Apparatus and method for treatment of infected nail

Abstract

An infected nail of a digit of a patient is treated using apparatus including an enclosure capable of housing at least a distal end of at least one digit of a patient having an infected nail. The apparatus also includes a heater and a nail infection agent-containing member housed within the enclosure and positionable against an infected nail at the distal end of a digit housed within the enclosure. The heater is in heat-transfer relationship with the nail infection agent. In this way heated nail infection agent can be maintained against an infected nail by the nail infection agent-containing member.

1 . An system for treating an infected nail, comprising:
 a nail-infection-agent-containing member having a surface positionable for contacting a nail-infection agent against a surface of an infected nail; and,   a heater operable to heat the nail-infection agent while the agent is in contact with the surface of the infected nail during a treatment of the infected nail;
 wherein, 
   the nail-infection-agent-containing member is adjustable relative to the surface of the infected nail to provide a localized application of pressure between the nail-infection-agent and the surface of the infected nail; and,   the treatment of the infected nail occurs in a warm, dark, and moist environment.   
     
     
         2 . A method for treating an infected nail of a patient, comprising:
 applying a nail-infection agent to a surface of an infected nail, wherein the agent is applied from a surface of a nail-infection-agent-containing member that is positionable for contacting the nail-infection agent against the surface of the infected nail;   heating the nail-infection agent with a heater operable to heat the nail-infection agent while the agent is in contact with the surface of the infected nail during a treatment of the infected nail to enhance penetration of the agent into the infected nail; and,   maintaining the nail-infection agent, heat, and pressure against the surface of the infected nail for a therapeutically effective time.   wherein,   the nail-infection-agent-containing member is adjustable relative to the surface of the infected nail to provide a localized application of pressure between the nail-infection-agent and the surface of the infected nail;   the treatment of the infected nail occurs in a warm, dark, and moist environment; and,   the penetration of the nail-infection agent is enhanced relative to a penetration that does not include the heat and the pressure in the warm dark, and moist environment.