WO2022009237A1

WO2022009237A1 - Portable electromagnetic emission device to inactivate micro-organisms

Info

Publication number: WO2022009237A1
Application number: PCT/IT2020/000056
Authority: WO
Inventors: Paolo Galiano; Marco Lazzarino
Original assignee: Alifax S.R.L.
Priority date: 2020-07-09
Filing date: 2020-07-09
Publication date: 2022-01-13

Abstract

The current invention concerns a portable electromagnetic emission device to inactivate a microorganism comprising an emission group to emit electromagnetic waves of an inactivating microorganism wavelength.

Description

- 1 -

PORTABLE ELECTROMAGNETIC EMISSION DEVICE TO INACTIVATE MICRO-ORGANISMS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a portable electromagnetic emission device to inactivate a microorganism, in order to prevent a microbial infection and, more particularly, to a device to prevent microbial infection through body cavities.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Mechanical inactivation of a microorganism, in particular a viral particle or a virus, is a relatively new field, which, although very promising, has not been investigated in deep detail, nor has been applied in practical devices.

Viruses are composed of a genetic material contained at pressures as high as 6 bar within a stiff lipoproteic capsid with Young’s modulus as high as 2 GPa, which is comparable to that of hard plastics. This fact, together with the nanometer size of the virus and its symmetry, determines well-defined mechanical resonant frequencies, which are unique for each viral species. Indeed, the highly symmetric structure (e.g. spherical or icosahedral) of many viruses, leads to a well-defined resonant frequency of ultrasound in the GHz range.

These mechanical oscillations can be coupled to an incoming electromagnetic wave oscillating at the same resonant frequency via the coupling with an electric double layer present on the surface of viruses. Virus correct packaging of their genetic material as well as their protein capsid structure is the effect of a careful balance of hydrophobic and electrostatic forces, which distribute charges with eventually leads to the formation of a core-shall charged particle. This charged structure could be coupled with an electronic incoming wave, which may transfer energy to the viral particle, thus inducing the onset of resonant oscillation.

This effect has been exploited in the US Patent 8,524,445 B2, in which microwave resonant absorption (MRA) of virus through dipolar coupling is used to provide a non affinity-based viral particle detection and identification method. Indeed, in the aforementioned patent, different viruses absorption (namely Perina nuda, enterovirus 71, Influenza A and white spot syndrome viruses) are shown, demonstrating well defined mechanical resonances ranging from 8 to 45 GHz. When viruses are exposed to a high intensity electromagnetic field the amplitude of their mechanical oscillations increases up to a point at which their mechanical structure fails and virus capsid is broken, releasing it genome and losing its infectious capability. In an experiment performed on a picomolar water solution of H3N2 and H1N1 virus, the sample was illuminated with an electromagnetic wave with power density between 50W/m² and 1000W/m² and with frequency between 6GHz and 12GHz. The viruses were inactivated with power densities as low as 100W/m² as measured by quantitative plaque assay: at lOOOW/m 100% of the virus illuminated were inactivated, thus demonstrating the efficacy of the MRA treatment.

The use of a radio frequency (RF) radiation as a viable tool to destroy or at least inactivate viruses has been already discussed in the past. RF has been used to exploit two well-defined mechanism: A. Siddharta et al. demonstrates the use of a regular kitchen microwave oven to raise un-specifically the temperature above 60°C thus controlling HCV and HIV-1 Infectivity. US 6,268,200 claims a method to tear apart the helix strands of the genetic content of the virus, or to couple with the water molecules contained within the capsid. In both case the radiation is tuned to not alter the properties of a biotherapeutic derived from a biological fluid, that may be, in principle contaminated. These procedures apply specifically to the purification from undesired viruses of a lyophilized drug. The limitation to dry samples has been discussed also by Robert k. Adais since water media easily dissipates RF energy. The application of RF radiation is thus limited to dry samples. Moreover, if a broad RF spectrum is used, the risk of inducing genetic mutation hindered the use of RF in living organism.

On the contrary, by tuning narrowly the RF frequency on the mechanical oscillations, Szu-Chi Yang et al. observed H3N2 virus inactivation by illuminating 82 W/m which is lower than the IEEE safety standard in public space.

The resonance frequencies of various viral capsids have been obtained by several spectroscopic methods, including RF absorption, Raman scattering and Brilluoin scattering. With the latter, for instance, the resonance frequencies of one spherical-capsid viruses, Paramecium Bursaria Chlorella Virus type 1 (PBCV-1) have been determined to be 8.5GHz. Two resonance frequencies were also obtained for a tobacco mosaic virus in solution to be 44GHz and 3 lGHz.

Using of blue-violet light to reduce or eliminate microbiological activity of bacteria, molds, spores is also well-known.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a portable electromagnetic emission device to prevent or treat microbial infection through the aerial ways.

The Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is set forth and characterized in the independent claims, while the dependent claims describe other characteristics of the invention or variants to the main inventive idea.

The present invention provides a portable electromagnetic emission device to inactivate a microorganism comprising an emission group to emit electromagnetic waves of an inactivating microorganism wavelength.

According to one aspect of the invention, the emission group is configured to be located in correspondence with, or inserted in, a human, or animal, body cavity in order to emit the radio frequency waves in said body cavity avoiding viruses replication.

Embodiments of the present invention provides a device that uses a portable tunable microwave generator and a microwave antenna to irradiate uniformly the cavities of the human body, for example the respiratory system (as for instance but not limited to the mouth cavity, the nostril cavities, the pharynx cavity), so that the pathogens that are accidentally present in those cavities are destroyed before starting an infectious disease.

In particular it provides a portable radio frequency emission device to inactivate a virus comprising a radio frequency generator that act as a source of radio frequency waves used to inactivate the virus by stimulating the mechanical resonance of viruses’ capsids to induce its fragmentation, connected to the emission group to emit the radio frequency waves.

In other embodiments of the present invention, the emission group comprises one ore more visible light-emitting device configured to emit a light in the range from 405 nm to 420 nm. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS These and other characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of some embodiments, given as a non-restrictive example with reference to the attached drawings wherein:

- Figure 1 is a view of a portable electromagnetic emission device according to embodiments herein described inserted in a body cavity,

- Figure 2 is a view of a portable electromagnetic emission device according to embodiments herein described in a rest position,

- Figure 3 is a view of a portable electromagnetic emission device according to embodiments herein described,

- Figure 4 is a view of a portable electromagnetic emission device according to embodiments herein described associated to a protective facial mask,

- Figure 5 is a view of a portable electromagnetic emission device according to further embodiments herein described inserted in a body cavity,

- Figure 6 is a view a portable electromagnetic emission device according to embodiments herein described associated to a dental suction device,

- Figure 7 is a view a portable electromagnetic emission device according to embodiments herein described associated to a endoscope inserted in a body cavity,

- Figure 8 is a view a portable electromagnetic emission device according to embodiments herein described associated to horse bridles,

- Figure 9 is a view a portable electromagnetic emission device according to embodiments herein described associated to a dog-chew toy,

- Figure 10 is a view a portable electromagnetic emission device according to embodiments herein described associated to a environmental enrichment.

It is understood that elements and characteristics of one embodiment can conveniently be incorporated into other embodiments without further clarifications.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION We will now refer in detail to the various embodiments of the present invention, of which one or more examples are shown in the attached drawings. Each example is supplied by way of illustration of the invention, as well their description and phraseology or terminology and shall not be understood as a limitation thereof or of the invention per se.

This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein, rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.

Referring to figures 1-10, the present invention provides a portable electromagnetic emission device 10 to inactivate a microorganism comprising an emission group 14, 114 to emit electromagnetic waves of an inactivating microorganism wavelength.

The device 10 is portable and, for example, it may be placed into a pocket or it may be configured to be worn by a user. This means, therefore, that a user may bring it during daily routines and activities.

According to embodiments, the invention provides for a device that is autonomously usable by a user in any moment, for example, at work when sitting in front of a computer in office or during a walk or at rest, without disturbing the activities.

According to an aspect of the invention, the emission group 14, 114 is configured to be in correspondence with, or inserted in, a human, or animal, body cavity in order to emit the radio frequency waves in said body cavity avoiding viruses replication.

This allows the device 10 to bring the electromagnetic waves in correspondence with the site wherein a infection may originate or has originated, providing an a in-situ effect.

In embodiments, the device 10 comprises a radio frequency generator 12 that acts as a source of radio frequency (RF) waves used to inactivate the virus by stimulating the mechanical resonance of viruses’ capsids to induce its fragmentation, the radio frequency generator 12 is connected to the emission group 14 to emit the generated radio frequency waves.

In another embodiments, the emission group 114 comprises one ore more visible light-emitting device 115, for example LED, configured to emit a light in the range from 405 nm to 420 nm (Figure 5).

According to an aspect of the invention, the emission group 14, 114 may be configured to be inserted in the respiratory tract, in particular, in a mouth cavity or in the nostril cavity, or in the ear cavity.

According to embodiments, the invention may be used for prevention of infection disease, in particular, caused by viruses, more in particular viruses of respiratory tract, for example, SARS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2, Influenza viruses family and Rhinoviruses.

In further embodiments, the invention may be used to inactivate animal viruses.

For each virus, the device 10 is configurable to generate and emit the correct radio frequency waves suitable to induce capsid fragmentation.

The emission group 14, 114 may be configured to be inserted in the lower respiratory tract (e.g. bronchioles) or in the digestive tract (e.g. stomach) or in the blood circulatory system (e.g. heart). In these cases, specialized users, as clinicians or suchlike should insert the device 10 into cavity’s patient.

To prevent an infection, therefore, a user may inactivate viruses by setting the device 10 to emit radio frequency waves that induce the fragmentation of target viruses’ capsid and placing or inserting the emission group 14 into the target body cavity. Once the device 10 is turned on, viruses fragmentation may be reached in few minutes depending on the position of emission group 14 with respect to the target site and to the viruses type.

The device 10 is advantageously usable to counter respiratory tract infection. In fact, mouth cavity is an easy access to the respiratory tract, and, in general, to the body, allowing electromagnetic waves to spread at least into pharynx/larynx but also deeper, in the respiratory tract. Therefore, the user, placing the emission group 14, 114 in the mouth may provide, in total independence and safely, microorganism inactivation.

In other embodiments, the emission group 14 may be configured to be place outside the cavity body for example in correspondence with the throat associated to a necklace or suchlike allowing RF wavelength to act on this site from the outside of the body.

In some embodiments, at least the emission group 14, 114 may be associated to a hand-support that a user can use to bring it to the mouth or other target site.

In some embodiments, the emission group 14, 114 may be provided with substances that release flavor or aromas in order to stimulate and/or make enjoyable the emission group 14, 114 when inserted into the mouth. This is of particular relevance to boost the using of the device 10 in kids and pediatric users that may be reluctant.

In other embodiments the flavor chosen may be suitable for veterinary use.

Similarly, the emission group 14, 114 configured to be inserted in the ear, may be provided with acoustic means configured to play music during the emission of radio frequency waves.

Referring to figures 1 to 5, the device 10 comprises a wearable support group 22, 122 which is configured to be wear by an user and to support at least said emission group 14, 114. When in use, the wearable support group 22, 122 enables the portability of the device 10 and also permits the user positioning the emission group 14, 114 in correspondence of, or within, the body cavity.

According to figure 1, 2, 3 and 5, the wearable support group 22 comprises a head/neck frame 24 suitable to be associated with user either neck and/or head and a flexible bar 26 connected with a connection end 26a to the head/neck frame 24 and with a free end 26b to the emission group 14, 114.

The flexible bar 26 allows the movement of the emission group 14, 114 with respect to the head/neck frame 22 permitting the user to positioning it in a desired position, e.g. in use position (figure 1) or in rest position (figure 2).

At least a portion of flexible bar 26, in particular the free portion 26b, may be made by biocompatible material.

In a variant, the wearable support group 22 may comprise two ear arch 27 connected to the head/neck frame 24 providing further support for the device 10.

In another embodiment represented in figure 4, the wearable support group 122 comprises a protective facial mask 28, for example a mask to prevent infections, provided with the emission group 14. In particular, the emission group 14 is positioned in an internal side 30 of the facial mask configured to facing the face of the user. In this case, when the protective facial mask 28 is wear, the emission group 14 faces toward the mouth enabling, at least part of radio frequency waves entering in the respiratory tract.

In embodiments not showed, the wearable support group 122 may be provided with the emission group 114. According to figure 3, the radio frequency generator 12 may be advantageously associated to the wearable support group 22.

The emission group 14 may be connected to radio frequency generator 12 by a cable 16 configured to transfer radio frequency waves.

According to embodiments, the cable 16 may pass within the flexible bar 26.

The cable 16 may illuminates when radio frequency waves are transferring from the frequency generator 12 to emission group 14.

The emission group 14, 114 may be connected in removable manner to the cable 16, 116.

In embodiments, the emission group 14 may connected to the cable 16, for example, by a bayonet RF connector.

According to figure 6, the device 10 may be associated to a dental suction device 40, wherein the emission group (14, 114) may be positioned in correspondence with a dental suction device head (41) of said dental suction device (40) configured to be positioned in the mouth cavity. The dental suction device (40) is used, for example, for aerosol suctioning during dentist intervention.

The cable 16, 116 may be positioned into a suction duct 43.

In further embodiments, the device 10 may be associated to a toothbrush.

According to figure 7, the device 10 may be associated to an endoscope 42, wherein the emission group 14, 114 is positioned in correspondence with an endoscope head 46, such that it may be possible to inactivate microorganism during exploration of the cavity, for example the respiratory tract, with said endoscope 42.

The cable 16, 116 may be positioned into a endoscope body 44.

In further embodiments, the device 10 may be used for veterinary scope.

In some embodiments, the device 10 may be associated to or included in a chewable element 47 for veterinary use.

According to figure 8, the device 10 may be associated to horse bridles 48 wherein the emission group 14, 114 is associated to a bit 50 of the bridles 48. The horseman may, therefore, activate the device 10 to inactivate microorganism in horse mouth during horse riding or horse rest in the stable.

According to figure 9, the device 10 may be associated to an animal-chew toy 52, for example, a dog-chew toy.

According to figure 10, the device 10 may be associated to an environmental enrichment element 54, in particular for pigs. The emission group 14 may be positioned within at least one spike 56, preferably in at least half, more preferably in all.

The radio frequency generator 12 may be positioned advantageously in a core 58 from which the spike 56 juts.

In embodiments, the radio frequency generator 12 may be configured to emit waves with a wavelength corresponding to a resonance frequency of viruses capsids that are usual to infect the animal to which the chewable element 47 is intended for.

For example, the device 10 of figure 10 may be configured to emit waves with a wavelength to inactivate African swine fever virus which cause the African swine fever. According to an embodiment, the emission group 14 comprises at least one antenna 18 configured to emit and diffuse the radio frequency waves preferably configured to provide a uniform irradiation to the cavity target.

Different antennas 18 may be provided for the different RF range required.

The at least one antenna 18 may be made in copper embedded with dielectric coating made of synthetic polyamides, for example, nylon, or strontium titanate or any other dielectric material suitable for the application. The size and the shape of the at least one antenna 18 may be configured to maximize the RF emission and minimize heating effect. Preferably, the at least one antenna 18 is configured to reach a temperature above 37°C. In the case of a tin antenna to be used for trachea and pulmonary treatment, the at least one antenna 18 may be preferably made with strontium titanate providing a extremely high dielectric constant. As an example, it can be used a microstrip patch antenna working at 18GHz with 0.5mm dielectric high is 0.8x0.4 mm² in planar size. In particular embodiments the antenna 18 may be a cube made in strontium titanate of 1mm³ volume.

The emission group 14, 114 may comprise a casing 20 configured to cover, at least partially, the at least one antenna 18 or the one ore more visible light- emitting device 115 to protect them, in particular, when they have to be inserted in a body cavity preventing direct contact with biological tissue. For example, the emission group 14, 114 to be inserted into the stomach may be provided with an acid resistant material casing 20.

In embodiments, the casing 20 may be made in suitable material to allow at least blue-violet light to pass.

In some embodiments, the casing 20 may be made by biocompatible material.

The casing 20 may be shaped and sized to be suitable for the cavity in which it has to be inserted within.

In other embodiments, the casing 20 is interchangeable allowing to mount another casing 20 with different characteristics.

The possibility to substitute the emission group 14, 114 or the casing 20 may allow several users to use their own emission group 14, 114 or casing 20 in the same device 10, in particular when the emission group 14, 114 is used within a body cavity, for example, in the mouth.

In a further embodiment, not showed, the emission group 14 may be associated to a necklace, or similar, configured to put in correspondence the emission group 14 with, for example, the throat.

The device 10 may be provided with a control unit electrically connected to the radio frequency generator 12 allowing the control of the RF emission, in particular the peak of the RF emission, the width of the RF emission, the power of the RF emission and the duration of the RF emission.

The device 10 may be connected to or comprises energy supply means 38, e.g. a battery, for supplying energy at least to the radio frequency generator 12.

The energy supply energy 38 may be replaceable or chargeable.

Variants of the device 10 may have a wireless charging energy supply energy 38.

The energy supply means 38 may be operable via an ON/OFF button 36 (Figure 5).

In embodiments, the device 10, especially the ones included in the chewable element 47, may comprise pressure sensor 60 configured to activate the emission of electromagnetic waves as the animal bite the chewable element 47 and stops when it is not in use. In embodiments, the device 10 may be connected to a smart mobile device 100.

According to embodiments, the device 10 may be controlled by the smart mobile device 100 comprising a user interface and a readable medium which comprises instructions that when executed set at least one functional parameters of the radio frequency generator 12 chosen from the group consisting of the peak, width, power or duration of said radio frequency waves (Figure 3).

According to others embodiment, the electric energy may be supplied by the smart mobile device 100 (Figure 3) or by a portable electric energy source 200 (Figure 4).

In further embodiments, a car- or bike- battery charger may supply electric energy to the device 10 (not shown).

In the case where the device 10 uses the portable electric energy source 200, the control of functional parameters may be via the smart mobile device 100 or via the control unit eventually provided in the device 10.

The smart mobile device 100 may be connected to the device 10 by a cable 32. The cable 32 may be configured either to supply energy and/or to communicate instruction to the device 10.

The smart mobile device 100 may be connected via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or any other communication method to the device 10, to be used, for instance, in pediatric situation or when the subject is not autonomous or is an animal.

The smart mobile device 100 may provide a database of resonance frequencies in order to select the most suitable for the current outbreak and may be automatically updated with new virus data.

Moreover, the database may also provide predefined programs that set functional parameters of the frequency generator 12 to generate a specific radio frequency waves suitable to inactivate a particular virus.

The radio frequency generator 12 comprises a RF oscillator and the RF amplifier that are the electronic circuits that generate the RF signal.

The frequency of said radio frequency waves is tunable in the range between 4GHz and 20GHz.

The power of said radio frequency waves emitted is maintained in a range compatible with the IEEE standard for safe radio frequency generation and emission.

The radio frequency generator 12 may be separated from the control unit, for instance inserted into a necklace or a glass stem and controlled with the smart mobile device 100. It is clear that modifications and/or additions of parts and steps may be made to the system and method to detect bacteria and other cells in a urine sample as described heretofore, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention.

In the following claims, the sole purpose of the references in brackets is to facilitate reading: they must not be considered as restrictive factors with regard to the field of protection claimed in the specific claims.

Claims

1. Portable electromagnetic emission device (10) to inactivate a microorganism comprising a emission group (14, 114) to emit electromagnetic waves of an inactivating microorganism wavelength wherein said emission group (14, 114) is configured to be located in correspondence with, or inserted in, a human, or animal, body cavity in order to emit said radio frequency waves avoiding microorganism replication in said body cavity.

2. The device (10) as in claim 1, comprising a radio frequency generator (12) that act as a source of radio frequency waves used to inactivate a virus by stimulating the mechanical resonance of viruses’ capsids to induce its fragmentation, and connected to said emission group (14) to emit said generated radio frequency waves.

3. The device as in claim 1, said emission group (114) comprises one ore more visible light-emitting device (115) configured to emit a light in the range from 405 nm to 420 nm.

4. The device (10) according to any claim hereinbefore from 1 to 3, wherein it comprises a wearable support group (22, 122), which is configured to be wear by a user and to support at least said emission group (14, 114).

5. The device (10) according to claim 4, wherein said wearable support group (22) comprises a head/neck frame (24) suitable to be associated with a user neck and/or head and a flexible bar (26) connected to said head/neck frame (24) and to said emission group (14).

6. The device (10) according to claim 4, wherein said wearable support group (122) comprises a protective facial mask (28) provided with said emission group (14, 114).

7. The device (10) according to any claim from 1 to 3, wherein it is associated to a dental suction device (40), said emission group (14, 114) being positioned in correspondence with dental suction device head (41) of said dental suction device (40) configured to be positioned in the mouth cavity.

8. The device (10) according to any claim from 1 to 3, wherein it is associated to an endoscope (42), said emission group (14, 114) being positioned in correspondence with an endoscope head (46) of said endoscope (42).

9. The device (10) according to any claim from 1 to 3, wherein it is associated to or included in a chewable element (47) for veterinary use.

10. The device (10) according to claim 9, wherein the chewable element (47) is a bit (50) of horse bridles (48).

11. The device (10) according to claim 9, wherein the chewable element (47) is an animal-chew toy (52).

12. The device (10) according to claim 9, wherein the chewable element (47) is a environmental enrichment (54).

13. The device (10) according to any claim from 9 to 12, wherein it comprises pressure sensor (60) configured to activate the emission of electromagnetic waves as the animal bite said chewable element (47).

14. The device (10) according to any claim hereinbefore, wherein said emission group (14, 114) is attached in removable manner.

15. The device (10) according to claim 2, wherein the frequency of said radio frequency waves is in the range between 4GHz and 20GHz.

16. The device (10) according to claim 2, wherein said emission group (14) comprises at least one antennas (18) which can be connected to fit the selected frequency band.

17. The device (10) according to claim 2, wherein the power of said radio frequency waves emitted is maintained in a range compatible with the IEEE standard for safe radio frequency generation and emission.

18. The device (10) according to any claims hereinbefore, wherein it is controlled by a smart mobile device (100) comprising a user interface and a readable medium which comprises instructions that when executed set at least one functional parameters of said radio frequency generator (12) chosen from the group consisting of the peak, width, power or duration of said radio frequency waves.

19. The device (10) according to claim 18, wherein it is remote controlled by said smart mobile device (100) via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi or any other data transmission protocol.

20. The device (10) according to claims from 1 to 17, wherein electric energy is supplied by the smart mobile device (100) or by a portable electric energy source (200).