PLASMA TREATMENT OF AN INFECTED NAIL OR INFECTED SKIN

Abstract

A non-thermal plasma for use in the treatment of an infected nail or infected skin. The plasma is used in the method by (a) applying the plasma to the infected nail or skin; (b) rehydrating the infected nail or skin; (c) applying the plasma to the infected nail or skin; and (d) optionally rehydrating the infected nail or skin.

In each of steps (a) and (c) the plasma is applied to a portion of the nail or skin until a hydration level of the plasma-treated portion drops by at most 30 wt % based on the initial moisture content of the plasma-treated portion.

Claims

1. Non-thermal plasma for use in the treatment of an infected nail or infected skin, wherein the plasma is used in a method comprising: (a) applying the plasma to the infected nail or skin; (b) rehydrating the infected nail or skin; (c) applying the plasma to the infected nail or skin; and (d) optionally rehydrating the infected nail or skin. wherein the plasma is applied to a portion of the nail or skin in each of steps (a) and (c) until a hydration level of the plasma-treated portion drops by at most 30 wt % based on the initial moisture content of the plasma-treated portion, preferably by at most 20 wt %.

2. The plasma for use according to claim 1, wherein the plasma is applied to the nail or skin in each of steps (a) and (c) until a hydration level of a plasma-treated portion drops by at most 10 wt % based on the initial moisture content of the nail or skin.

3. The plasma for use according to claim 1, wherein rehydrating the nail or skin in each of steps (b) and (d) restores a hydration level of the nail or skin substantially to the initial moisture content of the untreated nail or skin.

4. The plasma for use according to claim 1, wherein: (i) the steps (a)-(d) do not overlap; and/or (ii) the method comprises repeating steps (b) and (c) at least once, preferably at least 3 times.

5. The plasma for use according to claim 1, wherein the nail or skin is infected with a viral, bacterial or fungal infection.

6. The plasma for use according to claim 5, wherein the nail or skin is infected with Trichophyton rubrum, or the skin is infected with a human papilloma virus.

7. The plasma for use according to claim 5, for treating warts, athlete's foot and/or Onychomycosis.

8. The plasma for use according to claim 1, wherein the plasma is provided by an electrical discharge through a gas, preferably through a gas selected from Helium, Oxygen, Argon, Krypton, Neon, Air, Hydrogen, and mixtures of two or more thereof.

9. The plasma for use according to claim 1, wherein in each of steps (a) and c) the plasma is applied to the portion of the nail or skin to be treated for a period of from 5 seconds to 2 minutes, preferably 15 seconds to 1 minute.

10. The plasma for use according to claim 1, wherein the skin or nail is rehydrated in each of steps (b) and (d) by applying water to a surface of the skin or nail and then removing excess water from the surface of the skin or nail.

11. The plasma for use according to claim 10, wherein water is applied to the skin or nail for a period of from 15 seconds to 6 minutes, preferably from 1 minute to 3 minutes.

12. The plasma for use according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises (A) applying the plasma to the nail for a period of about 30 seconds; (B) rehydrating the nail by applying water to the nail for a period of about 2 minutes; and (C) repeating steps (A) and (B) at least three times.

13. The plasma for use according to claim 1, wherein, before step (a), the infected nail or skin is filed or abraded.

14. A non-therapeutic method for lightening the colour of a nail, wherein the method comprises: (a) applying non-thermal plasma to at least a portion of the nail; (b) rehydrating said portion the nail; (c) applying non-thermal plasma to said portion of the nail; and (d) optionally rehydrating said portion of the nail.

15. Non-thermal plasma for use in the treatment of an infected nail or infected skin, wherein the plasma is used in a method comprising: (a) applying the plasma to the infected nail or skin; (b) rehydrating the infected nail or skin; (c) applying the plasma to the infected nail or skin; and (d) optionally rehydrating the infected nail or skin wherein the skin or nail is rehydrated in each of steps (b) and (d) by applying water or a water-containing composition to the skin or nail and wherein, before step (c), excess water is removed from the skin or nail.

Description

[0100] For a better understanding of the invention and to show how the same may be put into effect, preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0101] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a plasma device;

[0102] FIG. 2 shows a flow chart if the key process steps;

[0103] FIG. 3 shows rehydration kinetics after 1 minute of plasma treatment on filed and unfilled nails; and

[0104] FIG. 4 shows rehydration kinetics after 1, 5 and 15 minutes of plasma treatment on unfilled nails.

[0105] in FIGS. 3 and 4, the key corresponds as follows:

[0106] A—Make up of lost water (Ar/He—PF4v2) 1 Min

[0107] A′—2 per. Mov. Avg. (Make up of lost water (Ar/He—PF4v2) 1 Min)

[0108] B—Make up of lost water (Ar/He—PF4v2) 1 Min filed

[0109] B′—2 per. Mov. Avg. (Make up of lost water (Ar/He—PF4v2) 1 Min filed)

[0110] C—Make up of lost water (Ar/He—PF4v2) 1 Min

[0111] C′—2 per. Mov. Avg. (Make up of lost water (Ar/He—PF4v2) 1 Min)

[0112] D—Make up of lost water (Ar/He—PF4v2) 5 Min

[0113] D′—2 per. Mov. Avg. (Make up of lost water (Ar/He—PF4v2) 5 Min)

[0114] E—Make up of lost water (Ar/He—PF4v2) 15 Min

[0115] E′—2 per. Mov. Avg. (Make up of lost water (Ar/He—PF4v2) 15 Min).

[0116] FIG. 1 shows a plasma device 10.

[0117] The plasma device 10 comprises: a source of gas 200 in communication with a plasma nozzle assembly 100 via a gas conduit 300. The plasma nozzle assembly 100 comprises first and second electrodes 150, 155 arranged such that gas can flow between them and such that a plasma may be formed by an electrical discharge between them.

[0118] The plasma nozzle assembly 100 further comprises a nozzle 170, downstream of the first and second electrodes 150, 155. The nozzle 170 is arranged such that a flow of plasma from the first and second electrodes 150, 155 forms a jet 400, which can be directed at a target 500.

[0119] In use, gas flows from source of gas 200 via gas conduit 300 to the plasma nozzle assembly 100. A voltage is applied across first and second electrodes 150, 155 to generate an electric field extending therebetween. The gas passes between the first and second electrodes 150, 155 to form a plasma, which exits nozzle assembly via nozzle 170 as a jet 400.

[0120] In FIG. 2, the steps (a)-(d) are shown. These steps involve: (a) applying the plasma to the infected nail or skin; (b) rehydrating the infected nail or skin; (c) applying the plasma to the infected nail or skin; and (d) optionally rehydrating the infected nail or skin.

[0121] The rehydration is achieved with water or a water-containing composition and will, typically substantially comprise water for rehydrating the nail. The water may, optionally, further comprise active ingredients for further treating the nail or skin surface. These active ingredients include, for example, hydrogen peroxide for additionally bleaching a surface or amounts of acid or base or salts to buffer active compounds which are formed by the plasma treatment.

[0122] In a further embodiment, regions of the nail or skin adjacent the treatment area may be masked off or protected from the application of plasma. This ensures that unnecessary tissue damage is avoided.

[0123] The foregoing detailed description has been provided by way of explanation and illustration, and is not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims. Many variations in the presently preferred embodiments illustrated herein will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art, and remain within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.