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 taurolidine carried by 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 material selected from the group consisting of polyglycolide (PGA), poly(glycolide-lactide) random copolymer (Vicryl®), poly-ρ-dioxanone (PDS®, PDSII®), poly(glycolide-trimethylene carbonate block copolymer (Maxon®), poly(glycolide-e-caprolactone)(Monocryl®), glycolide-dioxanone-trimethylene carbonate triblock copolymer (Biosyn®), polyethylene, polypropylene, poly(tetrafluroethylene)(Gore-Tex®), stainless steel, polyesters, polyester-ethers, polyester-carbonates, polyamides, polyolephins, fluoropolymers, catgut, collagen, reconstituted collagen, cotton, linen and silk.

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

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

15 . An antimicrobial suture according to claim 13 wherein said taurolidine is substantially evenly dispersed within said matrix of material.

16 . An antimicrobial suture according to claim 13 wherein said taurolidine is restricted to one or more regions of said matrix of material.

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

18 . An antimicrobial suture according to claim 17 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.

19 . An antimicrobial suture according to claim 17 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.

20 . An antimicrobial suture according to claim 13 wherein said taurolidine is disposed as a coating on said at least one filament.

21 . An antimicrobial suture according to claim 20 wherein said coating is co-extruded with said at least one filament.

22 . An antimicrobial suture according to claim 21 wherein said coating 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.

23 . An antimicrobial suture according to claim 21 wherein said coating 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.

24 . An antimicrobial suture according to claim 20 further comprising an overcoating disposed on top of said coating of taurolidine.

25 . 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.

26 . 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.

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

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

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

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

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

32 . 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.

33 . An antimicrobial surgical staple comprising:

a surgical staple; and

taurolidine carried by said surgical staple.

34 . 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.