Method for the prevention and treatment of skin and nail infections

• US 20030153962A1
• Filed: 08/09/2002
• Published: 08/14/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Keraderm Corporation
• Original Assignee: Keraderm Corporation
• Inventors: Cumbie, William Emmett
• Granted Patent: US 6,960,201 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/94
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00452 Skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1807 using light other than laser radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/2015 Miscellaneous features
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/10 Ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0643 Applicators, probes irradiating specific body areas in close proximity
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0654 Lamps
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0661 ultraviolet
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0616 Skin treatment other than tanning
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0624 for eliminating microbes, germs, bacteria on or in the body

Abstract

A method of prevention and treatment of microbial infections that occur on, or just below, the skin and nails consisting of the application of electromagnetic radiation to an infected area of skin or nails for a time and at a proximity and intensity sufficient to render the microbes substantially inactivated and incapable of reproducing.

Claims

1. A method for the treatment of nail infections caused by microbes comprising the step of applying electromagnetic radiation to an infected nail for a time and at a proximity and intensity sufficient to render the microbes substantially inactivated.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said nail infections are caused by said microbes that are selected from a group consisting of organisms that include bacteria, fungi, yeast, molds, viruses, and all other microbes.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said electromagnetic radiation is a selected from a group consisting of UVA at 315 to 400 nm, UVB at 280 to 315 nm, UVC at 100 to 280 nm, visible light, infrared light, and any combination thereof.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said electromagnetic radiation is selected from a group consisting of coherent, incoherent, continuous, pulsed, single spectrum, multi-spectrum, and any combination thereof.

5. The method of claim 1 whereby means are provided to prevent said electromagnetic radiation from affecting the eyes and any area of the skin and nails not being treated.

6. The method of claim 1 whereby said treatment can be supplemented with oral and topical medications to enhance the overall effect of treatment.

7. A method for the prevention of nail infections caused by microbes comprising the step of applying electromagnetic radiation to an infected nail for a time and at a proximity and intensity sufficient to render the microbes substantially inactivated and incapable of establishing an infection.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said microbial infections are caused by said microbes that are selected from a group consisting of organisms that include bacteria, fungi, yeast, molds, viruses, and all other microbes.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein said electromagnetic radiation is a selected from a group consisting of UVA at 315 to 400 nm, UVB at 280 to 315 nm, UVC at 100 to 280 nm, visible light, infrared light, and any combination thereof.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein said electromagnetic radiation is selected from a group consisting of coherent, incoherent, continuous, pulsed, single spectrum, multi-spectrum, and any combination thereof.

11. The method of claim 7 whereby means are provided to prevent said electromagnetic radiation from affecting the eyes and any area of the skin and nails not being treated.

12. A method for the prevention and treatment of skin infections cause by microbes comprising the step of applying electromagnetic radiation to an infected area of skin for a time and at a proximity and intensity sufficient to render the microbes substantially inactivated.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said infections are caused by said microbes that are selected from a group consisting of organisms that include bacteria, fungi, yeast, molds, viruses, and all other microbes.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein said electromagnetic radiation is a selected from a group consisting of UVA at 315 to 400 nm, UVB at 280 to 315 nm, UVC at 100 to 280 nm, visible light, infrared light, and any combination thereof.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein said electromagnetic radiation is selected from a group consisting of coherent, incoherent, continuous, pulsed, single spectrum, multi-spectrum, and any combination thereof.

16. The method of claim 12 whereby means are provided to prevent said electromagnetic radiation from affecting the eyes and any area of the skin and nails not being treated.

17. The method of claim 12 whereby said treatment can be supplemented with oral and topical medications to enhance the overall effect of treatment.