US 11,937,926 B2
Method for optimizing treatment of infected metallic implants by measuring charge transfer
Mary K. Canty, Tonawanda, NY (US); and Jackson G. Hobble, Buffalo, NY (US)
Assigned to GARWOOD MEDICAL DEVICES, LLC, Buffalo, NY (US)
Appl. No. 18/013,747
Filed by Garwood Medical Devices, LLC, Buffalo, NY (US)
PCT Filed Jun. 29, 2021, PCT No. PCT/US2021/039529
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Dec. 29, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/006056, PCT Pub. Date Jan. 6, 2022.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/047,308, filed on Jul. 2, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0255526 A1, Aug. 17, 2023
Int. Cl. A61L 2/03 (2006.01); A61B 5/1468 (2006.01); A61L 27/28 (2006.01); A61N 1/18 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 5/1468 (2013.01) [A61L 2/03 (2013.01); A61N 1/18 (2013.01); A61L 27/28 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for treating a metallic surface of an implantable device in order to eradicate infectious bacteria, the method comprising:
a) enabling a stimulation device of a treatment system capable of applying a DC voltage sufficient to disrupt the bacteria from the metallic surface of the implantable device, the DC voltage being applied between a pair of electrodes, and in which one of the electrodes is the implantable device;
b) using a processor of the treatment system, measuring an accumulated charge transfer to the metallic surface of the implantable device over time, the accumulated charge transfer being measured in coulombs;
c) comparing the measured accumulated charge transfer to a predetermined charge transfer threshold level stored by the processor; and
d) continuing to apply the DC voltage until the measured accumulated charge transfer exceeds the predetermined charge transfer threshold level.