| United States Patent Application |
20030153880
|
| Kind Code
|
A1
|
|
Frank, Steven R.
|
August 14, 2003
|
Respiratory infection treatment device
Abstract
A device and method for treating an illness or infection in the repiratory
tract of a body is provided. The device administers an antimicrobial mist
directly to the tissues to be treated, which coats the tissues in the
respiratory tract where the infection is colonizing. The administration
of the mist is reapplied in order to maintain a predetermined
antimicrobial tissue density concentration of a uncompounded silver
colloid suspended antimicrobial substance for a predetermined time
period.
| Inventors: |
Frank, Steven R.; (Golden, CO)
|
| Correspondence Name and Address:
|
WELSH & FLAXMAN LLC
2341 JEFFERSON DAVIS HIGHWAY
SUITE 112
ARLINGTON
VA
22202
US
|
| Serial No.:
|
320956 |
| Series Code:
|
10
|
| Filed:
|
September 11, 2002 |
| U.S. Current Class: |
604/275; 604/37 |
| U.S. Class at Publication: |
604/275; 604/37 |
| Intern'l Class: |
A61M 031/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A device for treating an illness or infection of tissue of a the upper
and lower respiratory tract, the device comprising: a container holding a
predetermined concentration of pure uncompounded aqueous silver colloid
substance; and means for delivering appropriately-sized mist droplets of
the colloid substance directly to the tissue to maintain a predetermined
antimicrobial tissue density concentration of the colloid substance for a
predetermined time period.
2. The device of claim 1 wherein the droplets of the colloid substance are
sized to negotiate the bend of the esophagus and reach the lower
respiratory tract and lungs.
3. The device of claim 1 wherein the droplets of the colloid substance are
sized to coat the nasal passageways.
4. A method of infusing an uncompounded silver colloid suspended
antimicrobial substance into tissue within the body, the method
comprising: providing a misting device; providing the uncompounded silver
colloid suspended antimicrobial substance within the misting device;
delivering the
colloidal silver suspension in a mist of small droplets
directly to the tissue to be treated within the body to obtain a
predetermined antimicrobial tissue density concentration; and further
redelivering the
colloidal silver suspension at predetermined time
intervals so as to maintain the antimicrobial tissue density
concentration for a predetermined time period.
6. The method of claim 4 and further comprising using a nebulizer to
achieve the small droplets necessary to reach the lower respiratory
tract.
7. The method of claim 4 and further comprising a nasal spray bottle to
achieve the larger droplets necessary to coat the nasal passage ways.
8. The method of claim 6 wherein the predetermined tissue concentration is
greater than or equal to ten (.gtoreq.10) micrograms/ml.
Description
[0001] The present application is a continuation of pending patent
application Ser. No. 09/718,520 filed on Nov. 21, 2000 which is a
continuation of patent application Ser. No. 09/182,581, filed on Oct. 29,
1998, entitled "Electrolytic Substance Infusion Device", now abandoned.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] This invention relates generally to a treatment device for
respiratory infections, more particularly, it relates to a treatment
device which delivers metal colloids into the upper and lower respiratory
tracts in a manner which terminates viral and bacterial respiratory
infections by coating the infected tissues with antimicrobial metal
colloids at predetermined tissue densities for predetermined time
periods.
[0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art There are a number of viral and
bacterial infections, which gain entry to the body and subsequently
thrive in the moist and well vascularized membranes of the nasal
passageway, the sinuses and the lungs. Presently, when these infections
occur, the infected party is prescribed systemic doses of antibiotics or
antiviral agents. These agents are most often ingested in quantities of
several grams per day in order to achieve the systemically diluted tissue
densities of thirty (30) to fifty (50) microgramis per milliliter.
[0005] The unfortunate consequence of this dosing is that in the case of
antivirals, a large number of liver cells or kidney cells will be
damaged. When the agent is an antibiotic, the natural fauna of bacteria
through out the body is dramatically altered allowing opportunistic
bacteria to over-load an area and often resulting in secondary infections
in other areas or fungal infections. Indeed, when a therapeutic agent
that is intended to operate in the nose, sinuses or lungs is required to
be administered systemically, the required dose and body-burden is quite
large.
[0006] Often times, the infection being treated does not respond to the
first antibiotic treatment and multiple courses of various antibiotics
are sequentially administered further burdening the body and
detrimentally distorting the natural bacterial balance. This usually
leads to prolonged feelings of malaise for the treated subject and
peripheral ailments such as yeast infections, low energy and diarrhea.
[0007] The treatment of respiratory infections by means of an appropriate
delivery of uncompounded silver colloid to the infected tissue overcomes
both of the problems of the currently administered protocol by
dramatically reducing the amount of the antimicrobial required and by
administering it directly to the infected tissue.
[0008] Presently, silver colloids are utilized occasionally to treat
infections but the protocols and administration mechanisms are usually a
medicine dropper or a teaspoon. The method utilized is to "drink" a small
amount (a teaspoon) of silver colloid. This results in a systemic
dilution of ionic silver on the order of nanograms per milliliter of
tissue throughout the entire body. Additionally, the commercially
available preparations tend to be of concentrations too low to be
effective. They tend to be on the order of less than 10 ppm. Laboratory
studies have shown for years that this level of concentration in infected
tissue has no measurable antimicrobial effects. There would be no
measurable antimicrobial effects even if the concentration level was
increased when orally ingested, because the silver easily becomes
compounded and less effective.
[0009] Pure silver refers to silver in it's uncompounded metalic state.
This silver has excess positive charge as Ag+. Ionic silver is often
referred to as a silver atom which is in it's metalic state of Ag+, but
since this is reactive, it usually is found in agglomerated balls of
atoms with a excess positive charge greater than one. Otherwise, it
reacts with nearby anions to produce a compound.
[0010] Compound silver occurs when the ionic silver is allowed to react
chemically with anions and produce a reduced compound. This is what
occurs when ionic silver binds with oxygen to produce silver-oxide (AgO).
It also occurs when silver binds with chlorine (a common free anion in
the body) and produces silver chloride (AgCl). This "compound" will
precipitate as it is insoluable in water.
[0011] Since silver in it's ionic state is carrying a positive charge it
wants to react with an anion and form a compound. It willing rapidly bind
with proteins and polysaccharides (sugars) that are normally found in the
body. This binding however, renders it inactive as an antimicrobial. In
much the same way, Silver Chloride, Silver Nitrate, Silver Acetate,
Silver Sulfadiazine and other compounds are far less antimicrobial than
"Pure Ionic Silver", which is well known based upon the research in this
area.
[0012] A colloid is a suspension of particles of one substance within
another substance. An aqueous colloidal suspension of silver is one in
which small particulate silver is suspended in water. Since water is
stable and contains no excess negative charge, the silver ions do not
bond with it. This keeps it from compounding and allows it to remain in a
highly reactive and antimicrobial form. When this ionic colloid is
applied to body tissues, it immediately begins to compound with proteins,
polysaccharides and free anions.
[0013] Therefore, the present invention overcome the deficiencies of the
prior art and creates a new protocol for making effective use of
uncompounded silver colloids.
SUMMARY
[0014] The present invention is a means and protocol for treating an
illness or infection of respiratory tissue of a body. The device consists
of either a nebulizer or spray device for making a mist of appropriately
sized droplets of fluid. This fluid consists of the appropriate
concentration of pure silver colloid. The means requires administration
of this colloid with these mechanical dispensing mechanisms according to
the prescribed replenishment protocol. The result is to maintain a ten
(10) microgram or greater concentration of ionic silver (a known
antimicrobial) in the infected tissue. This is a highly effective means
of dispatching disease without subjecting the entire body to a high level
of toxic antiviral pharmacological agents or antibiotics.
[0015] The administration of pure ionic silver colloid in this manner
makes it possible to more effectively treat an infection with 10,000
times less antimicrobial agent than currently prescribed techniques or
tools require. The results seen have surpassed the efficacy of both
pharmaceutical antivirals and antibiotics on sinus infections and lower
respiratory infections. The effectiveness of this therapy on the common
cold has produce results far better than any other known treatment
typically terminating a cold in twelve (12) to twenty-four (24) hours
when used at the first signs of infection.
[0016] In this manner, it represents a quantum leap in the treatment of
respiratory illnesses. It utilizes a benign substance (silver colloid) to
effectively treat major infections and yields no known observable adverse
side effects. An additional benefit of this invention is that since the
treatment is so benign to the subject, it can be used prophylactically.
When a person is being exposed to an environment of contagious airborne
microbes, they can use the nasal spray regularly to dispatch the inhaled
infectious germs before they can multiply sufficiently to overcome the
immune systems and produce a symptomatic illness. This level of
preventative therapy has never before been available against airborne
infectious disease.
[0017] Antimicrobial is used to indicate anti-viral, anti-fungal and
anti-bacterial.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] FIG. 1 is a side view illustrating a nasal spray bottle embodiment
of present invention, constructed in accordance with the present
invention, for treating respiratory ailments and infections of the lower
respiratory tract;
[0019] FIG. 2 is a side view illustrating a nebulizer embodiment of the
present invention, constructed in accordance with the present invention,
for treatment of colds and sinus infections.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0020] In the nasal spray bottle 10 of the present invention, as
illustrated in FIG. 1, the agent 12 (typically twenty (20) ppm
uncompounded aqueous silver colloid) is dispensed by the user squeezing
the bottle when it is placed within the nasal passageway (not shown) of a
user (not shown). The action of dispensing the agent 12, accompanied by
an inhalation of the user coats the nasal passageways with the agent 12
thereby rendering the nasal passageways antiseptic. For treating
infections of the sinus and nasal passage ways, large droplets of the
spray bottle aerosol (.about.100 microns) are appropriate as they are
intended to coat the nasal passages.
[0021] In the nebulizer 20 of the present invention, as illustrated in
FIG. 2, the agent 22 (typically forty (40) to sixty (60) ppm uncompounded
aqueous silver colloid) is placed in the nebulizer chamber 24. The
nebulizer 20then produces droplets of less than ten (10) microns in
diameter, which are inhaled by the user receiving therapy. The small
droplets of agent 22 are able to negotiate the pharyngeal bends without
significant impact loss and coat the bronchi of the lungs where some
airborne virus and bacteria colonize, thereby terminating the infection.
The smaller droplets are required here to allow access to the furthest
reaches of the bronchi. For this treatement, 3 to 5 micron droplets are
preferred. It should be noted though, that too small a droplet (1 micron
or less) is undesireable as it is too easily exhaled before it has an
opportunity to adhere to the lung or bronchi surface. This exhalation of
product would reduce the effectiveness of the therapy.
Various Preferred Embodiments of the Present Invention
[0022] Nasal Spray Device:
[0023] As illustrated in FIG. 1, a manner of treating colds and sinus
infections when they reside primarily in the upper respiratory regions
such as the sinuses and the nasal passages ways. This embodiment utilizes
atomizing spray bottles 10, which produce a mist 14. This mist 14 is
inhaled through the nose at least every fifteen (15) to sixty (60)
minutes. The mist 14 is comprised of a colloidal suspension of
uncompounded silver such as a twenty (20) ppm aqueous silver colloid. The
mist spray 14 is comprised of droplets large enough so that they
predominantly contact the nasal membranes and coat the passages ways
therein, generally in the range of 100 microns. The colloidal suspension
migrates into the sinus passages where it kills bacteria. In the nasal
passageways, it serves to terminate viral infections such as colds. In
the case of treating colds, the silver colloid inhibits viral
reproduction in the tissue cells of the nasal passages. In the case of
sinusitis, the silver migrates into the sinuses and attenuates the
bacterial population there allowing the bodies natural immune system to
return the region to a state of balance.
[0024] For the nasal environment, there is a great deal of mucosal flow
carrying away the silver. Therefore, in the preferred of this therapy one
needs to apply approx. 200 microliters to the nostrils every 15 minutes
to refresh the environment.
[0025] The airborne droplets of pure silver colloid are in a high enough
concentration so that when inhaled, they coat the tissues where the
infection is propagating. In the case of treating colds, the nasal spray
bottle delivers a sufficiently small droplet mist and is convenient to
use. By administering at least twenty (20) ppm pure silver colloid
directly to the nasal passageway, where the virus is multiplying, a
sufficiently high tissue concentration (greater than or equal to ten
(.gtoreq.10) micrograms/ml) is maintained only in the area of the
infection dramatically reducing amount of agent required
[0026] Nebulizer Device:
[0027] As illustrated in FIG. 2, a manner of treating microbial infections
which have already reached the lungs or the throat, is provided. In this
embodiment, the infusion device or nebulizer device 20 of the present
invention includes nebulizer device 20 having a colloidal suspension
preparation 22 containing ionic silver within a carrier, e.g., water. The
colloidal suspension 22 generally of forty (40) to sixty (60) ppm silver
is administered with an ultrasonic nebulizer, aerosol, or spray atomizer
24 to combat infections of the lungs such as bronchitis, chest colds,
anthrax, and tuberculosis, for instance. By propelling the colloidal
suspension 22 of the silver in this nebulized flow of moist air, any
tissue that can be reached and infected by airborne virus can also be
reached by the antimicrobial agent. The nebulizer device 20 provides
small droplet size mist 26, typically less than ten (10) microns, which
can negotiate the esophagus and reach the lower respiratory tract.
Inhalation through the nose can allow treatment of the nasal passageways
and has been shown to eliminate colonization of cold virus and even
overcoming severe sinus infections. The smaller droplets are required to
allow access to the furthest reaches of the bronchi. It is noted that too
small a droplet is undesirable as it is too easily exhaled before it has
had an opportunity to adhere to the lungs or bronchi surface. The
exhalation of the silver would reduce the effectiveness of the therapy.
[0028] Some silver colloids are held in higher suspensions by means of
attaching the silver ions to proteins. These are called "mild silver
proteins". It is unfortunate that the very process of binding the ions to
the proteins to increase the available concentration also reduces the
effectiveness by rendering the ions less bio-active. In fact, the
achieved higher concentrations (typically two-hundred and fifty (250
ppm)) are less effective than the twenty (20) ppm pure silver colloids
tested by the inventor. As stated above these higher concentration
solutions may have more silver but is compounded and not pure or
uncompounded. It is important to use twenty (20) ppm or greater pure
silver colloids to achieve enough antimicrobial activity when diluted by
body fluids such as mucus and interstitial fluids. For lower respiratory
infections where the surface area of the lungs is very large and there is
plenty of fluid, concentrations of forty (40) to sixty (60) ppm pure
silver colloid are required.
[0029] Since mucosal flow will carry the inhaled coating of silver colloid
away in less than an hour, a critical part of the process which has not
been practiced is the appropriate re-administration protocol. It is
necessary to replenish the area of infected tissue with the
administration of more pure silver colloid at a regular interval designed
to maintain the required level of tissue density in order to maintain
regional antisepsis. For colds and sinus infections, the nasal aspiration
should be repeated at least every thirty (30) to sixty (60) minutes in
order for the therapy to be effective. For lower respiratory infections
the nebulized inhalation should be repeated for at least three (3) to
five (5) minutes every few hours.
[0030] This is a treatment intended for the lungs and hence there is far
less liquid flow. The replenishment here is not required as often and is
primarily intended to overcome the loss of pure ionic silver to binding
with anions and proteins in the interstitial fluid. The subject usually
inhales from the nebulizing device for at least 5 minutes every 3 hours.
The dose tends to be on the order of a couple of milliliters for each 5
minute treatment
[0031] Thus, the droppletized application of the twenty (20) to sixty (60)
ppm concentration at the correct replenishment interval provides for a
highly effective means of terminating a viral or bacterial infection of
tissues in the respiratory tract by maintaining tissue density
concentrations of 10 micrograms/ml or greater of pure (uncompound) silver
directly at the site. This has demonstrated far greater effectiveness
than any current therapy for colds, sinus infections and lower
respiratory infections.
[0032] The foregoing exemplary descriptions and the illustrative preferred
embodiments of the present invention have been explained in the drawings
and described in detail, with varying modifications and alternative
embodiments being taught. While the invention has been so shown,
described and illustrated, it should be understood by those skilled in
the art that equivalent changes in form and detail may be made therein
without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention, and
that the scope of the present invention is to be limited only to the
claims except as precluded by the prior art. Moreover, the invention as
disclosed herein, may be suitably practiced in the absence of the
specific elements which are disclosed herein.
