A DEVICE FOR INACTIVATING BACTERIA

摘要

The present application relates to a device for the electroporation of bacterial cells in or on a surface of the Stratum corneum layer of a person's skin. It comprises electrodes positionable in the vicinity of said surface; a generator to supply a voltage to the electrodes to generate an electrical field having a strength in the order of 25 to 35 KV/cm at said surface of the Stratum corneum layer to inactivate bacterial cells in or on said surface. The electrodes are configured so that the strength of the electrical field reduces as a function of the depth of penetration into the skin from 25 to 35 KV/cm at said surface to 3 KV/cm or less at a depth of penetration that does not exceed 15 microns. The electrical field generated by the device will have sufficient strength to inactivate bacteria cells present on the stratum corneum while at the same time this electrical field is not strong enough to appreciable effect living skin cells in the epidermis below the stratum corneum or at the interface between the stratum corneum and the epidermis.

主权项

1. A device for the electroporation of bacterial cells present on the surface of the stratum corneum layer of a person's skin, comprising:
electrodes positionable in the vicinity of said surface; a spacer to space the electrodes from the surface of the stratum corneum; a generator to control and supply a predetermined voltage to the electrodes to generate an electrical field having a strength in the order of 10 to 50 kV/cm at said surface to inactivate bacterial cells present on said surface; wherein the electrodes are configured so that the strength of the electrical field reduces as a function of the depth of penetration into the stratum corneum layer from said surface to 3 kV/cm or less at depth of between 5 and 15 micron, preferably between 5 and 10 micron, such that during use the electrical field will have sufficient strength to inactivate bacteria cells present on the stratum corneum while at the same time the electrical field not strong enough to appreciable effect living skin cells in the epidermis below the stratum corneum or at the interface between the stratum corneum and the epidermis.