Germicidal method for treating or preventing sinusitis

• US 20060089673A1
• Filed: 10/21/2005
• Published: 04/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Softwave Tissue Regeneration Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: General Patent, LLC (Tissue Regeneration Technologies LLC)
• Inventors: Schaden, Wolfgang, Warlick, John, Schultheiss, Reiner
• Granted Patent: US 7,497,836 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/00 Ultrasound therapy lithotripsy A61B17/22, A61B17/225; massage using supersonic vibration A61H23/00 ; using ultrasound for introducing media into the body A61M37/0092

Abstract

The method of treatment for a nasal or sinus tissue exhibiting a sinusitis or rhinosinusitis disease or condition in a diagnosed patient is disclosed. The method has the steps of activating an acoustic shock wave generator or source to emit acoustic shock waves; and subjecting the nasal or sinus tissue, or the entire nasal or sinus region of the patient to the acoustic shock waves stimulating said tissue, wherein the tissue is positioned within a path of the emitted shock waves. The method of treatment may further have the steps of administering one or more medicaments prior, during or after subjecting the patient to acoustic shock waves or testing the bacterial count or viability of the treated tissue or region of the diagnosed patient after exposure to one or more acoustic shock wave treatments; or subjecting a tissue or organ to a surgical procedure to remove or repair some or all of any defects or degenerative tissues. The method of treatment is for prevention of infectious disease and may be used with debridement. The treatment is particularly useful in eradicating and inhibiting biofilm formations.

Claims

1. The method of treatment for a sinus or nasal tissue exhibiting a sinusitis or rhinosinusitis disease or condition in a diagnosed patient comprises the steps of:

activating an acoustic shock wave generator or source to emit acoustic shock waves; and

subjecting the sinus or nasal tissue, or the entire sinus or nasal region of the patient to the acoustic shock waves stimulating said tissue, wherein the tissue is positioned within a path of the emitted shock waves.

2. The method of treatment of claim 1 wherein the emitted shock waves are convergent, divergent, planar or near planar.

3. The method of treatment of claim 1 wherein the emitted shock waves are convergent having one or more geometric focal volumes of points at a distance of at least X from the generator or source, the method further comprising positioning the organ at a distance at or less than the distance X from the source.

4. The method of treatment of claim 1 further comprises the step of:

administering one or more medicaments prior, during or after subjecting the patient to acoustic shock waves.

5. The method of treatment of claim 1 further comprises the step of:

testing the bacterial count or viability of the treated tissue or region of the diagnosed patient after exposure to one or more acoustic shock wave treatments.

6. The method of treatment of claim 1 further comprises the step of:

subjecting a tissue to a surgical procedure to remove or repair some or all of any defects or degenerative tissues.

7. The method of treatment of claim 1 wherein the treated sinus or nasal tissue has an indication of one or more pathological conditions.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the treatment is for prevention of infectious disease.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprises the step of:

debridement.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the treatment further comprises the step of:

destroying biofilm in or on the treated tissue or region.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein the treatment further comprises the step of:

destroying a tumor in or on the treated tissue or region.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein the treated tissue or region activates or otherwise stimulates stem cells or release of cellular growth factors in the nasal or sinus structure effecting a tissue repair or tissue regeneration.