Promotion of oral hygiene and treatment of gingivitis, other periodontal problems and oral mal odor with alternating current waveforms and device therefor

• US 8,060,220 B2
• Filed: 08/04/2006
• Issued: 11/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sachiko Liebergesell
• Original Assignee: Sachiko Liebergesell
• Inventors: Eppler, William G. Jr., Liebergesell, Sachiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel; Niketa
• Assistant Examiner(s): ALTER, ALYSSA MARGO
• Application Number:
  US11/499,033
• Publication Number:
  US 20060271148A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,929 Days
• Field of Search: 607/68, 607/46, 607/66, 607/51, 607/47, 607/134, 607/50, 607/76
• US Class Current: 607/134
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/32 alternating or intermittent currents applying electric fields by inductive or capacitive coupling A61N1/40; microwave apparatus A61N5/02

Abstract

A method for promoting oral hygiene and treating a patient for gingivitis, other periodontal problems, or oral mal odor by transmitting to the gums of a patient electrical current waveforms of electrical voltage within the range of from about ±0.1V to about ±3.9V as a combination of ultra-weak electrical currents.

Claims

1. A method for promoting oral hygiene, treating a patient for gingivitis and other periodontal problems, or oral mal odor, the method comprising placing into an oral cavity of a patient in need of any such treatment electrically conductive, disposable pads contacting opposite sides of the patient'"'"'s gum and transmitting to the gums of the patient an electrical current waveform of alternating electrical voltage such that there is applied to the gums a low electrical current of 500μ

A or less in order to provide treatment of the patient for promoting oral hygiene and combating the effects of gingivitis, other periodontal problems, or oral mal odor, and wherein the electrical current waveform of alternating electrical voltage transmitted to the gums of the patient comprises a combination of ultra-weak electrical currents that are comprised of a combination of multiple types of current waveforms made up of alternating current square-waves of differing patterns.

2. A method according to claim 1 for promoting oral hygiene, treating a patient for gingivitis, other periodontal problems, or oral mal odor, wherein the electrical current waveform of alternating electrical voltage transmitted to the gums of the patient comprises an electrical current waveform of electrical voltage within the range of from about ±

0.1V to about ±

3.9V.

3. A method according to claim 2 for promoting oral hygiene, treating a patient for gingivitis, other periodontal problems, or oral mat odor, wherein the electrical current waveform of alternating electrical voltage transmitted to the gums of the patient comprises an electrical current waveform of electrical voltage within the range of from about ±

0.3V to about ±

3.9V.

4. A method according to claim 1, for promoting oral hygiene, treating a patient for gingivitis, other periodontal problems, or oral mal odor, wherein said alternating current waveforms are provided with a 1st reference electric potential as a mid-point of an electric potential level on a positive side and the electric potential level on a negative side,

repetitive alternating current waveform combinations are provided by repetitively combining the said alternating current waveforms provided as a single pattern in an alternating current square-wave pattern in a manner such that one level of the two electric potentials is provided and then, in turn, another electric potential is provided for the time of a 1st reference time, and a triple consecutive pattern in which the said single pattern is continued three times, and a pause for twice the time of the said 1st reference time

in the sequence of the said triple consecutive pattern, the said pause, the said triple consecutive pattern, the said pause, the said single pattern, the said pause, the said single pattern, the said pause, the said single pattern, the said pause and the said single pattern, the said pause.

5. A method according to claim 1, for promoting oral hygiene, treating a patient for gingivitis, other periodontal problems, or oral mal odor, wherein the said alternating current waveforms are provided with a reference electrical potential as a mid-point of the electrical potential level on the positive side and the electric potential level of the negative side,

a repeated alternating current waveform combination is provided by a 1st repetitive alternating current waveform pattern providing one level of the two electric potential levels for the time of a 2nd reference time and providing the other level of the electric potential levels for ½

the time of the said 2nd reference time, and

a 2nd repetitive alternating current waveform pattern providing the said one level of electric potential levels for ½

of the time of the said 2nd reference time, providing the aforementioned reference electric potential for ½

of the time of the said 2nd reference time and providing the said other level of electric potential for ½

of the time of the said reference time, and

a pause providing the said electrical potential for ½

of the time of the said 2nd reference time

in the sequence of the said 1st repetitive pattern, the said pause, the said 1st repetitive pattern, the said pause, the said 2nd repetitive pattern, the said pause, the said 2nd repetitive pattern and said pause.

6. A method according to claim 1, for promoting oral hygiene, treating a patient for gingivitis, other periodontal problems, or oral mal odor wherein the said alternating current waveforms are provided with a 1st reference electric potential as a mid-point of the electric potential level on the positive side and the electric potential level on the negative side,

the repeated alternating current waveform combination are provided by a 3rd repetitive alternating current waveform pattern providing one of two electrical potential levels for the time of a 3rd reference time and providing the afore-mentioned other level of the electric potential levels for the time of the said 3rd reference time and providing the other level of the electric potential levels for the time of the said 3rd reference time and providing the said reference electric potential for twice the time of the said 3rd reference time and providing the said other level of the electric potential levels for ¼

of the time of the said 3rd reference time and providing the said reference electric potential for ½

of the time of the said 3rd reference time and providing the said other level of electric potential levels for ¼

of the time of the said 3rd reference time and providing the said reference electric potential for the time of the said 3rd reference time and providing the said other level of the electric potential levels for ¼

of the time of the said 3rd reference time and providing the reference electric potential for ½

of the time of the 3rd reference time and providing the said other level of the electric potential levels for ¼

of the time of the 3rd reference time and providing the said reference electric potential for the time of the said reference time, and

a repetitive pattern in one direction providing the said reference electric potential for the time of the said 3rd reference time and providing the said one electric potential level for the ¼

of time of the said 3rd reference time and providing the said reference electric potential for the ½

of time of the said 3rd reference time and providing the said one level of the electric potential levels for the ¼

time of the said 3rd reference time, and

a repetitive pattern in the other direction providing the said reference electric potential for the time of the said 3rd reference time and providing the said other level of the electric potential levels for the ¼

of the time of the said 3rd reference time and providing the said reference electric potential for the ½

of the time of the said 3rd reference time and providing the said other level of the electric potential levels for the ¼

of the time of the said 3rd reference time, and

a pause providing the said electrical potential for the time of the said 3rd reference time

in the sequence of the said 3rd repetitive pattern, the said 3rd repetitive pattern, the said repetitive pattern in one direction, the said repetitive pattern in the other direction, the said pause, the said repetitive pattern in one direction, the said repetitive pattern in the other direction, the said pause, and the said repetitive pattern in one direction.

7. A method according to claim 1 for promoting oral hygiene, treating a patient for gingivitis, other periodontal problems, or oral mal odor, wherein the alternating current waveform is such that it is characterized by the alternating current waveform with:

a 1st reference electric potential as a mid-point of an electric potential level on a positive side and the electric potential level on a negative side, repetitive alternating current waveform combinations are provided by repetitively combining the said alternating current waveforms provided as a single pattern in an alternating current square-wave pattern in a manner such that one level of the two electric potentials is provided and then, in turn, another electric potential is provided for the time of a 1st reference time, and a triple consecutive pattern in which the said single pattern is continued three times, and a pause for twice the time of the said 1st reference time in the sequence of the said triple consecutive pattern, the said pause, the said triple consecutive pattern, the said pause, the said single pattern, the said pause, the said single pattern, the said pause, the said single pattern, the said pause and the said single pattern, the said pause;

then

a reference electrical potential as a mid-point of the electrical potential level on the positive side and the electric potential level of the negative side, a repeated alternating current waveform combination is provided by a 1st repetitive alternating current waveform pattern providing one level of the two electric potential levels for the time of a 2nd reference time and providing the other level of the electric potential levels for ½

the time of the said 2nd reference time, and a 2nd repetitive alternating current waveform pattern providing the said one level of electric potential levels for ½

of the time of the said 2nd reference time, providing the aforementioned reference electric potential for ½

of the time of the said 2nd reference time and providing the said other level of electric potential for ½

of the time of the said reference time, and a pause providing the said electrical potential for ½

of the time of the said 2nd reference time in the sequence of the said 1st repetitive pattern, the said pause, the said 1st repetitive pattern, the said pause, the said 2nd repetitive pattern, the said pause, the said 2nd repetitive pattern and said pause;

then

a 1st reference electric potential as a mid-point of the electric potential level on the positive side and the electric potential level on the negative side, the repeated alternating current waveform combination are provided by a 3rd repetitive alternating current waveform pattern providing one of two electrical potential levels for the time of a 3rd reference time and providing the afore-mentioned other level of the electric potential levels for the time of the said 3rd reference time and providing the other level of the electric potential levels for the time of the said 3rd reference time and providing the said reference electric potential for twice the time of the said 3rd reference time and providing the said other level of the electric potential levels for ¼

of the time of the said 3rd reference time and providing the said reference electric potential for ½

of the time of the said 3rd reference time and providing the said other level of electric potential levels for ¼

of the time of the said 3rd reference time and providing the said reference electric potential for the time of the said 3rd reference time and providing the said other level of the electric potential levels for ¼

of the time of the said 3rd reference time and providing the reference electric potential for ½

of the time of the 3rd reference time and providing the said other level of the electric potential levels for ¼

of the time of the 3rd reference time and providing the said reference electric potential for the time of the said reference time, and a repetitive pattern in one direction providing the said reference electric potential for the time of the said 3rd reference time and providing the said one electric potential level for the ¼

of time of the said 3rd reference time and providing the said reference electric potential for the ½

of time of the said 3rd reference time and providing the said one level of the electric potential levels for the ¼

time of the said 3rd reference time, and a repetitive pattern in the other direction providing the said reference electric potential for the time of the said 3rd reference time and providing the said other level of the electric potential levels for the ¼

of the time of the said 3rd reference time and providing the said reference electric potential for the ½

of the time of the said 3rd reference time and providing the said other level of the electric potential levels for the ¼

of the time of the said 3rd reference time, and a pause providing the said electrical potential for the time of the said 3rd reference time in the sequence of the said 3rd repetitive pattern, the said 3rd repetitive pattern, the said repetitive pattern in one direction, the said repetitive pattern in the other direction, the said pause, the said repetitive pattern in one direction, the said repetitive pattern in the other direction, the said pause, and the said repetitive pattern in one direction.

8. A method according to claim 7 for promoting oral hygiene, treating a patient for gingivitis, other periodontal problems, or oral mal odor, wherein the said 1st reference time is 0.4 second.

9. A method according to claim 1 for promoting oral hygiene, treating a patient for gingivitis, other periodontal problems, or oral mal odor wherein the electrical current waveforms transmitted to the gums of the patient are transmitted thereto from a device comprising an electrical output apparatus providing the electrical current waveforms of electrical voltage within the range of from about ±

0.1V to about ±

3.9V as a combination of ultra-weak electrical currents that are comprised of a combination of multiple types of current waveforms made up of alternating current square-waves of differing patterns, such that there is applied to the gums a low electrical current of 500μ

A or less through a pair of disposable electrical conductive elements electrically communicating to said electrical output apparatus and inserted into the oral cavity of the patient and contacting the gums of the patient, said pair of electrical conductive elements containing an electrical conductive amount of an electrical conductive material such that the electrical resistance of the electrical conductive electrical conductive elements is 1 kΩ

or less.

10. A method according to claim 9 for promoting oral hygiene, treating a patient for gingivitis, other periodontal problems, or oral mal odor, wherein the electrical current waveforms transmitted to the gums of the patient are electrical current waveforms of electrical voltage within the range of from about ±

0.3V to about ±

1.3V.