초록 ▼

The invention is directed to efficient methods for depositing highly adherent anti-microbial materials onto a wide range of surfaces. A controlled cathodic arc process is described, which results in enhanced adhesion of silver oxide to polymers and other surfaces, such as surfaces of medical devices

The invention is directed to efficient methods for depositing highly adherent anti-microbial materials onto a wide range of surfaces. A controlled cathodic arc process is described, which results in enhanced adhesion of silver oxide to polymers and other surfaces, such as surfaces of medical devices. Deposition of anti-microbial materials directly onto the substrates is possible in a cost-effective manner that maintains high anti-microbial activity over several weeks when the coated devices are employed in vivo.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A cathodic arc ion plasma deposition method for producing an anti-microbial coating on a substrate, comprising:positioning a substrate between an anode and a cathode target, said target comprising an ionizable metal selected from silver, copper, hafnium or zirconium;introducin

What is claimed is: 1. A cathodic arc ion plasma deposition method for producing an anti-microbial coating on a substrate, comprising:positioning a substrate between an anode and a cathode target, said target comprising an ionizable metal selected from silver, copper, hafnium or zirconium;introducing only oxygen gas into a vacuum chamber pressurized to about 0.1 to about 30 mTorr which houses the cathode target and the substrate;variably controlling power to the arc to produce a discharge between the anode and the cathode target; andmoving the substrate toward or away from the target during arc discharge to deposit a high density, adherent anti-microbial macroparticulate metal/metal oxide coating comprising a range of macroparticle sizes of about 1 nm to 50 microns wherein macroparticle size increases with coating thickness to provide a coating that exhibits antimicrobial activity at least four days longer than a uniform coating containing few macroparticles produced without movement of the substrate during deposition under the same deposition conditions.