Abstract: Disclosed is a wound closure device, such as a suture, including a substantially flexible tensile member, the tensile member having an external surface, the external surface including a biocidal material such as a coating of substantially pure silver. A method of applying the suture includes piercing a patient's skin adjacent to a wound using, for example, a needle and drawing a substantially flexible tensile member through a resulting aperture in the skin. By virtue of the biocidal material, pathogens and other bioactive materials drawn through the aperture are rendered less active and/or incapable of causing infection.

Abstract: A hemostatic biocidal dressing includes pro-coagulant and biocidal agents providing a physical barrier to bleeding as well as chemical action to promote blood coagulation and thereby arrest coverage. At the same time, biocidal properties of the dressing prevent the introduction of infected agents and the establishment of infection within wounded tissue. A silverized textile provides biocidal action while a granulated hemostatic agent disposed within interstitial regions between polymer fibers provides coagulating action.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for depositing a metal on a material. The process comprises the steps of: immersing the material in deposition solution comprising the metal; inducing a material vibration in the deposition solution having a frequency corresponding to a resonance frequency of the material; including a solution vibration in the deposition solution in a direction non-parallel to the material vibration, said solution vibration having a frequency corresponding to the a resonance frequency of the deposition solution, whereby said metal is deposited onto the material. This process results in deposition of metal from the plating bath on the material in a controlled and substantially uniform thickness.

Abstract: A process for depositing metal on microparticulate comprising immersing microparticulate in an autocatalytic plating bath comprising the metal; inducing ultrasonic vibration in the plating bath at a frequency corresponding to resonance frequency of the microparticulate; and inducing a turbulent vibration signal in the plating bath in a direction non-parallel to the ultrasonic vibration. This process results in the autocatalytic plating bath depositing the metal on the microparticulate with uniform thickness. The microparticulate can be spheres, flakes or microfibers, and can be made from a number of materials, such as synthetic polymers (nylon, Kevlar™, Zylon™, and aramid fibers) and biodegradable compounds. A method is disclosed for coating a surface with metallized microparticulate fibers with an orientation perpendicular to the surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for depositing a metal on a material. The process comprises the steps of: immersing the material in a deposition solution comprising the metal; inducing a material vibration in the deposition solution having a frequency corresponding to a resonance frequency of the material; inducing a solution vibration in the deposition solution in a direction non-parallel to the material vibration, said solution vibration having a frequency corresponding to the a resonance frequency of the deposition solution, whereby said metal is deposited onto the material. This process results in deposition of metal from the plating bath on the material in a controlled and substantially uniform thickness.