Systems and methods for the treatment of oral and systemic maladies in animals using electrical current

Abstract

Systems and methods for the concurrent treatment of multiple oral diseases and defects while promoting general oral hygiene utilizing electricity are provided for non-human animals. Electrodes are used to deliver an electrical current to the gingival tissues of a mouth in order to achieve a number of therapeutic, prophylactic, and regenerative benefits. These benefits include killing oral microbes, increasing oral vasodilation, reducing oral biofilm, improving oral blood circulation, reversing oral bone resorption, promoting oral osteogenesis, treating gum recession, and fostering gingival regeneration. Other benefits include the treatment of gingivitis, periodontitis, and oral malodor, and other systemic diseases correlated with oral pathogens.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A device comprising:
 a body having an external surface, the body at least partially surrounding a first cavity;   a first electrically conductive surface forming a first portion of the external surface;   a second electrically conductive surface forming a second portion of the external surface; and   a power source disposed in the first internal cavity,   wherein the first electrically conductive surface is in electrical communication with a first pole of the power source and the second electrically conductive surface is in electrical communication with a second pole of the power source.   
     
     
         2 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the body at least partially comprises an hourglass shape. 
     
     
         3 . A device according to  claim 2 , wherein the body extends between a first end and a second end and the external surface comprises at least one circumferential ridge located between the first end and the second end. 
     
     
         4 . A device according to  claim 3 , wherein the first electrically conductive surface and the second electrically conductive surface are disposed on a single ridge of the at least one circumferential ridge. 
     
     
         5 . A device according to  claim 3 , comprising a plurality of circumferential ridges located between the first end and the second end. 
     
     
         6 . A device according to  claim 5 , wherein the first electrically conductive surface is disposed on a first plurality of the plurality of circumferential ridges. 
     
     
         7 . A device according to  claim 6 , wherein the second electrically conductive surface is disposed on a second plurality of the plurality of circumferential ridges. 
     
     
         8 . A device according to  claim 7 , wherein the first plurality of circumferential ridges is the same as the second plurality of circumferential ridges. 
     
     
         9 . A device according to  claim 8 , wherein the external surface comprises an electrically insulative portion disposed between the first electrically conductive surface and the second electrically conductive surface. 
     
     
         10 . A device according to  claim 9 , wherein the electrically insulative portion is formed from an elastomeric material having a first durometer hardness and the first and second electrically conductive surfaces having a second durometer hardness. 
     
     
         11 . A device according to  claim 10 , wherein
 the first durometer hardness is substantially the same as the second durometer hardness.   
     
     
         12 . A device according to  claim 1 , the body extending longitudinally along a length between a first end and an opposed second end, wherein the first cavity extends through the first end and towards the second end, the device further comprising a second cavity extending through the second end towards the first end. 
     
     
         13 . A device according to  claim 12 , wherein one of the first cavity and the second cavity is longer than one half of the length. 
     
     
         14 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein when the first conductive surface and the second conductive surface are electrically coupled through a load resistance of up to about 70 kilo-ohms, an electrical current of between 50 microamps and 500 microamps will flow through the load resistance. 
     
     
         15 . A device according to  claim 14 , wherein the electrical current is about 50 microamps to about 250 microamps. 
     
     
         16 . A device according to  claim 15 , wherein the electrical current is about 100 microamps.