Patent US2354744A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5328451A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Iontophoretic device and method for killing bacteria and other microbes
Assignee: The University of Texas System
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Filing: 1991-08-15
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Granted: 1994-07-12
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Expires: 2011-08-15
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus and method for killing microbes, including bacteria or yeast-like fungus within or on a conductive medium, is provided including positive and negative electrodes which may be activated to generate antimicrobial agents from within the conductive medium. The agents are any form of anions including atoms or molecules derived from inorganic salts present within the conductive medium. Due to residual killing effect caused by the presence of internally generated antimicrobial agents, constant activation of the electrodes is not necessary thereby allowing intermittent activation in order to prolong the life of the metallic or non-metallic electrodes. Electrode polarity can be reversed periodically to drive precipitation from the electrode surface and to also extend electrode life.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles P. Davis
- 👤 Michael M. Warren
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 13:22
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/18; A61N1/20; A61N1/30; A61N1/303; A61N1/306
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
71 words
An apparatus for killing microbes in a conductive medium, comprising: a positive and a negative electrode spaced apart from one another and placeable in a conductive medium, each postive and negative electrode being formed from an element including carbon; an intermittent current source connected to said positive and negative electrodes; and means for activating said source in periodic reverse polarity for generating antimicrobial agents from inorganic salts within said conductive medium.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
71 words
An apparatus for killing microbes in a conductive medium, comprising: a positive and a negative electrode spaced apart from one another and placeable in a conductive medium, each postive and negative electrode being formed from an element including carbon; an intermittent current source connected to said positive and negative electrodes; and means for activating said source in periodic reverse polarity for generating antimicrobial agents from inorganic salts within said conductive medium.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said positive and negative electrodes are spaced adjacent each other and are placed about the inside of a catheter.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said activating means comprises an electrode polarity interchange circuit connected between said intermittent current source and said positive and negative electrodes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein said electrode polarity interchange circuit comprises means for substantially reducing precipitation occurring between and upon said positive and negative electrodes.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
67 words
A method for sterilizing a conductive medium, comprising: placing positive and negative electrodes apart from each other and into said conductive medium, each postive and negative electrode being formed from an element including carbon; connecting said positive and negative electrodes to an intermittent current source; and activating said current source in periodic reverse polarity, whereby antimicrobial agents are released from inorganic salts contained within said conductive medium.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
67 words
A method for sterilizing a conductive medium, comprising: placing positive and negative electrodes apart from each other and into said conductive medium, each postive and negative electrode being formed from an element including carbon; connecting said positive and negative electrodes to an intermittent current source; and activating said current source in periodic reverse polarity, whereby antimicrobial agents are released from inorganic salts contained within said conductive medium.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
79 words
The method as recited in claim 5, wherein said connecting step comprises: attaching said positive and negative electrodes to positive and negative poles, respectively, of said intermittent current source, for a first period of time; and subsequently attaching said positive and negative electrodes to negative and positive poles, respectively, of said current source for a second period of time to prolong the useful life of said positive and negative electrodes and prevent precipitation accumulation on and between said electrodes.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 5 wherein said conductive medium is a biological fluid.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said conductive medium comprises blood.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said conductive medium comprises urine.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said conductive medium comprises tissue fluid.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 5 further comprising, confining said conductive medium in a vessel.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the vessel is physiological.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the vessel is an internal organ.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the vessel is an artery.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the vessel is a vein.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
71 words
A method for sterilizing a chlorine containing conductive medium, comprising: placing positive and negative electrodes apart from each other and into said conductive medium, each positive and negative electrode being formed from an element including carbon; connecting said positive and negative electrodes to an intermittent current source; activating said current source in periodic reverse polarity; releasing antimicrobial agents within said conductive medium; and sterilizing said conductive medium by said antimicrobial agents.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
71 words
A method for sterilizing a chlorine containing conductive medium, comprising: placing positive and negative electrodes apart from each other and into said conductive medium, each positive and negative electrode being formed from an element including carbon; connecting said positive and negative electrodes to an intermittent current source; activating said current source in periodic reverse polarity; releasing antimicrobial agents within said conductive medium; and sterilizing said conductive medium by said antimicrobial agents.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
79 words
The method as recited in claim 16, wherein said connecting step comprises: attaching said positive and negative electrodes to positive and negative poles, respectively, of said intermittent current source, for a first period of time; and subsequently attaching said positive and negative electrodes to negative and positive poles, respectively, of said current source for a second period of time to prolong the useful life of said positive and negative electrodes and prevent precipitation accumulation on and between said electrodes.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
78 words
A method for sterilizing a conductive medium, comprising: providing a halide containing conductive medium; placing positive and negative electrodes apart from each other and into said conductive medium, each postive and negative electrode being formed from an element including carbon; connecting said positive and negative electrodes to an intermittent current source; and activating said current source in periodic reverse polarity; releasing antimicrobial agents from said halide containing conductive medium; and sterilizing said conductive medium by said antimicrobial agents.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
78 words
A method for sterilizing a conductive medium, comprising: providing a halide containing conductive medium; placing positive and negative electrodes apart from each other and into said conductive medium, each postive and negative electrode being formed from an element including carbon; connecting said positive and negative electrodes to an intermittent current source; and activating said current source in periodic reverse polarity; releasing antimicrobial agents from said halide containing conductive medium; and sterilizing said conductive medium by said antimicrobial agents.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said positive and negative electrodes are spaced adjacent each other and are placed about the outside of a catheter.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said positive electrode is wound about a first portion of the inside of a catheter and said negative electrode is wound about a second portion of the outside of said catheter, wherein said first portion is axially spaced from said second portion.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said positive electrode is wound about a first portion of the outside of a catheter and said negative electrode is wound about a second portion of the outside of said catheter, wherein said first portion is axially spaced form said second portion.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 5, wherein said conductive medium comprises a gas.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 5, wherein said conductive medium comprises fluid from a water treatment plant.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 18, wherein said halide comprises bromine.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 18, wherein said halide comprises fluorine.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said positive and negative electrodes are spaced adjacent each other and are placed with a dressing.
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