CONDUCTIVE GEL COMPOSITIONS COMPRISING BULK ELECTRON TRANSPORT AGENTS AND METHODS OF PRODUCTION AND USE THEREOF
A composition and method of use is herein disclosed. The composition comprises a semi-solid conductive gel for application to a patient's skin and for placement between the patient's skin and at least one insulated electrode; and at least one bulk electron transport agent disposed upon at least a portion of a surface of the semi-solid conductive gel and/or disposed within at least a portion of the semi-solid conductive gel, wherein the bulk electron transport agent is selected from the group consisting of an ionic compound, a metal, a non-metal, and combinations thereof.
1 . A composition, comprising:
a semi-solid conductive gel for application to a patient's skin and for placement between the patient's skin and at least one insulated electrode; and
at least one bulk electron transport agent disposed upon at least a portion of a surface of the semi-solid conductive gel and/or disposed within at least a portion of the semi-solid conductive gel, wherein the bulk electron transport agent is selected from the group consisting of an ionic compound, a metal, a non-metal, and combinations thereof.
2 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the bulk electron transport agent is disposed within the semi-solid conductive gel prior to curing to form the semi-solid conductive gel.
3 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the bulk electron transport agent is disposed upon at least a portion of the surface of the semi-solid conductive gel.
4 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the bulk electron transport agent comprises an amorphous carbon and/or a crystalline carbon.
5 . The composition of claim 4 , wherein the bulk electron transport agent comprises at least one of carbon black, graphene, and graphite.
6 . The composition of claim 5 , wherein the carbon black is further defined as being a carbon black film that is disposed upon at least a portion of the surface of the semi-solid conductive gel.
7 . The composition of claim 5 , wherein the carbon black is in a form of an amalgamation with at least one substantially inert metal.
8 . The composition of claim 7 , wherein the substantially inert metal is selected from the group consisting of copper, gold, silver, alum, and combinations thereof.
9 . The composition of claim 5 , wherein the carbon black is Ketjenblack.
10 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the bulk electron transport agent is selected from the group consisting of a conductive polymer; tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ) salt; a transition metal oxide or hydroxide; sulphuric acid; a ceramic substance; transition metal dichalcogenides; and combinations thereof.
11 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the bulk electron transport agent is loaded in the composition at a concentration in a range of from about 1% to about 50% (wt).
12 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the semi-solid conductive gel is a hydrogel.
13 . (canceled)
14 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the semi-solid conductive gel comprises at least one of:
a polymer chain length in a range of from about 1 nm to about 200 nm;
a pH in a range of from about 6 to about 8;
a volume resistivity of less than about 100 Ohm-in;
a skin adhesion rate of at least about 100 g/inch;
a free salt present at a concentration in a range of from about 0.1 mM to about 1 M; and
a thickness in a range of from about 10 mil to about 50 mil.
15 . (canceled)
16 . The composition of claim 1 , further defined as being a multi-layer structure that comprises:
a scrim having a first and a second side;
a gel tie layer attached to the first side of the scrim, wherein the gel tie layer is designed for contact with the at least one insulated electrode; and
a gel skin layer attached to the second side of the scrim, wherein the gel skin layer is designed for contact with the patient's skin.
17 . The composition of claim 16 , wherein the bulk electron transport agent is disposed within at least one of the gel tie layer and the gel skin layer.
18 . The composition of claim 16 , wherein the bulk electron transport agent is disposed between the scrim and the gel tie layer.
19 . The composition of claim 16 , wherein the bulk electron transport agent is disposed between the scrim and the gel skin layer.
20 . A kit, comprising:
a composition, comprising:
a semi-solid conductive gel for application to a patient's skin and for placement between the patient's skin and at least one insulated electrode; and
at least one bulk electron transport agent disposed upon at least a portion of a surface of the semi-solid conductive gel and/or disposed within at least a portion of the semi-solid conductive gel, wherein the bulk electron transport agent is selected from the group consisting of an ionic compound, a metal, a non-metal, and combinations thereof; and
at least one insulated electrode that generates an alternating electric field upon application to a patient's skin in combination with the composition.
21 . (canceled)
22 . A method, comprising the steps of:
(1) applying a composition to a patient's skin, the composition comprising:
a semi-solid conductive gel for application to a patient's skin and for placement between the patient's skin and at least one insulated electrode; and
at least one bulk electron transport agent disposed upon at least a portion of a surface of the semi-solid conductive gel and/or disposed within at least a portion of the semi-solid conductive gel, wherein the bulk electron transport agent is selected from the group consisting of an ionic compound, a metal, a non-metal, and combinations thereof;
(2) applying at least one insulated electrode to the composition disposed upon the patient's skin; and
(3) generating an alternating electric field in a target region of the patient.
23 . (canceled)
24 . (canceled)
25 . The method of claim 22 , further comprising the steps of:
(4) removing the at least one insulated electrode and the composition from the patient's skin;
(5) preparing the patient's skin for another treatment; and
(6) repeating steps (1)-(3).
26 . (canceled)