Ionized gas for medical treatment

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for treatment of a pathology-affected site in a subject, the method comprising providing said site with a net electrical charge for a period of time by subjecting the subject to a flux of ionized gas molecules whereby is provided an electrical current between said site and tissue outside said site.

1 . A method for treatment of a pathology-affected site in a subject, the method comprising providing said site with a net electrical charge for a period of time by subjecting the subject to a flux of ionized gas molecules whereby is provided an electrical current between said site and tissue outside said site. 
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said site is selected from the group consisting of a wound area; injured tissue such as injured bone tissue, injured tendon, injured ligament tissue, injured peripheral or central nerves; a site exhibiting localized pain; a site exhibiting edema; a solid malignant tumor and a localized non-solid malignant tumor. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein said wound area is a slowly healing or non-healing wound area. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein healing of the wound area is facilitated by said treatment. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the net electrical charge establishes an electrical current between the surface of the wound area and underlying tissue. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said gas is derived from atmospheric air. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said net electrical charge is negative. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the ionized gas molecules are negatively charged oxygen molecules. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said net electrical charge is positive. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the ionized gas molecules are positively charged Nitrogen molecules. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein a discharge electrode is located outside said site on or in the subject's body so as to sustain the electrical current between said site and the discharge electrode. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the phase of the electrical current kept substantially constant over time during treatment. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the direction of the electrical current is shifted at least once during treatment by shifting the charge of the ionized gas molecules. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the polarity of the discharge electrode is shifted substantially simultaneously with shifting the charge of the ionized gas molecules. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the flux of ionized gas molecules is projected directly onto said site or to the surface of the subject's body covering said site. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the ionized gas molecules are provided by means of a gas ion transmitting device. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the electrical current is at least 0.1 μA. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the electrical current is at most 100 μA. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the treatment time is at least 1 minute. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the treatment time is at most 24 hours. 
     
     
         21 . A method of treating a subject suffering from asthma or other disease characterized by a pathology involving histamine release by mast cells or basophilic granulocytes, said method comprising subjecting the subject to a flux of ionized gas molecules for a period of time, said ionized gas molecules having a net positive or negative charge. 
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the flux is projected onto the thorax and/or the face of the subject. 
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 22 , wherein the method features are as defined in any one of  claims 6 - 14  and  16 - 20 . 
     
     
         24 . (canceled)