Iontopheretic system for stimulation of tissue healing and regeneration

Claim 3

The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said applying step further comprises maintaining said DC voltage for at least approximately 24 hours.

Claim 4

The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said applying step further comprises applying approximately 0.1 V/in 2 of said surface area.

Claim 5

The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said anode has a specific resistance no greater than approximately 5 Ω/cm.

Claim 6

The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said anode has a specific resistance no greater than approximately 1 Ω/cm.

Claim 7

The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said metal is silver.

Claim 8

The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said cathode has a specific resistance no greater than approximately 500 Ω/cm.

Claim 9

The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of positioning said cathode so that current flow into said wound is approximately uniform.

Claim 10

The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of positioning said cathode to maximize current flow through said wound.

Claim 11

The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said applying step further comprises causing a sufficient number of said metal ions to migrate from said anode into said region so that another portion of said metal ions causes at least some cells in said region to de-differentiate to form embryonic cells, said metal-collagen complex inducing multiplication of said embryonic cells, said embryonic cells re-differentiating into normal cells as said wound heals.

Claim 12

The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said applying step further comprises causing a sufficient number of said metal ions to migrate from said anode into said region so that another portion of said metal combines with chemical species present in said wound to thereby act against bacteria and fungi present therein.

Claim 13

A composition for use in inducing healing and regeneration of mammalian tissues, said composition made by a process comprising the steps of: providing a culture medium containing collagen; placing a metal-containing anode in contact with a portion of said culture medium, said portion having a surface area; placing a cathode in contact with another portion of said culture medium; and applying a DC voltage of approximately 0.09-0.11 V/in 2 of said surface area across said anode and said cathode to cause a sufficient quantity of metal ions from said anode to migrate into said culture medium for a sufficient period of time to cause at least a portion of said collagen to bind to a portion of said metal ions to form a metal-collagen complex.

Claim 14

A composition for use in inducing healing and regeneration of mammalian tissues, said composition made by a process comprising the steps of: providing a culture medium containing collagen; placing a metal-containing anode in contact with a portion of said culture medium, said portion having a surface area; placing a cathode in contact with another portion of said culture medium; and applying a DC voltage of approximately 0.09-0.11 V/in 2 of said surface area across said anode and said cathode to cause a sufficient quantity of metal ions from said anode to migrate into said culture medium for a sufficient period of time to cause at least a portion of said collagen to bind to a portion of said metal ions to form a metal-collagen complex.

Claim 15

The composition as recited in claim 12, wherein said applying step further comprises applying approximately 0.1 V/in 2 of said surface area.

Claim 16

The composition as recited in claim 12, wherein said metal is silver.

Claim 17

The composition as recited in claim 12, wherein said culture medium is a region surrounding a wound, wherein said anode is placed in contact with said wound, and wherein said cathode is placed on intact skin near said anode.

Claim 18

A process for making a composition for enhancing wound healing, said process comprising the steps of: providing a culture medium containing collagen; placing a metal-containing anode in contact with a portion of said culture medium, said portion having a surface area; placing a cathode in contact with another portion of said culture medium, said cathode being spaced apart from said anode; and applying a DC voltage of approximately 0.09-0.11 V/in 2 of said surface area across said anode and said cathode for a sufficient period of time to cause a sufficient quantity of metal ions from said anode to migrate into said culture medium so that at least a portion of said metal ions bind to at least a portion of said collagen to form a metal-collagen complex.

Claim 19

A process for making a composition for enhancing wound healing, said process comprising the steps of: providing a culture medium containing collagen; placing a metal-containing anode in contact with a portion of said culture medium, said portion having a surface area; placing a cathode in contact with another portion of said culture medium, said cathode being spaced apart from said anode; and applying a DC voltage of approximately 0.09-0.11 V/in 2 of said surface area across said anode and said cathode for a sufficient period of time to cause a sufficient quantity of metal ions from said anode to migrate into said culture medium so that at least a portion of said metal ions bind to at least a portion of said collagen to form a metal-collagen complex.

Claim 20

The process as recited in claim 16, wherein said anode contains silver.

Claim 21

The process as recited in claim 16, wherein said culture medium is a region surrounding a wound, wherein said anode is placed in contact with said wound, and wherein said cathode is placed on intact skin near said anode.

Claim 22

The process as recited in claim 16, wherein said applying step further comprises applying said DC voltage for at least approximately 24 hours.

Claim 25

The device as recited in claim 20, wherein said anode has a specific resistance no greater than approximately 1 Ω/cm.

Claim 26

The device as recited in claim 20, wherein said cathode has a specific resistance no greater than approximately 500 Ω/cm.

Claim 27

The device as recited in claim 20, wherein said metal is silver.

Claim 28

The device as recited in claim 20, wherein said anode contains a sufficient quantity of said metal to maintain said approximately constant DC voltage for at least approximately 24 hours.

Claim 29

The device as recited in claim 20, wherein said power source has a plurality of output terminals, each of said output terminals having a different output voltage, and wherein said anode further comprises a plurality of anodes, each of said anodes corresponding to one of said output terminals.

Claim 30

The device as recited in claim 20, wherein said anode has a specific resistance no greater than approximately 5 W/cm.

Claim 33

The method as recited in claim 27, wherein said applying step further comprises maintaining said DC voltage for at least approximately 24 hours.

Claim 34

The method as recited in claim 27, wherein said wound has a surface area, and wherein said applying step further comprises applying approximately 0.09-0.11 V/in 2 of said surface area.

Claim 35

The method as recited in claim 27, wherein said metal is silver.

Claim 36

The method as recited in claim 27, wherein said cathode has a specific resistance no greater than approximately 500 W/cm.

Claim 37

The method as recited in claim 27, further comprising the step of positioning said cathode to optimize current flow through said wound.

Claim 40

The device as recited in claim 33, wherein said cathode has a specific resistance no greater than approximately 500 W/cm.

Claim 41

The device as recited in claim 33, wherein said anode contains a sufficient quantity of said silver to maintain said approximately constant DC voltage for at least approximately 24 hours.

Claim 42

The device as recited in claim 33, wherein said wound has a surface area, and wherein said anode contains a sufficient quantity of said silver to maintain a DC voltage of approximately 0.09-0.11 V/in 2 of said surface area.

Claim 43

The device as recited in claim 33, wherein said power source has a plurality of output terminals, each of said output terminals having a different output voltage, and wherein said anode further comprises a plurality of anodes, each of said anodes corresponding to a different one of said output terminals.

Claim 44

A process for making a composition for enhancing wound healing, said process comprising the steps of: providing a culture medium containing collagen; placing a silver-containing anode in contact with a portion of said culture medium, said portion having a surface area; placing a cathode in contact with another portion of said culture medium, said cathode being spaced apart from said anode; applying a sufficient DC voltage across said anode and said cathode for a first period of time, thereby causing silver ions from said anode to migrate into said culture medium and combine with chemical species present therein; continuing to apply said DC voltage for a second period of time, thereby causing additional silver ions from said anode to associate with silver-sensitive cells in said culture medium to cause de-differentiation of said cells into embryonic cells; and continuing to apply said DC voltage for a third period of time, thereby causing additional silver ions from said anode to bind to at least a portion of said collagen to form a silver-collagen complex, said silver-collagen complex inducing multiplication of said de-differentiated cells, said embryonic cells re-differentiating into normal cells as said wound heals.

Claim 45

A process for making a composition for enhancing wound healing, said process comprising the steps of: providing a culture medium containing collagen; placing a silver-containing anode in contact with a portion of said culture medium, said portion having a surface area; placing a cathode in contact with another portion of said culture medium, said cathode being spaced apart from said anode; applying a sufficient DC voltage across said anode and said cathode for a first period of time, thereby causing silver ions from said anode to migrate into said culture medium and combine with chemical species present therein; continuing to apply said DC voltage for a second period of time, thereby causing additional silver ions from said anode to associate with silver-sensitive cells in said culture medium to cause de-differentiation of said cells into embryonic cells; and continuing to apply said DC voltage for a third period of time, thereby causing additional silver ions from said anode to bind to at least a portion of said collagen to form a silver-collagen complex, said silver-collagen complex inducing multiplication of said de-differentiated cells, said embryonic cells re-differentiating into normal cells as said wound heals.

Claim 46

The process as recited in claim 28, wherein said applying step further comprises maintaining said DC voltage for at least approximately 24 hours.

Claim 47

The method as recited in claim 38, wherein said wound has a surface area, and wherein said applying step further comprises applying approximately 0.09-0.11 V/in 2 of said surface area.

Claim 48

The method as recited in claim 38, wherein said anode has a specific resistance no greater than approximately 5 W/cm.

Claim 49

The method as recited in claim 38, wherein said cathode has a specific resistance no greater than approximately 500 W/cm.