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US 2010/0168829 A1Published application
System for implanting, activating, and operating an implantable battery
OwnerLiat Schwartz, Valentin Barskyinventors
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Abstract
The present invention is apparatus, systems, and methods for the treatment of bone, cartilage and other types of hard tissue. The treatments, which are suitable for extended treatment, include the treatment and prevention of pathologies through the controllable use of silver, iron, zinc, or magnesium ions. These pathologies may include a pathology which is at least partially induced or aggravated by an infectious disease, for example a bacterial disease. In this case the electrically released ions are silver ions, which are known to have antibacterial properties.
Claims19
An apparatus for activating and operating an implantable battery inside a human or animal body, said apparatus comprising:
- (a) at least two electrodes adapted to be implanted in said body, said electrodes including at least one active electrode composed of a metallic material and at least one passive electrode composed of a material whose electrical potential is negative relative to the electrical potential of said active electrode;
- and
- (b) a power source for application of current to the at least one active electrode to cause release of metallic ions from said active electrode;
- and
- (c) a control unit for automatically controlling the output of said power source in order to control the release of said metallic ions.
2 more elements
An apparatus for implanting an active electrode in hard tissue, said apparatus comprised of:
- i. a rigid base plate and a rigid platform that are connected by an axle and a rotation mechanism such that said platform may be rotated around said axis relative to said plate;
- ii. a trocar rigidly attached to and projecting downward from the bottom of said base plate;
- iii. two vertical holes bored through said rigid platform, wherein said holes are located on said platform such that, when said platform is rotated around a vertical axis passing through said axle said holes may be brought to a position in which they are co-axial with a channel in the center of said trocar;
- iv. two hollow vertical posts rigidly attached to the top surface of said platform such that the channel through each of them is coaxial with said holes respectively;
- v. a shaft, which passes through the first of said posts, wherein the distal end of said shaft is either a hardened pointed to form an orthopedic punch or has spiral grooves machined into it forming a drill tip, wherein said shaft is used to create a hole in said hard tissue into which said active electrode is implanted;
- and
- vi. a pusher which passes through the second of said posts;
- wherein said active electrode is located at the distal end of said pusher.
5 more elements
A method of treatment and prevention of infectious diseases, said method comprising the steps of:
- a. implanting a silver electrode at the location of the actual or potential infection;
- b. connecting electrically said silver electrode with a first terminal of a resistance meter;
- c. connecting electrically a needle made from a biocompatible material having the same electrical potential or a negative electrical potential with respect to silver to a second terminal of said resistance meter;
- d. touching the skin with said needle at a spot near said silver electrode and measuring the resistance of the path from said silver electrode to said needle;
- e. repeating step d at different locations until the path having the lowest resistance is found and marking the corresponding location of said needle;
- f. repeating steps d and e to locate one or more additional corresponding locations, if desired;
- g. disconnecting said resistance meter from said silver electrode and removing said resistance meter and said needle;
- h. implanting a passive electrode made from said biocompatible material subcutaneously at each of said corresponding locations;
- i. connecting electrically one terminal of an electrical power source to said silver electrode and the second terminal of said current source to a first one of said passive electrodes, thereby initiating the release of silver ions by applying a small current between said silver electrode and said first one of said passive electrodes;
- j. disconnecting said second terminal of said power source from said first one of said passive electrodes;
- k. repeating steps i and j for each of said other passive electrodes.
8 more elements
An apparatus for treatment and prevention of infectious diseases in a hard tissue surrounded by at least a portion of a soft tissue, said apparatus comprising:
- a. a trocar for insertion to said soft tissue and said hard tissue and for creating an opening in said soft tissue and said hard tissue;
- b. a punch for insertion through said opening in said soft tissue and said hard tissue, and for deepening said opening in said hard tissue;
- c. a pusher;
- d. a silver electrode for entering said opening in soft tissue and said opening in said hard tissue through pushing by said pusher;
- e. a temporary electrode for entering said opening in soft tissue and said opening in said hard tissue through pushing by said pusher on top of said silver electrode;
- f. a needle made from a biocompatible substance having a negative electrical potential with respect to silver;
- g. one or more second electrodes made from the same material as said needle for insertion through said soft tissue at a location separated from said opening in said soft tissue;
- and h. a conductivity meter attached to said needle;
- Wherein upon contacting said needle to said soft tissue, said conductivity meter provides a reading for determining said location for said one or more second electrodes.
6 more elements
A method of treatment and prevention of infectious diseases, said method comprising the stages of boring a hole into a bone or a joint;
- implanting a small silver electrode into said hole;
- placing a temporary electrode in said hole, on top of and in intimate contact with said silver electrode;
- connecting electrically said temporary electrode with a first terminal of a conductivity meter;
- connecting electrically a needle made from a biocompatible substance having a negative electrical potential with respect to silver to a second terminal of said conductivity meter;
- touching the skin with said needle at a location near said hole and measuring the conductivity of the path from said silver electrode to said needle;
- repeating said touching the skin with said needle at different locations until the path having the highest conductivity is found and marking the corresponding location of said needle;
- repeating said touching the skin with said needle at least once more to locate one or more additional corresponding locations, if desired;
- disconnecting said conductivity meter from said temporary electrode and removing said conductivity meter and said needle;
- embedding a second small electrode made from said biocompatible material subcutaneously at each of said corresponding locations;
- connecting electrically one terminal of a D.C. voltage source to the temporary electrode and the second terminal of said D. C. voltage source to a first one of said second electrodes, thereby initiating the release of silver ions by applying a small current between said silver electrode and said first one of said second electrodes;
- disconnecting said second terminal of said D.C. voltage source from said first one of said second electrodes;
- repeating said connecting electrically one terminal of a D.C. voltage source to the temporary electrode and said disconnecting said second terminal for each of said other second electrodes;
- and removing said temporary electrode and said D.C. voltage source.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.