Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US6631294?dq=5572193
Timestamp: 2015-03-02 16:12:24
Document Index: 219121701

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 2', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 1', 'art 1']

Patent US6631294 - Apparatus and methods for facilitating wound healing - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsAn electrode system is provided that generates a current flow that envelops and permeates an entire wound site. The electrode system includes two electrodes that are shaped and oriented to cause the current to flow from one electrode through the wound to the other electrode. A first electrode is applied...http://www.google.com/patents/US6631294?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US6631294 - Apparatus and methods for facilitating wound healingAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS6631294 B2Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 09/872,956Publication dateOct 7, 2003Filing dateJun 1, 2001Priority dateJun 1, 2001Fee statusPaidAlso published asCA2448695A1, DE60221244D1, DE60221244T2, EP1395332A2, EP1395332B1, EP1818075A1, US6907294, US20030144723, US20040015223, WO2002098502A2, WO2002098502A3Publication number09872956, 872956, US 6631294 B2, US 6631294B2, US-B2-6631294, US6631294 B2, US6631294B2InventorsRafael Andino, Christopher Brooks, Donald Van RoyenOriginal AssigneeBiofisica, LlcExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (33), Non-Patent Citations (31), Referenced by (20), Classifications (13), Legal Events (8) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetApparatus and methods for facilitating wound healing
US 6631294 B2Abstract
What is claimed is: 1. An electrode system for facilitating the healing of a wound, comprising:
a support structure; a first electrode attached to the support structure; a first adhesive material attached to the first electrode, wherein the first adhesive material is an electrically conductive material and wherein the first adhesive material attaches the first electrode to the wound when the electrode system is applied to the wound; and a second electrode attached to the support structure, wherein the second electrode completely surrounds the first electrode on the support structure, wherein (a) when the electrode system is applied to the wound and (b) when a voltage potential is applied across the first and the second electrodes, a current is caused to flow between the first and the second electrodes, thereby passing through the wound, and wherein the current cannot flow between the first electrode and the wound without passing through the first adhesive material. 2. The electrode system defined in claim 1 further comprising an electrically insulative element attached to the support structure that is disposed between the first and the second electrodes.
3. The electrode system defined in claim 1 further comprising a power source that is configured to apply the voltage potential across the first and the second electrodes.
4. The electrode system defined in claim 3 wherein the power source is attached to the support structure.
5. The electrode system defined in claim 3 wherein the power source is configured to apply a constant voltage potential across the first and the second electrodes.
6. The electrode system defined in claim 3 wherein the power source is configured to cause a constant current to flow between the first and the second electrodes.
7. The electrode system defined in claim 3 wherein the power source is configured to apply a time varying voltage potential across the first and the second electrodes.
8. The electrode system defined in claim 7 wherein the power source is configured to change the polarities of the first and the second electrodes when the time varying voltage potential is applied across the first and the second electrodes.
10. The electrode system defined in claim 1 wherein the current is caused to flow from the first electrode through the wound to the second electrode.
11. The electrode system defined in claim 1 wherein the current is caused to flow from the second electrode through the wound to the first electrode.
12. The electrode system defined in claim 1 wherein the support structure is permeable to oxygen.
13. The electrode system defined in claim 1 wherein the support structure is impermeable to water and water vapor.
14. The electrode system defined in claim 1 further comprising a second adhesive material attached to the second electrode, wherein the second adhesive material attaches the second electrode to the skin surrounding the wound when the electrode system is applied to the wound.
15. The electrode system defined in claim 1 wherein the first electrode covers the entire wound when the electrode system is applied to the wound.
16. The electrode system defined in claim 1 wherein the first and the second electrodes are selected from the group consisting of thin metal, metallic deposition, metallic foil, and conductive hydrogels.
17. The electrode system defined in claim 1 further comprising a visual indicator to allow the user to determine whether or how well the electrode system is functioning.
18. An electrode system for facilitating the healing of a wound, comprising:
a first electrode; a first adhesive material attached to the first material, wherein the first adhesive material is an electrically conductive material and wherein the first adhesive material attaches the first electrode to the wound and covers the entire wound when the first electrode is applied to the wound; and a second electrode that completely surrounds the first electrode when the electrode system is applied to the wound, wherein (a) when the electrode system is applied to the wound and (b) when a voltage potential is applied across the first and the second electrodes, a current is caused to flow between the first and the second electrodes, thereby passing through the wound and wherein the current cannot flow between the first electrode and the wound without passing through the first adhesive material. 19. The electrode system defined in claim 18 further comprising an electrically insulative element that is disposed between the first and the second electrodes when the electrode system is applied to the wound.
20. The electrode system defined in claim 18 further comprising a power source that is configured to apply the voltage potential across the first and the second electrodes.
21. The electrode system defined in claim 20 wherein the power source is configured to apply a constant voltage potential across the first and the second electrodes.
22. The electrode system defined in claim 20 wherein the power source is configured to cause a constant current to flow between the first and the second electrodes.
23. The electrode system defined in claim 20 wherein the power source is configured to apply a time varying voltage potential across the first and the second electrodes.
24. The electrode system defined in claim 23 wherein the power source is configured to change the polarities of the first and the second electrodes when the time varying voltage potential is applied across the first and the second electrodes.
25. The electrode system defined in claim 18 wherein the current that is caused to flow between the first and the second electrodes causes a current density within the range of 1 μA/cm2 to 10,000 μA/cm2 to occur through the area of the wound.
26. The electrode system defined in claim 18 wherein the current is caused to flow from the first electrode through the wound to the second electrode.
27. The electrode system defined in claim 18 wherein the current is caused to flow from the second electrode through the wound to the first electrode.
28. The electrode system defined in claim 18 further comprising a second adhesive material attached to the second electrode, wherein the second adhesive material attaches the second electrode to the skin surrounding the wound when the electrode system is applied to the wound.
29. The electrode system defined in claim 18 wherein the first and the second electrodes are selected from the group consisting of thin metal, metallic deposition, metallic foil, and conductive hydrogels.
30. The electrode system defined in claim 18 further comprising a visual indicator to allow the user to determine whether or how well the electrode system is functioning.
Weiss continues to explain, in a summary of the scientific literature, that intractable ulcers have demonstrated accelerated healing and skin wounds have resurfaced faster and with better tensile properties following exposure to electrical currents. Dayton and Palladino, in Dayton, Paul D., and Palladino, Steven J., Electrical Stimulation of Cutaneous Ulcerations�A Literature Review, Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association, 79(7):318 (July 1989), also state that the alteration of cellular activity with externally applied currents can positively or negatively influence the status of a healing tissue, thereby directing the healing process to a desired outcome.
This and other objects of the invention are accomplished in accordance with the principles of the present invention by providing an electrode system that includes two electrodes that are adapted for connection to a power source sufficient to cause a current to flow between them. The electrodes are shaped and oriented to cause a pattern of current flow that envelops and permeates the entire wound site. Such shapes and orientations may include a circular first electrode located at and covering the wound site and a second electrode shaped as a ring fully encircling the first electrode. The second electrode may be located outside or partially within the wound site. Other suitable shapes of the electrodes may include electrodes that are ovally shaped, rectangularly shaped, triangularly shaped or any other suitable shape where one electrode encircles the other electrode. The shape of the electrode may conform to the shape of the wound.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an illustrative electrode system in accordance with the present invention taken generally along the line 1�1 of FIG. 2.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the electrode system of FIG. 1 taken generally along the line 2�2 of FIG. 1
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the electrode system of FIG. 1 as applied to a wound that illustrates the pattern of current flow generated by the electrode system in accordance the present invention.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of electrode system 10. The view in FIG. 1 is taken along the line 1�1 of FIG. 2. FIG. 2 shows a simplified cross-sectional view of electrode system 10 taken alone the line 2�2 of FIG. 1. As illustrated in FIG. 1, electrode system 10 includes top overlay layer 20 to which electrodes 22 and 24, electrically insulative element 26, and end material 28 are attached. Electrode 22 is located towards the center of top overlay layer 20. Electrically insulative element 26 surrounds electrode 22 and electrode 24 surrounds electrically insulative element 26. Attached to the other side of electrodes 22 and 24, electrically insulative element 26, and end material 28 are adhesive layers 52 and 54. As illustrated in FIG. 2, electrically conductive lead 32 connects electrode 22 to terminal 42 of power supply 40 and electrically conductive lead 34 connects electrode 24 to terminal 44 of the power supply 40.
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therapeutic treatment and pain managementWO2008013936A1Jul 27, 2007Jan 31, 2008Biofisica LlcApparatus and methods for facilitating wound healing and treating skin* Cited by examinerClassifications U.S. Classification607/46, 607/149, 607/152International ClassificationA61N1/04, A61N1/20Cooperative ClassificationA61N1/0476, A61N1/205, A61N1/0492, A61N1/0496, A61N1/0468European ClassificationA61N1/04E2P, A61N1/04E1W, A61N1/20PLegal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionNov 17, 2014ASAssignmentEffective date: 20140127Free format text: PATENT TRANSFER AGREEMENT;ASSIGNOR:BIOSIFICA INC.;REEL/FRAME:034257/0794Owner name: LA DIFFUSION TECHNIQUE FRANCAISE, FRANCEAug 15, 2011SULPSurcharge for late paymentYear of fee payment: 7Aug 15, 2011FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 8May 16, 2011REMIMaintenance fee reminder mailedApr 9, 2007FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 4Oct 6, 2006ASAssignmentOwner name: BIOFISICA, INC., GEORGIAFree format text: MERGER;ASSIGNOR:BIOFISICA, LLC;REEL/FRAME:018350/0906Effective date: 20061005Feb 10, 2004CCCertificate of correctionJun 1, 2001ASAssignmentOwner name: BIOFISICA, LLC., GEORGIAFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:ANDINO, RAFAEL;BROOKS, CHRISTOPHER;VAN ROYEN, DONALD;REEL/FRAME:011875/0876Effective date: 20010530Owner name: BIOFISICA, LLC. 1961 TRAVERS CIRCLELAWRENCEVILLE,Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:ANDINO, RAFAEL /AR;REEL/FRAME:011875/0876RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services