Apparatus and method for the treatment of infectious disease in keratinized tissue

Abstract

The invention provides methods for the treatment of keratinized tissue infected with a pathogen. The invention utilizes electromagnetic energy, particularly microwave energy, as a treatment means to reduce the amount of or eliminate the pathogen from the keratinized tissue.

1 - 34 . (canceled)  
   
   
       35 . An applicator adapted for external delivery of electromagnetic energy to a tissue infected with a pathogen, the applicator comprising an adaptor constructed and arranged to direct the electromagnetic energy to the tissue.  
   
   
       36 . The applicator of  claim 35 , further comprising an electromagnetic energy source coupled to the applicator.  
   
   
       37 . The applicator of  claim 36 , in which the electromagnetic energy source is selected from the group consisting of a microwave energy source, a millimeter energy source or an infrared energy source.  
   
   
       38 . The applicator of  claim 35 , in which the adaptor is flexible to allow conformance to a curved or irregular tissue surface.  
   
   
       39 . The applicator of  claim 35 , in which the adaptor is constructed and arranged to smooth the distribution of the electromagnetic energy to the tissue.  
   
   
       40 . The applicator of  claim 35 , in which the adaptor is constructed and arranged to reduce electromagnetic energy to tissue surrounding the tissue infected with a pathogen.  
   
   
       41 . The applicator of  claim 35 , in which the adaptor comprises an adhesive to permit adherence to a surface.  
   
   
       42 . The applicator of  claim 35 , in which the tissue is nail tissue and the adaptor is constructed and arranged to fit over the nail tissue.  
   
   
       43 . The applicator of  claim 35 , in which at least a portion of the adaptor is constructed and arranged to permit trimming to an arbitrary shape.  
   
   
       44 . The applicator of  claim 35 , in which the adaptor is configured to direct the electromagnetic energy to penetrate a controlled distance into the tissue.  
   
   
       45 . A non-invasive method for treating tissue infected with an amount of a pathogen, the method comprising exposing the tissue to an effective amount of external electromagnetic energy to superheat the pathogen to reduce the amount of the pathogen infecting the tissue.  
   
   
       46 . The method of  claim 45 , further comprising providing the external electromagnetic energy as microwave energy, millimeter wave energy or infrared energy.  
   
   
       47 . The method of  claim 45 , further comprising promoting cooling of underlying tissue using reactive hyperemia.  
   
   
       48 . The method of  claim 45 , further comprising measuring tissue temperature using microwave radiometry.  
   
   
       49 . The method of  claim 45 , further comprising configuring the electromagnetic energy to penetrate a controlled distance into the tissue.  
   
   
       50 . The method of  claim 45 , further comprising heating the tissue infected with a pathogen.  
   
   
       51 . A non-invasive method for treating a tissue infected with an amount of pathogen, the method comprising exposing the tissue to external electromagnetic energy having a wavelength greater than or equal to infrared energy to reduce the amount of the pathogen infecting the tissue.  
   
   
       52 . The method of  claim 51 , further comprising providing the external electromagnetic energy as microwave energy or millimeter wave energy.  
   
   
       53 . The method of  claim 51 , further comprising promoting cooling of underlying tissue using reactive hyperemia.  
   
   
       54 . The method of  claim 51 , further comprising measuring tissue temperature using microwave radiometry.  
   
   
       55 . The method of  claim 51 , further comprising configuring the electromagnetic energy to penetrate a controlled distance into the tissue.  
   
   
       56 . The method of  claim 51 , further comprising heating the tissue infected with a pathogen.  
   
   
       57 . A system for delivery of electromagnetic energy to a tissue infected with a pathogen, the system comprising: 
 an electromagnetic energy source;    an applicator coupled to the electromagnetic energy source, the applicator comprising an adaptor constructed and arranged to direct the electromagnetic energy to the tissue; and    a controller coupled to the electromagnetic energy source.    
   
   
       58 . The system of  claim 57 , in which the electromagnetic energy source is selected from the group consisting of a microwave energy source, a millimeter energy source or an infrared energy source.  
   
   
       59 . The system of  claim 57 , in which the adaptor is flexible to allow conformance to a curved or irregular tissue surface.  
   
   
       60 . The system of  claim 57 , in which the adaptor is constructed and arranged to smooth the distribution of the electromagnetic energy to the tissue.  
   
   
       61 . The system of  claim 57 , in which the adaptor is constructed and arranged to reduce electromagnetic energy to tissue surrounding the tissue infected with a pathogen.  
   
   
       62 . The system of  claim 57 , in which the adaptor comprises an adhesive to permit adherence to a tissue surface.  
   
   
       63 . The system of  claim 57 , in which the tissue is nail tissue and the adaptor is constructed and arranged to fit over the nail tissue.  
   
   
       64 . The system of  claim 57 , in which at least a portion of the adaptor is constructed and arranged to permit trimming to an arbitrary shape.  
   
   
       65 . The system of  claim 57 , in which the system is configured to provide the electromagnetic energy to penetrate a controlled distance into the tissue.  
   
   
       66 . An applicator adapted for external delivery of electromagnetic energy to a tissue infected with a pathogen, the applicator comprising a coaxial cable having an inner conductor and an outer conductor, wherein a portion of the outer conductor is configured to enclose at least a portion of the tissue infected with the pathogen.