Patent ID: 7354596

Claim:
An anti-microbial delivery system for delivering an anti-microbial agent to a surface in a time release manner, said delivery system comprising: a polymeric elastomeric and swellable microsphere containing an anti-microbial agent incorporated therein so as to be releasable from the boundary of said polymeric elastomeric and swellable microsphere in an effective amount for anti-microbial efficacy over time when said polymeric elastomeric and swellable microsphere is in the presence of water and such that the agent is not released when the polymeric elastomeric and swellable microsphere is not in the presence of water, wherein the polymeric elastomeric and swellable microsphere has a diameter of about 0.5 to about 300 micrometers wherein said anti-microbial agent comprises a material selected from the group consisting of metal oxides, metal powders, powders of metal alloys, copper compounds, metal sulfides, metal salts, organo-metallic compounds and combinations thereof.