Electrical stimulation unit and waterbath system

• US 7,837,719 B2
• Filed: 05/09/2003
• Issued: 11/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Daemen College
• Original Assignee: Daemen College
• Inventors: Brogan, Michael S., Kalinowski, Douglas P., Edsberg, Laura E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Layno; Carl H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stoklosa; Joseph
• Application Number:
  US10/513,555
• Publication Number:
  US 20050149124A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,755 Days
• Field of Search: 607/2, 607/3, 607/50, 607/144, 607 85- 86
• US Class Current: 607/86
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/20 continuous direct currents
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/326 for promoting growth of cells, e.g. bone cells

Abstract

A method for treating an infected area on a subject, comprising the steps of: exposing the infected area to an aqueous solution; and providing direct current to the aqueous solution to treat the infected area.

Claims

1. An apparatus for providing an antifungal agent for treating a fungal infection of a nail, the apparatus comprising:

a footbath comprising a first electrode and a second electrode and configured to receive an aqueous solution, the footbath configured to permit placement of the nail infected with the fungal infection in the aqueous solution;

and

a current source coupled to each of the first electrode and the second electrode and configured to provide a pulsed current as the antifungal agent to the aqueous solution to thereby treat the fungal infection of the nail, the pulsed current being provided by the source being a voltage of less than 150 volts, a monophasic waveform with pulse pairs having intervals of 150-330 microseconds, a pulse width of 5-50 microseconds, and a pulse repetition frequency of 100-200 Hz.

2. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said first electrode and second electrode each comprise stainless steel.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said apparatus is further constructed and arranged to treat the infected area on the skin of the foot. .

6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an aqueous solution that includes hydrogen peroxide.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said aqueous solution comprises about 0.01 to about 3.0 weight percent hydrogen peroxide.

3. An apparatus for treating a fungal infection of a nail, the apparatus comprising:

a footbath comprising a first electrode and a second electrode and configured to receive an aqueous solution, the footbath further configured to permit placement of the nail infected with the fungal infection in the aqueous solution; and

a current source coupled to each of the first electrode and the second electrode and configured to provide a pulsed current to said aqueous solution at a fungicidal or fungistatic amount to thereby treat the fungal infection of the nail, the pulsed current being provided by the source being a voltage of less than 150 volts, a monophasic waveform with pulse pairs having intervals of 150-330 microseconds, a pulse width of 5-50 microseconds, and a pulse repetition frequency of 100-200 Hz.

4. The apparatus set forth in claim 3 wherein said first electrode and second electrode each comprise stainless steel.

8. An apparatus for providing an antifungal agent for treating a fungal infection of a nail of a foot, the apparatus comprising:

a footbath comprising a fluid reservoir comprising an aqueous solution, the fluid reservoir comprising a front wall, side walls and a back wall, in which each of the front wall, the side walls and the back wall are coupled to a bottom surface, the front wall, side walls, back wall, and bottom surface being sized and arranged as the footbath to receive the one or both feet, the front wall comprising a first electrode so that when the foot is placed in the fluid reservoir the first electrode is positioned in close proximity to at least one toe of the foot, and the fluid reservoir further comprising at least a second electrode on one of the sidewalls, back wall or bottom surface so that the second electrode is positioned in close proximity to the heel of the foot; and

a current source coupled to each of the first electrode and the second electrode and configured to provide a pulsed current as the antifungal agent to said aqueous solution in the footbath at a fungicidal or fungistatic amount to thereby treat the fungal infection of the nail, the pulsed current being provided by the source being a voltage of less than 150 volts, a monophasic waveform with pulse pairs having intervals of 150-330 microseconds, a pulse width of 5-50 microseconds, and a pulse repetition frequency of 100-200 Hz.