Electrically activated substance and method for making the same

Abstract

A method for providing cosmetic/medical therapy includes the steps of electrically activating a substance and administering the electrically activated substance to a subject. Electrical activation of the substance includes flowing alternating current through an electrolyte so as to change a physical property thereof.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for providing cosmetic/medical therapy, said method comprising the steps of: 
 a) electrically activating a substance;    b) administering the electrically activated substance to a subject; and    c) wherein administering the electrically activated substance to the subject provides a cosmetic/medical benefit to the subject.    
     
     
         2 . The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein the subject comprises a human being.  
     
     
         3 . The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein the step of administering the electrically activated substance comprises applying the electrically activated substance topically.  
     
     
         4 . The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein the step of administering the electrically activated substance comprises administering the electrically activated substance orally.  
     
     
         5 . The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein the step of electrically activating a substance comprises electrically activating water.  
     
     
         6 . The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein the step of administering the electrically activated substance comprises topical application of approximately 0.05 milliliter of the electrically activated substance per square centimeter of treatment area.  
     
     
         7 . The method as recited in  claim 6  wherein the step of administering the electrically activated substance comprises administering the electrically activated substance three (3) to six (6) times with one (1) to four (4) days between administrations.  
     
     
         8 . The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein the step of administering the electrically activated substance comprises ingesting approximately 2 millimeters of the electrically activated substance per day for approximately six (6) weeks.  
     
     
         9 . The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein the step of administering the electrically activated substance comprises applying the electrically activated substance to wrinkled skin.  
     
     
         10 . The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein the step of electrically activating a substance comprises flowing alternating current through the substance, the alternating current having a frequency greater than approximately 5 KHz and a current of at least 1 milliamp.  
     
     
         11 . The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein the steps of electrically activating a substance comprises flowing alternating current through the substance, the alternating current having a frequency greater than approximately 5 KHz and a power of at least 10 milliwatts per milliliter.  
     
     
         12 . A method for electrically activating a substance, the method comprising the steps of: 
 a) providing a current conducting fluid;    b) flowing alternating current through the current conducting fluid; and    c) wherein flowing alternating current through the current conducting fluid changes a physical property thereof.    
     
     
         13 . The method as recited in  claim 12  wherein the step of providing a current conducting fluid comprises providing a fluid containing an electrolyte.  
     
     
         14 . The method as recited in  claim 12  wherein the step of providing a current conducting fluid comprises providing water.  
     
     
         15 . The method as recited in  claim 12  wherein the step of providing a current conducting fluid comprises providing water having sodium chloride dissolved therein.  
     
     
         16 . The method as recited in  claim 12  wherein the step of flowing alternating current through the current conducting fluid comprises flowing alternating current having a generally symmetric waveform through the current conducting fluid.  
     
     
         17 . The method as recited in  claim 12  wherein the step of flowing alternating current through the current conducting fluid comprises flowing alternating current having a component between approximately 10 KHz and approximately 1 MHz through the current conducting fluid.  
     
     
         18 . The method as recited in  claim 12  wherein the step of flowing alternating current through the current conducting fluid comprising flowing alternating current having a component between approximately 50 KHz and approximately 100 KHz through the current conducting fluid.  
     
     
         19 . The method as recited in  claim 12  wherein the step of flowing alternating current through the current conducting fluid comprises flowing alternating current which varies in frequency within a frequency range of approximately 50 KHz to approximately 100 KHz through the current conducting fluid.  
     
     
         20 . The method as recited in  claim 12  wherein the step of flowing alternating current through the current conducting fluid comprises flowing current having a generally sinusoidal current through the current conducting fluid.  
     
     
         21 . The method as recited in  claim 12  wherein the step of flowing alternating current through the current conducting fluid comprises flowing current having a generally square current through the current conducting fluid.  
     
     
         22 . The method as recited in  claim 12  wherein the step of flowing alternating current through the current conducting fluid comprises flowing current having a generally triangular current through the current conducting fluid.  
     
     
         23 . The method as recited in  claim 12  wherein the step of flowing alternating current through the current conducting fluid comprises applying a voltage of between approximately 50 volts and approximately 150 volts across the current conducting fluid.  
     
     
         24 . The method as recited in  claim 12  wherein the step of flowing alternating current through the current conducting fluid comprises flowing alternating current having approximately zero direct current bias through the current conducting fluid.  
     
     
         25 . The method as recited in  claim 12  wherein the step of flowing alternating current through the current conducting fluid comprises flowing the alternating current through the current conducting fluid via a capacitor-resistor network.  
     
     
         26 . The method as recited in  claim 12  wherein the step of flowing alternating current through the current conducting fluid comprises flowing the alternating current through the current conducting fluid via a isolation transformer.  
     
     
         27 . The method as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the step of flowing alternating current through the current conducting fluid comprises flowing alternating current through the current conducting fluid via at least one pair of electrodes.  
     
     
         28 . The method as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the step of flowing alternating current through the current conducting fluid comprises flowing the alternating current through the current conducting fluid via at least one pair of electrodes, the electrodes comprising a material selected from a group consisting of: 
 a) a biologically inner, non-reactive metal; and    b) a non-metallic material having a low atomic number.    
     
     
         29 . The method as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the step of flowing alternating current through the current conducting fluid comprising flowing alternating current through the current conducting fluid via at least one pair of electrodes, the electrodes comprising a material selected from the group consisting of: 
 a) gold;    b) carbon  12 ; and    c) a graphite-carbon loaded thermo-plastic material.    
     
     
         30 . The method as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the step of flowing alternating current through the current conducting fluid comprises flowing alternating current through the current conducting fluid via electrodes having a resistance below 500 ohms per square centimeter.  
     
     
         31 . The method as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the step of flowing alternating current through the current conducting fluid comprises flowing alternating current through the current conducting fluid via electrodes having a resistance below 50 ohms per square centimeter.  
     
     
         32 . The method as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the step of providing a current conducting fluid comprises adding sodium chloride to water.  
     
     
         33 . The method as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the step of providing a current conducting fluid comprises adding sodium chloride to water while monitoring current flow therethrough, the desired concentration of sodium chloride within the water being indicated by a predetermined current therethrough.  
     
     
         34 . The method as recited in  claim 12  wherein the step of flowing alternating current through current conducting fluid comprises flowing alternating current through the fluid for between approximately 4 and approximately 8 hours.  
     
     
         35 . The method as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the step of flowing alternating current through the current conducting fluid comprises flowing alternating current through the fluid until bubbles form upon electrodes within the current conduction fluid.  
     
     
         36 . An electrically activated substance made according to a method comprising the steps of: 
 a) providing a current conducting fluid;    b) flowing alternating current through the current conducting fluid; and    c) wherein flowing alternating current through the current conducting fluid changes a physical property thereof.    
     
     
         37 . An apparatus for making an electrically activated substance, the apparatus comprising: 
 a) a container for containing a current conducting fluid;    b) a source alternating current;    c) conductive conduit for providing an electrical path for the alternating current from the source thereof to the container such that alternating current flows through the current conducting fluid.    
     
     
         38 . A method for providing cosmetic/medical benefits associated with electrotherapy, said method comprising the steps of: 
 a) electrically activating a substance by applying alternating current thereto;    b) discontinuing the application of current to the substance; and    c) administering the electrically activated substance to a subject.