Prevention and treatment of skin and nail infections using germicidal light

• US 20080234786A1
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Published: 09/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: William E. Cumbie
• Original Assignee: William E. Cumbie
• Inventors: Cumbie, William E.
• Application Number:
  US11/980,703
• Publication Number:
  US 20080234786A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/88
• 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 of a person consisting of electromagnetic radiation to inactivate the microbes thus rendering them harmless. The treatment consists of irradiating an area of the skin and nails for a period of time long enough to inactivate the organisms. Some additional features which are not integral to the treatment but increase the safety of the treatment include shielding of non-infected areas from irradiation and a cover to prevent damage to sight which may result from viewing the electromagnetic radiation.

Claims

1. A method for the treatment of skin and nail infections caused by organisms comprising:

selecting a germicidal radiation spectra and applying germicidal radiation in sufficient strength based on said spectra to cause antigenosis and geneticide of said organisms.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein antigenosis and geneticide is the result of germicidal radiation induced cross-linking of pyrimadine bases and formation of dimers within the genetic material of the organisms.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein said germicidal radiation is generated by one of the group consisting of a mercury lamp, a xenon lamp, and a laser.

4. A method according to claim 1 further comprising the steps of identifying efficacy loss as a penetration percentage through a particular medium such as nails and for a selected radiation spectra to said organisms and applying germicidal radiation strength sufficient to compensate for said loss.

5. A method according to claim 1 further including the step of unfavorably modifying the environment for the organisms

6. A method according to claim 1 further including the step of enhancing a medium for transmitting germicidal radiation.

7. A method according to claim 1 further including the step of augmenting treatment with antibiotics.

8. A method according to claim 1 for treatment of one of the group consisting of humans and animals.

9. A method according to claim 1 wherein said germicidal radiation is applied at dosages of from about 5 mJ/cm² to about 500 J/cm².

10. A method according to claim 9 wherein said germicidal radiation is applied at from about 5 mJ/cm² to about 100 J/cm².

11. A method according to claim 9 wherein said germicidal radiation spectra includes radiation from between 200 nm and 400 nm.

12. A method according to claim 11 wherein said germicidal radiation spectra includes radiation in the UVC range.

13. A method according to claim 1 further including the step of adding other spectra generally not considered germicidal to enhance the effect of the application of germicidal light selected from a group of light with spectra between 400 nm and 1,000,000 nm.

15. The treatment device of claim 13 further including:

an attachment for providing light to a preselected location, selected from the group of a hose, a wand, a mouth guard, and fiber optic cable.

16. The treatment device of claim 13 further including:

a safety device selected from the group of Teflon coated applicators, a flexible wand, a shield, safety labels, ground fault protectors, and optically transparent barriers.

18. The electromagnetic radiation of claim 16 being a specific composition of matter with photons capable of penetrating a nail and capable of damaging the genetic material of an organism

19. The electromagnetic radiation of claim 16 being a specific composition of matter comprised of light between 200 nm and 400 nm.

20. The method of claim 1, further including the step of preventing skin and nail infections caused by organisms by selecting a germicidal radiation spectra and applying germicidal radiation in sufficient strength based on said spectra to cause antigenosis and geneticide of said organisms.

14. A treatment device for preventing and treating skin and nail infections comprising:

a light source selected from the group of a tunable laser, a xenon lamp, a plurality of lamps, and a mercury vapor lamp;

a light exposure measurement means selected form the group of a timer, a radiometer, and a spectrometer; and

a treatment record storage device selected from the group of an electronic memory, and a camera.

17. A method for the treatment of nail infections caused by organisms comprising the step of applying electromagnetic radiation as a specific composition of matter in order to cause antigenosis and geneticide of said organisms.