Electrical discharge irrigator apparatus and method
An electrical discharge irrigation device and method is described. The device includes a power source to produce a first voltage, a circuit coupled to the power source to convert the first voltage to a second voltage, a discharge capacitor to receive the second voltage from the circuit, a transistor or controlled rectifier coupled to the discharge capacitor to receive the second voltage, and an output tip. This output tip is coupled to the transistor or controlled rectifier and includes an electrode located in an interior space of the output tip configured to receive a charge from the transistor or controlled rectifier and to release an electric discharge, and a ground return. The ground return is an outside surface of the output tip and a space between the electrode and the ground return holds a conductive medium.
1. An electrical discharge irrigation device, comprising:
a portable hand piece, the hand piece configured to be held or gripped by a single hand of a user, the hand piece comprising:
a power source to produce a first voltage;
a circuit coupled to the power source, the circuit configured to receive the first voltage from the power source and to convert the first voltage to a second voltage;
a discharge capacitor coupled to the circuit, the discharge capacitor configured to receive the second voltage from the circuit;
at least one of a transistor or a controlled rectifier coupled to the discharge capacitor configured to receive the second voltage; and
a housing wherein the power source, the circuit, the discharge capacitor, and the at least one of a transistor and a controlled rectifier are encased in the housing; and
an output tip coupled to the housing and coupled to the at least one of the transistor or the controlled rectifier, the output tip comprising:
a first end and a second end and a longitudinal axis extending between them;
an electrode located in an interior space of the output tip configured to receive an electrical charge from the at least one of a transistor and a controlled rectifier and to release an electric discharge; and
a ground return located on an outside surface of the output tip, wherein a space between the electrode and the ground return comprises a conductive medium, the conductive medium being in contact with the electrode and the ground return to produce the electric discharge, wherein the second voltage is higher than the first voltage and the electrical discharge comprises a high current rate.
2. The device of claim 1 , further comprising at least one opening on the outside surface of the output tip, wherein the electrical discharge creates waves within the conductive medium causing the conductive medium to exit the output tip through the at least one opening.
3. The device of claim 2 , wherein the conductive medium that exits the output tip further comprises cavitation byproducts selected from the group consisting of: plasma, compression waves, UV radiation, UV light, hydrated electrons, OH radicals, H 2 O 2 , H 3 O, O 2 , MnO 2 , O 3 , O, HO 2 , electrons, positive ions, negative ions, super oxides, nanoparticles, and anti-pathogens.
4. The device of claim 3 , wherein the at least one opening is configured to direct the conductive medium that exits the output tip to target a specific anatomic structure when the output tip is inserted into a cavity of a patient.
5. The device of claim 4 , wherein the at least one opening is configured at an angle greater than or equal to 0 degrees and less than or equal to 180 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis extending between the first end and the second end.
6. The device of claim 4 , wherein the at least one opening is configured greater than or equal to 45 degrees and less than or equal to 115 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis extending between the first end and the second end.
7. The device of claim 2 , wherein the at least one opening is at the first end of the output tip.
8. The device of claim 2 , wherein the outside surface of the output tip is configured to be non-planar.
9. The device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the transistor or the controlled rectifier is selected from the group consisting of: a high side low side MOSFET, an insulated-gate bipolar transistor, a silicon-controlled rectifier, a bipolar NPN transistor, a bipolar PNP transistor, and a Darlington transistor.
10. The device of claim 1 , wherein output tip is detachable to the housing.
11. The device of claim 1 , wherein a ground return is further located on an inner surface of the output tip, and wherein the electrode opposes the ground return at a distance.
12. The device of claim 1 , wherein the output tip further comprises an insulating layer in contact with one of the electrode and the ground return, the insulating layer comprising at least one perforation, the at least one perforation defining an area for electrical coupling between the electrode and the ground return.