Compositions containing silver ammonium phenytoin complex and a phenytoin are usefully employed, particularly when applied topically, for the treatment of animal or human tissue, for wound healing and are useful in wound dressing preparations for the prevention or treatment of infections. The compositions are usefully applied by direct topical application to the wound or tissue to be treated or may be directly applied to the wound or tissue or incorporated in or coated on a dressing, such as a bandage.
This application is a continuation in part of patent application Ser. No. 178,768 filed Jan. 7, 1994, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,439,903, which, in turn, is a continuation of patent application Ser. No. 974,686 filed Nov. 12, 1992, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,298,264, which in turn is a continuation of patent application Ser. No. 765,460 filed Sep. 25, 1991 (abandoned) which, in turn, is a continuation of patent application Ser. No. 363,288 filed Jun. 2, 1989 (abandoned) which, in turn, is a continuation of patent application Ser. No. 862,160 filed May 12, 1986 (abandoned) which, in turn, is a continuation of patent application Ser. No. 570,800 filed Jan. 16, 1984 (abandoned).
A multilayer laminate wound dressing comprising a plurality of layers of preferably silver or silver-coated fibers in a woven fabric alternating with layers of nonconductive, preferably nonmetallic, fabric. Each layer preferably contains a different ratio of metalized to nonmetalized fibers. The metalized fibers are preferably made of or coated with silver. The dressing promotes healing by stimulating cellular de-differetiation, followed by cellular proliferation. The dressing also has antibacterial, antifungal and analgesic properties.
Periodontal disease can be treated by the administration of metal ions, preferably silver ions, to the site where the microorganisms that cause this disease reside. Administration can be to periodontal pockets or adjacent to exposed tooth roots or alveolar bone during periodontal surgical procedures. The metal ions can be administered in polymeric microparticles, deformable films or microparticles embedded within deformable films. The metal ions are particularly microbiocidal to the bacterial pathogens that are the causative agents of periodontal disease.
A dressing for promoting healing and pain relief of the body of a living organism having a pathologic condition has at least one layer of conductive material having a resistance no greater than 1000 .OMEGA./cm.sup.2. When placed proximate a portion of the body of the living organism suffering from the pathologic condition, the dressing alters the electrodynamic processes occurring in conjunction with said pathologic condition to promote healing and pain relief in the living organism. When used as a wound dressing, the conductive material is placed in contact with tissue around the periphery of the wound and with the wound, lowering the electrical potential and resistance of the wound and increasing the wound current. In an exemplary embodiment, the conductive material is a multi-ply nylon fabric plated with silver by an autocatalytic electroless plating process and with the plies in electrical continuity. The dressing provides an antimicrobial and analgesic effect. The dressing may be provided for numerous applications and may include other layers such as an absorbent layer, a semi-permeable layer and additional layer of conductor material. Multilaminate embodiments of the present invention exhibit conductive material concentration gradients and, potentially, a capacitive effect when sequential conductor layers are insulated by intervening layers.
A flexible, multilayer wound dressing with antibacterial and antifungal properties, together with methods for making the dressing. The dressing includes a layer of silver-containing fabric, a layer of absorbent material, and (optionally) a layer of a flexible air-permeable and/or water-impermeable material. The dressing can be used for prophylactic and therapeutic care and treatment of skin infections and surface wounds (including surgical incisions), as a packing material, and as a swab for surface cleaning.
A dressing for promoting healing and pain relief of the body of a living organism having a pathologic condition has at least one layer of conductive material having a resistance no greater than 1000 .OMEGA./cm.sup.2. When placed proximate a portion of the body of the living organism suffering from the pathologic condition, the dressing alters the electrodynamic processes occurring in conjunction with said pathologic condition to promote healing and pain relief in the living organism. When used as a wound dressing, the conductive material is placed in contact with tissue around the periphery of the wound and with the wound, lowering the electrical potential and resistance of the wound and increasing the wound current. In an exemplary embodiment, the conductive material is a multi-ply nylon fabric plated with silver by an autocatalytic electroless plating process and with the plies in electrical continuity. The dressing provides an antimicrobial and analgesic effect. The dressing may be provided for numerous applications and may include other layers such as an absorbent layer, a semi-permeable layer and additional layer of conductor material. Multilaminate embodiments of the present invention exhibit conductive material concentration gradients and, potentially, a capacitive effect when sequential conductor layers are insulated by intervening layers.
