine-containing matrix of material is substantially evenly dispersed within said matrix of material.

15. An antimicrobial suture according to claim 12 wherein said taurolidine is restricted to one or more regions of said matrix of material.

16. An antimicrobial material according to claim 15 wherein said at least one filament is extruded, and further wherein said taurolidine is co-extruded with said at least one filament.

17. An antimicrobial suture according to claim 16 wherein said taurolidine comprises a taurolidine-containing matrix of material, and further wherein the material of said taurolidine-containing matrix of material is the same as the material of said matrix of material of said filament.

18. An antimicrobial suture according to claim 16 wherein said taurolidine comprises a taurolidine-containing matrix of material, and further wherein the material of said taurolidine-containing matrix of material is different than the material of said matrix of material of said filament.

19. An antimicrobial suture according to claim 12 wherein the material of said taurolidine-containing matrix of material is the same as the material of said matrix of material of said filament.

20. An antimicrobial suture according to claim 12 wherein the material of said taurolidine-containing matrix of material is different than the material of said matrix of material of said filament.

21. An antimicrobial suture according to claim 1 further comprising an overcoating disposed on top of said taurolidine-containing matrix of material.

22. An antimicrobial suture according to claim 1 wherein the antimicrobial suture comprises multiple filaments, and further wherein the taurolidine is positioned in the interstitial spaces between the filaments.

23. An antimicrobial suture according to claim 1 wherein said at least one filament is absorbent, and further wherein a taurolidine solution is introduced into said at least one filament.

24. An antimicrobial suture according to claim 1 wherein the proportion of taurolidine in the antimicrobial suture constitutes greater than about 1% by weight.

25. An antimicrobial suture according to claim 1 wherein the proportion of taurolidine in the antimicrobial suture constitutes greater than about 2% by weight.

26. An antimicrobial suture according to claim 1 wherein the proportion of taurolidine in the antimicrobial suture constitutes greater than about 6% by weight.

27. An antimicrobial suture according to claim 1 wherein the proportion of taurolidine in the antimicrobial suture constitutes greater than about 10% by weight.

28. An antimicrobial suture according to claim 1 further comprising barbs.

29. A method for treating a wound, the method comprising:

providing an antimicrobial suture comprising at least one filament and taurolidine carried by said at least one filament; and

treating the wound with the antimicrobial suture.

30. An antimicrobial surgical staple comprising:

a surgical staple; and

taurolidine carried by said surgical staple.

31. A method for treating a wound, the method comprising:

providing an antimicrobial surgical staple, the antimicrobial surgical staple comprising a surgical staple, and taurolidine carried by the surgical staple; and

treating the wound with the antimicrobial surgical staple.