Germicidal method for eradicating or preventing the formation of biofilms

• US 20070239073A1
• Filed: 09/29/2005
• Published: 10/11/2007
• 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 7,497,834 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 601/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/22004 using mechanical vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic shock waves A61B17/225 takes precedence
• 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

A method of treatment for a tissue organ or entire body of a patient prior to or after exposure to a biofilm infection comprises the steps of activating an acoustic shock wave generator or source to emit acoustic shock waves; and subjecting the infected tissue, organ or entire body to the acoustic shock waves stimulating said tissue, organ or body wherein the tissue, organ or body is positioned within a path of the emitted shock waves.

Claims

1. The method of treating a host diagnosed with one or more biofilms, the biofilms having an outer barrier and an underlying colony of organisms comprises the steps of:

locating a region or location of a resident biofilm;

activating a pressure pulse or acoustic shock wave generating source; and

emitting pressure pulse or acoustic waves and directing the pulses or shock waves to impinge the resident biofilm to destroy, fracture, fragment or otherwise open the outer barrier structure of the resident biofilm.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprises the step of:

stimulating cells of a host to initiate a cellular response within the host when the host is a living being with organs and tissues having a cellular structure, the stimulated cells assist in absorbing or otherwise eradicating the biofilm.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the emitted pressure pulses or shock waves impinge the underlying organisms destroying or rupturing their outer membranes to germicidally kill the organisms.

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

administering one or more drugs, antibiotics or other medication to the host.

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

surgically exposing the region or location of the resident biofilm.

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

7. 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.

8. 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.

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

subjecting a tissue or organ to a surgical procedure to remove some or all of a biofilm growth.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the region or location is part of a system including the cardiovascular, urological, reproductive, digestive, intestinal, neurological or periodontal.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the pathological or degenerative condition is a leaking valve in a heart.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the pathological condition is a degenerative gum condition.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the pathological condition is an infection.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the infection is generally non-responsive to medications.

15. The method of treatment of claim 1 wherein the exposure to chemicals or radiation is the result of an accident or act of aggression and the method further comprises the steps of:

setting up a treatment site;

selecting patients suffering from exposure; and

treating said patients to the shock waves.

16. The method of treatment of claim 15 further comprises the step of:

providing mobile or vehicle contained acoustic shock wave generators; and

delivering said generators to said treatment sites.

17. The method of preventively treating a patient at risk of developing a biofilm and becoming a host;

comprises the steps of;

identifying an at risk patient with a pathological or degenerative condition susceptible to the generation of a biofilm;

locating the location or region to be treated;

activating a pressure pulse of shock wave generating source; and

emitting pressure pulses or acoustic shock waves and directing the pulses or shock waves to impinge the area of the treatment region or location.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the region or location is part of a system including the cardiovascular, urological, reproductive, digestive, intestinal, neurological or periodontal.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein the pathological or degenerative condition is a leaking valve in a heart.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein the pathological condition is a degenerative gum condition.

21. The method of claim 17 wherein the pathological condition is an infection.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the infection is generally non-responsive to medications.