| abstract |
Surgical implants, in particular endoprotetic orthopedic implants and sutures, are made antimicrobial by the presence of a bioerodible metallic silver component, in particular a surface coating, allowing in vivo a sustained release of silver ions in a sufficient concentration to allow a localized but insufficient antimicrobial effect to cause significant damage to connective tissues. Latent bioerodible silver components of an implant can be activated, for example, by wear due to friction, by heating to a temperature higher than 180 C or, in particular, by contact with peroxide of hydrogen. |