# US 7,744,592 B2 · Apparatus and method for the treatment of infectious disease in keratinized tissue > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,744,592 B2 - Document ID: US7744592B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 10/990,283 - Filed: 2004-11-16 - Published: 2005-06-23 - Granted: 2010-06-29 - Earliest claimed: 2003-05-16 - Assignees: WaveRx, Inc. - Inventors: Peter A. Hoenig; B. Stuart Trembly - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7744592B2 ## CPC - A61N 5/04: Radiators for near-field treatment - A61P 17/00: Drugs for dermatological disorders - A61P 31/04: Antibacterial agents - A61P 31/10: Antimycotics - A61P 33/00: Antiparasitic agents - A61P 43/00: Drugs for specific purposes, not provided for in groups A61P1/00-A61P41/00 - A61B 18/18: by applying electromagnetic radiation, e.g. microwaves - A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B) - A61P: SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract Apparatus and methods for the treatment of keratinized tissue infected with a pathogen are provided. In certain examples, electromagnetic energy, such as microwave energy, may be used in the treatment process to reduce the amount of or eliminate the pathogen from the keratinized tissue. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for treating nail tissue infected with a pathogen comprising exposing the nail tissue to an effective amount of electromagnetic energy having a wavelength greater than about 0.1 mm, sufficient to kill the pathogen infecting the nail tissue. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the pathogen is a fungus. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the pathogen is a bacterium. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the pathogen is a parasite. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the effective amount of electromagnetic energy is within a range from about 0.1 milliwatt/cm2 to 1000 milliwatt/cm2. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic energy has a wave frequency from about 15 MHz to about 10 GHz. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic energy has a wave frequency from about 15 MHz to about 30 GHz ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic energy has a wavelength greater than about 10 mm. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the electromagnetic energy has a wave frequency of about 2.45 GHz. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the nail tissue is human nail tissue. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the method further includes cooling of underlying tissue by way of reactive hyperemia. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the method further includes measuring tissue temperature during the application of the electromagnetic energy. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the method further includes measuring tissue temperature by way of microwave radiometry. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein exposing the nail tissue to the electromagnetic energy is operative to stimulate the immune system of the patient. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein exposing the nail tissue to the electromagnetic energy is preceded by a heating process that stimulates blood perfusion in the vicinity of the nail tissue. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the method further includes administering an effective amount of a therapeutic. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the method further includes exposing the nail tissue to the electromagnetic energy using an applicator. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the method further includes placing an electrically-conductive material between the applicator and nail tissue to prevent absorption of the electromagnetic energy in the nail tissue. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the method further includes placing an energy-absorbing material between the applicator and the nail tissue to reduce absorption of the electromagnetic energy. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the exposing the nail tissue includes applying the electromagnetic energy to the nail tissue before clinical symptoms of pathogen infection have appeared. ### Claim 21 An applicator for the delivery of electromagnetic energy to keratinized tissue infected with a pathogen comprising a flexible substrate to allow conformance to a curved surface of the keratinized tissue, the applicator further comprising two or more metallic conductors configured to provide electromagnetic energy having a wavelength greater than about 0.1 mm, wherein the conductors have an interdigitated geometry. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The applicator of claim 21, wherein the substrate has an adhesive to permit adherence to a surface. ### Claim 23 An applicator for the delivery of electromagnetic energy to keratinized tissue infected with a pathogen comprising a flexible substrate to allow conformance to a curved surface of the keratinized tissue, the applicator further comprising two or more metallic conductors configured to provide electromagnetic energy having a wavelength greater than about 0.1 mm, wherein one or more of the conductors have a spiral geometry. ### Claim 24 An applicator for the delivery of electromagnetic energy to keratinized tissue infected with a pathogen comprising a flexible substrate to allow conformance to a curved surface of the keratinized tissue, the applicator further comprising two or more metallic conductors configured to provide electromagnetic energy having a wavelength greater than about 0.1 mm, wherein one or more of the conductors is configured with a meandering geometry. ### Claim 25 An applicator for the delivery of electromagnetic energy to keratinized tissue infected with a pathogen comprising a flexible substrate to allow conformance to a curved surface of the keratinized tissue, the applicator further comprising two or more metallic conductors configured to provide electromagnetic energy having a wavelength greater than about 0.1 mm, wherein one or more of the conductors is configured with a helical coil geometry. ### Claim 26 (depends on 21) The applicator of claim 21, wherein the interdigitated geometry has a spacing between metallic conductors of anywhere in a range from about 0.25 mm to about 2 mm. ### Claim 27 An applicator for the delivery of electromagnetic energy to keratinized tissue infected with a pathogen comprising a flexible substrate to allow conformance to a curved surface of the keratinized tissue, the applicator further comprising two or more metallic conductors configured to provide electromagnetic energy having a wavelength greater than about 0.1 mm, wherein the applicator has at least one conductor having the shape of a horn and having a diameter anywhere in a range of about 2 mm to 40 mm.