Iontophoretic device and method for killing bacteria and other microbes
First Claim
1. An apparatus for killing microbes in a conductive medium, comprising:
- a positive and a negative electrode spaced apart from one another and placeable in a conductive medium, each postive and negative electrode being formed from an element including carbon;
an intermittent current source connected to said positive and negative electrodes; and
means for activating said source in periodic reverse polarity for generating antimicrobial agents from inorganic salts within said conductive medium.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method for killing microbes, including bacteria or yeast-like fungus within or on a conductive medium, is provided including positive and negative electrodes which may be activated to generate antimicrobial agents from within the conductive medium. The agents are any form of anions including atoms or molecules derived from inorganic salts present within the conductive medium. Due to residual killing effect caused by the presence of internally generated antimicrobial agents, constant activation of the electrodes is not necessary thereby allowing intermittent activation in order to prolong the life of the metallic or non-metallic electrodes. Electrode polarity can be reversed periodically to drive precipitation from the electrode surface and to also extend electrode life.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. An apparatus for killing microbes in a conductive medium, comprising:
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a positive and a negative electrode spaced apart from one another and placeable in a conductive medium, each postive and negative electrode being formed from an element including carbon; an intermittent current source connected to said positive and negative electrodes; and means for activating said source in periodic reverse polarity for generating antimicrobial agents from inorganic salts within said conductive medium. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 19, 20, 21, 26)
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5. A method for sterilizing a conductive medium, comprising:
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placing positive and negative electrodes apart from each other and into said conductive medium, each postive and negative electrode being formed from an element including carbon; connecting said positive and negative electrodes to an intermittent current source; and activating said current source in periodic reverse polarity, whereby antimicrobial agents are released from inorganic salts contained within said conductive medium. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 22, 23)
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16. A method for sterilizing a chlorine containing conductive medium, comprising:
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placing positive and negative electrodes apart from each other and into said conductive medium, each positive and negative electrode being formed from an element including carbon; connecting said positive and negative electrodes to an intermittent current source;
activating said current source in periodic reverse polarity;
releasing antimicrobial agents within said conductive medium; and
sterilizing said conductive medium by said antimicrobial agents. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A method for sterilizing a conductive medium, comprising:
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providing a halide containing conductive medium; placing positive and negative electrodes apart from each other and into said conductive medium, each postive and negative electrode being formed from an element including carbon; connecting said positive and negative electrodes to an intermittent current source; and activating said current source in periodic reverse polarity; releasing antimicrobial agents from said halide containing conductive medium; and sterilizing said conductive medium by said antimicrobial agents. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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Specification