Electrical discharge irrigator apparatus and method
An electrical discharge irrigation device and method is described. An electrical discharge irrigation device includes a power source, a circuit coupled to the power source, and an output tip coupled to the circuit. The output tip includes 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 circuit and to release an electric discharge, and a ground return including an inner 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.
1. A method of producing a cavitation discharge, comprising:
obtaining a hand-held electrical discharge irrigation device, comprising:
a start stop switch to engage the device;
a power supply to produce a first voltage;
a circuit coupled to the power supply configured to receive a first voltage from the power supply and to convert the first voltage to a second voltage, wherein the second voltage is higher than the first voltage; and
an output tip comprised of flexible material such that it can be positioned within a dental canal to discharge into an irrigant in the dental canal of a tooth wherein the output tip is configured to receive the second voltage, the output tip comprising an apex, wherein the output tip is coupled to the circuit, the output tip comprising:
a first end, 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 circuit and to release the electric discharge; and
a ground return comprising an inside surface of the output tip, wherein a space between the electrode and the ground return comprises a first conductive medium, the first conductive medium being in contact with the electrode and the ground return to produce the electric discharge; and
at least one opening extending through an outside surface of the output tip;
positioning the output tip of the device adjacent to a target, wherein the target is infected tissue within the dental canal;
engaging the start stop switch on the device to control the electric discharge; and
utilizing the electrical discharge to create compression waves within the first conductive medium, causing the first conductive medium to exit the output tip through the at least one opening in the output tip into the irrigant, generating shock waves and ultraviolet radiation in the irrigant and causing the irrigant to irrigate the dental canal, wherein the generating transforms the irrigant into an anti-microbial agent, wherein the anti-microbial agent based on the generating providing the irrigant with an anti-microbial effect such that the irrigant destroys bacteria and microbial cells comprising the infected tissue, wherein the destroying comprises disrupting genetic systems of the bacteria and the microbial cells, wherein the irrigant is not an anti-microbial agent before the generating; and
utilizing the start stop switch to trigger the processor to open the circuit to stop the electric discharge, wherein the anti-microbial effect of the irrigant persists in the dental canal after the electrical discharge has stopped without impacting a structural integrity of the tooth.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the electrical discharge creates cavitation within the first conductive medium.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein sonoluminescence occurs responsive to the cavitation, and wherein light is visible to an operator of the device during operation of the device.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the electrode opposes the inner surface at a distance,
wherein the electrode is cylindrical,
wherein the inner surface is cylindrical, and
wherein the distance is equal between the electrode and the inner surface when measured from the electrode to the inner surface around the circumference of the electrode.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the output tip further comprises an insulating layer in contact with one of the electrode and the ground return,
wherein the insulating layer comprises at least one perforation, and
wherein the at least one perforation defines an area for electrical coupling between the electrode and the ground return.
6. The method of claim 2 , wherein the outside surface of the output tip is cylindrical.
7. The method of claim 2 , wherein the at least one opening extends through the outside surface.
8. The method of claim 2 , wherein the output tip further comprises:
an insulating layer proximate to the outside surface of the output tip; and
an insulating layer positioned between the inner surface and the electrode, wherein the electrode comprises an array of individual electrodes.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the ground return is cylindrical.
10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
monitoring, based on obtaining data from an oscilloscope, dielectric behavior of the electrode, wherein the oscilloscope is electrically coupled to the electrical discharge irrigation device.
11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
determining, based on the data, that the electrode is degrading.
12. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
displaying, by the processor, on a monitor communicatively coupled to the processor, a graphical representation of the dielectric behavior of the electrical discharge irrigation device comprising an oscilloscope trace.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first conductive medium is selected from the group consisting of: water, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, saline, and sodium hypochlorite.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the circuit comprises a push switch to initiate a timing circuit.
15. The method of claim 1 , the circuit further comprising:
a discharge capacitor configured to receive the second voltage; and
at least one of a transistor or a controlled rectifier coupled to the discharge capacitor configured to receive the second voltage and to provide the second voltage to the output tip, wherein the output tip is coupled to the at least one of the transistor or the controlled rectifier.
16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the irrigant and the first conductive medium comprise water.
17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the irrigant destroys the bacteria and the microbial cells without damaging healthy tissue proximate to the infected tissue.