Method for in situ treatment of a tissue

Abstract

A method for dehydrating, electro-oxidizing, or electro-reducing a target tissue is described. The method utilizes an electrochemical probe or other device to deliver one or more beneficial agents into the target tissue. Water from the target tissue provides a precursor that may be split by electrolysis to generate the beneficial agent. Alternatively, water is provided from an external source to generate the beneficial agent. The beneficial agent facilitates in situ oxidation and/or reduction of a material within the tissue. One type of beneficial agent is ozone.

1 . A method of treating a tissue, the method comprising:
 inserting a pair of electrodes into the tissue in a body;   applying a low frequency voltage to the pair of electrodes; and   causing in situ electrolysis within the tissue in the body by applying the low frequency voltage to the pair of electrodes.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein causing the in situ electrolysis comprises dehydrating the tissue by forming at least one of hydrogen and hydrogen ions, and forming at least one of oxygen, ozone, and oxygen ions. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein causing the in situ electrolysis comprises causing electro-oxidation of a material of the tissue. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein causing the in situ electrolysis comprises causing electro-reduction of a material of the tissue. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein causing the in situ electrolysis of the material of the tissue comprises causing at least one of electro-oxidation and electro-reduction of proteoglycans. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 placing an absorbent membrane between the pair of electrodes;   at least partially filling the absorbent membrane with fluid; and   electrolyzing the fluid in the absorbent membrane.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein at least partially filling the absorbent membrane with the fluid comprises at least partially filling the absorbent membrane with the water from the tissue. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein at least partially filling the absorbent membrane with the fluid comprises at least partially filling the absorbent membrane with the water from a source external to the tissue. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein at least partially filling the absorbent membrane with the fluid comprises at least partially filling the absorbent membrane with an organic solvent. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 placing a precursor material between the pair of electrodes; and   electrolyzing the precursor material to form a beneficial agent or a beneficial agent constituent.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the precursor material comprises a material chosen from at least one of air, oxygen, water, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, chlorine, bromine, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the precursor material comprises a salt solution chosen from NaI, NaF, NaCl, NaBr, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the precursor material comprises a salt having at least one cation chosen from H + , Li + , Na + , K + , NH 4   + , Ca ++ , Mg ++ , Sr ++ , Ba ++ , and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the precursor material comprises a salt having at least one anion chosen from F − , Cl − , Br − , I − , SO 4   2− , NO 3   2− , CO 3   2− , O 2− , S 2− CH 3 COO −  and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the precursor material is in the form of a gas, liquid, gel, solid or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein applying the low frequency voltage comprises applying a voltage in a range from about one to thirty volts. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein applying the low frequency voltage comprises applying a voltage in a range from about one to six volts. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein applying the low frequency voltage comprises applying a voltage in a range from about six to twelve volts. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein applying a low frequency voltage comprises applying a voltage having a frequency less than about 200 kHz. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein applying a low frequency voltage comprises applying a voltage having a frequency between about 0 kHz and about 50 kHz. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein applying a low frequency voltage comprises applying a voltage having a frequency between about 0.1 and about 1 kHz.