Biofilm reduction method
AssigneeUniversity Technologies International Inc.
InventorsJohn W. F. Costerton, Antoine E. Khoury, Frank Johnson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of killing microorganisms which form a biofilm on a tissue or implant surfaces in a patient, and which are refractory to a biocide at a dose which is effective to kill the microorganism in planktonic form. The effect of the biocide is potentiated, to an effective killing level, by applying an electric field across the surface containing the biofilm.
Claims9
A method of killing microorganisms which (a) form a biofilm on a surface expanse, and (b) are refractory to killing when a planktonic biocidal concentration of a biocide effective against the microorganisms in planktonic form is administered, comprising
- contacting the surface expanse with an aqueous medium containing the biocide in such planktonic biocidal concentration, and
- during said contacting, applying a voltage across the biofilm, to generate an electric field whose field strength of at least about 5-25 .mu.A/cm.sup.2 and duration are sufficient to produce killing of such microorganisms forming the biofilm.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.