Treating bacteria with electric fields
US8447396B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 23, 2012 |
| Grant date | May 21, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 23, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61N1/40
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Cells that are in the process division are vulnerable to damage by AC electric fields that have specific frequency and field strength characteristics. The selective destruction of rapidly dividing cells can therefore be accomplished by imposing an AC electric field in a target region for extended periods of time. Some of the cells that divide while the field is applied will be damaged, but the cells that do not divide will not be harmed. This selectively damages rapidly dividing cells like bacteria, but does not harm normal cells that are not dividing. Since the vulnerability of the dividing cells is strongly related to the alignment between the long axis of the dividing cells and the lines of force of the electric field, improved results can be obtained when the field is sequentially imposed in different directions.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.