Circumferentially wrappable electrode for use with metal surgical implants

A wrappable electrode configured for use in an electrochemical-based system for removing biofilm from a metal surgically implanted device, the system comprising the metal surgically implanted device as a working electrode, the wrappable electrode as a counter electrode and a reference electrode, the wrappable electrode comprising:

• a flexible covering;
• a lead wire configured for connecting the wrappable electrode to a stimulating device of the system that produces a cathodic voltage;
• an adhesive layer to enable the wrappable electrode to be attached to the skin of a patient, the adhesive layer containing a chemically buffered hydrogel used to neutralize acidic chemical byproducts of an anodic reaction that occurs when the cathodic voltage is produced;
• an inert conductive layer to which the lead wire is electrically coupled;
• and
• a conductive layer separate from the inert conductive layer and disposed between the inert conductive layer and the flexible covering in which the inert conductive layer is sized in conformance with the separate conductive layer and the flexible covering so as to isolate the separate conductive layer and the lead wire from the chemically buffered hydrogel, wherein the wrappable electrode is sized and configured to be wrapped circumferentially about at least a portion of a limb of a patient in proximity to the metal surgically implanted device so as to evenly and uniformly distribute treatment in the form of current to a surface of the metal surgically implanted device and further to dilute the acidic chemical byproducts.

A system for treatment of a metallic implanted device, the system comprising:

• a stimulating device capable of producing a cathodic voltage;
• a reference electrode;
• a wrappable electrode attached to the skin of a patient in proximity to the metallic implanted device, each of the metallic implanted device, the reference electrode and the wrappable electrode being electrically coupled to the stimulating device in which the metallic implanted device is a working electrode and the wrappable electrode is a counter electrode of a formed electrochemical cell, and in which the wrappable electrode is sized and configured to be circumferentially wrapped about at least a portion of the circumference of a limb of the patient in order to evenly and uniformly distribute treatment to a surface of the metallic implanted device, the wrappable electrode comprising:
• a flexible covering;
• a lead wire for electrically connecting the wrappable electrode to the stimulating device;
• an adhesive layer to enable the wrappable electrode to be attached to the skin of a patient, the adhesive layer having a chemically buffered hydrogel used to neutralize acidic chemical by-products of an anodic reaction that occurs when the cathodic voltage is produced by the stimulating device;
• an inert conductive layer to which the lead wire is attached;
• and
• a conductive layer separate from the inert conductive layer and disposed between the inert conductive layer and the flexible covering to which the lead wire is attached, the inert conductive layer being sized and configured in order to shield the separate conductive layer and the lead wire from the chemically buffered hydrogel.

A method for manufacturing an electrode for an electrochemically-based system configured to remove biofilm from a metal surgically implanted device in which the metal surgically implanted device is a working electrode and the manufactured electrode is a counter electrode, the method comprising:

• providing a flexible covering sized to cover at least a circumferential portion of a limb of a patient having the metal surgically implanted device;
• providing a lead wire couplable to a stimulating device of the system capable of delivering a cathodic voltage;
• providing an adhesive layer enabling the electrode to be attached to the skin of the patient, including the step of providing a chemically buffered hydrogel in the adhesive layer for neutralizing acidic byproducts of an anodic reaction that occurs when the cathodic voltage is produced;
• providing an inert conductive layer in relation to the adhesive layer and the chemically buffered hydrogel;
• providing a separate conductive layer between the flexible covering and the inert conductive layer and attaching the lead wire to the separate conductive layer, and
• sizing the inert conductive layer so as to isolate the lead wire from the chemically buffered hydrogel.