Electrical stimulation unit and waterbath system

Abstract

A method and apparatus for treating an appendage of a subject. The apparatus provides for exposing the appendage to an aqueous solution; and providing a pulsed current to the aqueous solution to treat the appendage.

1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a fluid reservoir comprising a first electrode and a second electrode and configured to receive an aqueous solution, the fluid reservoir configured to permit placement of an appendage in the aqueous solution; and   a current source coupled to each of the first electrode and the second electrode and configured to provide a pulsed current to the aqueous solution to thereby treat the appendage, the pulsed current that is provided by the source comprises a waveform with a voltage of less than 150 volts, pulse pairs having intervals of 150-330 microseconds, a pulse width of 5-50 microseconds, and a pulse repetition frequency of 100-200 Hz.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said first electrode and second electrode each comprise stainless steel. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said apparatus is further constructed and arranged as a footbath to treat an infected area of a foot. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an aqueous solution that includes hydrogen peroxide. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein said aqueous solution comprises about 0.01 to about 3.0 weight percent hydrogen peroxide. 
     
     
         6 . An apparatus comprising:
 a footbath comprising a first electrode and a second electrode and configured to receive an aqueous solution, the footbath further configured to permit placement of a foot in the aqueous solution; and   a current source coupled to each of the first electrode and the second electrode and configured to provide a pulsed current to said aqueous solution to thereby treat the fungal foot, the pulsed current that is provided by the source comprises a waveform with a voltage of less than 150 volts, pulse pairs having intervals of 150-330 microseconds, a pulse width of 5-50 microseconds, and a pulse repetition frequency of 100-200 Hz.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus set forth in  claim 6 , wherein said first electrode and second electrode each comprise stainless steel. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , further comprising an aqueous solution that includes hydrogen peroxide. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein said aqueous solution comprises about 0.01 to about 3.0 weight percent hydrogen peroxide. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus comprising:
 a footbath comprising a fluid reservoir adapted to hold an aqueous solution, the fluid reservoir comprising a front wall, side walls and a back wall, in which each of the front wall, the side walls and the back wall are coupled to a bottom surface, the front wall, side walls, back wall, and bottom surface being sized and arranged as the footbath to receive a foot or both feet of a subject, the front wall comprising a first electrode so that when the foot is placed in the fluid reservoir the first electrode is positioned in close proximity to at least one toe of the foot, and the fluid reservoir further comprising at least a second electrode on one of the sidewalls, back wall or bottom surface so that the second electrode is positioned in close proximity to a heel of the foot; and   a current source coupled to each of the first electrode and the second electrode and configured to provide a pulsed current between the first electrode and the second electrode to thereby treat the foot, the pulsed current that is provided by the source comprises a waveform with a voltage of less than 150 volts, pulse pairs having intervals of 150-330 microseconds, a pulse width of 5-50 microseconds, and a pulse repetition frequency of 100-200 Hz.