Illllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllli
US007727221B2
(12) United States Patent ao) Patent No.: Us 7,727,221 B2
Penner et al. (45) Date of Patent: Jun. 1,2010
(56) References Cited
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
3,868,578 A 2/1975 Oldham
5,360,440 A * 11/1994 Andersen 607/115
5,458,627 A 10/1995 Baranowski, Jr. et al.
5,797,898 A 8/1998 Santini, Jr. et al.
5,833,715 A 11/1998 Vachonetal.
5,843,089 A * 12/1998 Sahatjian et al 623/1.11
5,873,904 A * 2/1999 Raghebetal 623/1.13
5,880,661 A 3/1999 Davidson et al.
5,938,903 A 8/1999 Broderick
5,951,458 A 9/1999 Hastings et al.
5,976,169 A * 11/1999 Imran 623/1.15
5,980,554 A * 11/1999 Lenkeretal 606/198
6,021,347 A 2/2000 Herbstetal.
6,080,190 A * 6/2000 Schwartz 623/1.22
6,123,861 A 9/2000 Santini, Jr. et al.
6,140,740 A 10/2000 Poratetal.
6,162,238 A 12/2000 Kaplan etal.
6,164,284 A 12/2000 Schulman et al.
6,167,307 A 12/2000 Hess
6,170,488 Bl 1/2001 Spillman, Jr. et al.
6,185,455 Bl 2/2001 Loeb et al.
6,185,457 Bl 2/2001 Kroll et al.
(Continued)
OTHER PUBLICATIONS
Chou et al., "Electrochemical treatment of mouse and rat fibrosarcomas with direct current," Bioelectromagnetics, 1997, 18:14-24.
(Continued)
Primary Examiner—Mark W Bockelman
(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Fish & Richardson PC.
(57) ABSTRACT
A device and method are provided for spontaneous electrochemical production of therapeutic species, in vivo. An active metal is implanted in the tissue. The metal undergoes corrosion, thus acting as a reducing agent to constituents in the tissue, so as to cause these constituents to form the therapeutic agents.
83 Claims, 8 Drawing Sheets
