Ionic Silver Complex Designed for Use in Humans Receives U.S. Patent

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Nov. 29 -- Invision International Health Solutions, Inc., a pioneer in the field of ionic silver use in humans, recently announced the issuance of a U.S. Patent on its "Ionic Silver Complex" technology.

The technology is also patented in Australia and New Zealand, and patents are pending in Europe and Japan. The patents provide broad composition-of- matter protection, covering a wide range of complexing agents and counter-ions.

The use of ionic silver in human use goes back hundreds -- indeed thousands -- of years. During the past century, it was predominantly used in the medical field in the forms of silver nitrate and colloidal silver -- which has been increasingly used during the past few decades. In Europe, pharmacists have silver compounds listed in their desk references for many uses. In the U.S., recent university studies are suggesting far-reaching potential benefits of ionic silver. The past few years have seen a surge in the number of medical and industrial products that deliver silver ions, for a wide range of uses.

Whether colloidal silver, silver-impregnated bandages and wound dressings, coatings for surfaces in hospitals and homes, or catheters and IV needles, the goal is the controlled delivery of silver as ions. Delivery is a function of the bonding agent -- the complexing or compounding agent -- which controls the release of the silver as ions in the given environment at the desired rate.

Invision has already incorporated the patented technology into a water-based dietary supplement called Silver 100. The key ingredient in Silver 100 is called Opti-Silver -- silver ions complexed with citrate and potassium for optimal delivery of silver ions in the human body.

According to Jay Newman, president of Invision International, the patented technology represents a quantum leap in delivering silver ions internally to the human body. "We chose citrate because we believe it is, by far, the ideal carrier for efficient delivery of silver ions for human use," Newman said, "based on years of effort and research that required millions of dollars invested." Potassium is used as the counter-ion for equilibrium in the water. "Silver 100 uses all-natural ingredients and is intended to provide an entirely safe product that introduces less silver to the body than what may exist in a person’s average drinking water intake -- but as active ions."

"We believe the compounds in colloidal silver have bonds that are too strong and thus release only a small percentage of their silver as ions in the body," Newman said, "while products called ’ionic’ or ’nano’ are usually just colloidal silver -- or are common substances like silver nitrate thrown in water and, as such, the bonds are far too weak to carry the silver ions into the body. Colloidal silver is manufactured through a crude, antiquated process called electrolysis. Many companies promote colloidal silver -- and ’ionic’ and ’nano’ silver -- using flamboyant marketing claims about particle size, parts per million, and safety that have little if any basis in scientific fact. We are bringing legitimacy and integrity to the field."

"’Nano silver’ is the sexy new term for ionic silver," Newman said, "yet the imperative for an efficient delivery mechanism for human use is still the bottom line. Opti-Silver is nano silver with real science behind it to achieve that imperative. Having begun our intensive R&D efforts about ten years ago, we believe we are positioned at the leading edge of a large market that is just beginning to develop."

Silver 100 is sold primarily in health food stores at present, mainly in the eastern U.S., including some regions of Whole Foods. It is carried by United Natural Foods, the country’s largest health foods distributor. Invision is rolling out national marketing and expects the product to be in the majority of health food stores, as well as supermarkets and pharmacies, by 2007.

Invision International Health Solutions, Inc., a privately held company based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, specializes in the research and development of ionic silver delivery solutions for human use. Because the patent covers a broad range of potential formulations, the company intends to pursue rigorous clinical studies, and FDA dietary supplement "health claims" approval as well as drug approval, for certain embodiments of the current patented technology and future technologies.

Jay Newman, the company’s founder and President, has been interviewed as the industry expert on Good Morning America, NBC TV News, the Mining Industry Review, Wired News, and dozens of radio shows. He is a co-founding member of the Committee for the Responsible Use of Silver in Health, which is hosted at http://www.silverfacts.com. He is a co-inventor on the patent.

No studies have been conducted to either prove or disprove whether the patented technology delivers silver ions to the human body in a way that benefits the body. The statements herein have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. No product covered under the patent, or information thereon, is intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Ionic Silver Complex Designed for Antimicrobial Use in Humans Receives U.S. Patent

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - June 29 -- Invision International Health Solutions, Inc., a pioneer in the field of ionic silver use as an antimicrobial in humans, today announced the issuance of a U.S. Patent on its "ionic silver complex" technology.

The use of ionic silver in medicine and industry has been growing rapidly in recent years due to its broad-spectrum antimicrobial qualities, the lack of toxicity to humans and the fact that ionic silver is not prone to causing resistant strains. Ionic silver is well known to be a very powerful and very broad-spectrum antibacterial agent. In addition, evidence is mounting that silver ions have powerful antiviral effects as well. A recent university study suggested ionic silver to be effective against the SARS virus. In Europe, ionic silver is a medically approved treatment used to combat systemic viral conditions, including the common cold and flu.

"This patented technology represents a quantum leap beyond predecessor silver ion technologies, including those that utilize electrolysis for manufacturing, such as colloidal silver," says Jay Newman, the company’s President and CEO. "In addition, this composition-of-matter patent provides far more meaningful protection than the product-by-process patents that have been issued on other silver products."

Silver ion compounds have been introduced in recent years for antimicrobial use in food-handling materials, medical devices, surface disinfectants, wound-care products, industrial materials, textiles, and more. In all cases, the key is the carrier agent that is used to stabilize the silver ions and "time release" them at the desired location in the given environment.

The patented technology is designed to utilize naturally occurring substances, such as citrate, to achieve optimal delivery and release of silver ions in the human body, in a highly efficient and entirely safe manner.

Silver ions, while being lethal to single-celled microorganisms, are harmless to human cells and, in fact, are increasingly being used in wound care due to their remarkable ability to facilitate the healing of tissue. The patented technology provides for a completely safe product due to the efficient delivery, introducing a minute quantity of silver to the body — less than what may exist in a person’s average drinking water intake as a naturally occurring mineral. The difference is that this new technology is designed to deliver the silver as active silver ions with antimicrobial ability.

About the Company

Invision International Health Solutions, Inc. (www.silver100.com), is a privately-held company specializing in the research and development of ionic silver delivery solutions for human application. The company currently manufactures and markets a dietary supplement that consists of silver ions complexed with citrate and potassium in a water medium, the composition of which is covered under the patent. No studies have been conducted on this product to date and no health claims are made for it. The patent covers a broad range of potential formulations. The company intends to pursue rigorous clinical studies, and FDA dietary supplement "health claims" approval as well as drug approval, for certain embodiments of the current patented technology and future technologies.

Jay Newman is the company’s founder, President & CEO. Recognized as a leading expert in the field of ionic silver, he has specialized in the field for more than ten years. Mr. Newman has been interviewed as the industry expert on Good Morning America, NBC TV News, Wired News, and dozens of radio shows for stories on ionic silver. He is a co-inventor on the patent.

News Source: Invision International Health Solutions, Inc.