Patent Application
20230175196
The present disclosure relates to a fabric configured to be electrified to provide an antibacterial capability and a solution therefore.
It is known that electric currents have a bactericidal ability.
US Patent Publication 2021/0282475 discloses a device for preventing coronavirus transmission through the mouth and nose comprising a planar substrate comprising one or more biocompatible electrodes configured to generate at least one of a low level electric field or low level electric current, wherein the substrate is affixed to a surgical mask. However, the biocompatible electrodes are not capable of generating a bactericidal current.
U.S. Pat. No. 9,878,175 discloses a fabric for producing an induced electromagnetic field, comprising: a non-conductive base fabric having a first layer, a plurality of parallel, spaced apart electrically conducting carbon fibers interspersed in the first layer with none of the carbon fibers contacting each other, and a plurality of parallel, spaced apart electrically conducting silver fibers interspersed in the first layer with none of the silver fibers contacting each other, and with none of the silver fibers contacting the carbon fibers. However, the carbon and silver fibers are not capable of generating a bactericidal current.
Krishnamurthi, et al. “Microampere Electric Currents Caused Bacterial Membrane Damage and Two-way Leakage in Short Time,” Applied and Environmental Microbiology doi: 10.1128/AEM.01015-20, discloses that microampere electric currents cause significant membrane damage and allow two-way leakage of ions, small molecules and proteins.
There are applications where an electrified fabric would be advantageous for providing antibacterial capabilities.
In at least one aspect, the disclosed embodiments are directed to a fabric impregnated with a salt solution, such that when an electric current is applied to the fabric, the fabric exhibits a bactericidal ability.
In another aspect, a fabric includes a conductive solution and a power supply coupled to opposite ends of the fabric to electrify the fabric to provide a bactericidal ability.
In still another aspect, a salt solution includes an NaCl % w/w of 7.0, a glycerol % w/w of 9.0, a water % w/w of 83, and a binder % w/w of 1.
In yet another aspect, a salt solution includes a conductor, a humectant, a solvent, and a binder, where the conductor comprises an NaCl % w/w of between 3 and 11, the humectant comprises a glycerol % w/w of between 3 and 15, the solvent comprises a water % w/w of between 77 and 89 and the fixative comprises a binder % w/w of between 0.01 and 2.0.
The disclosed embodiments are generally directed to a fabric configured to be electrified for killing bacteria and a salt solution, that upon application of an electric current, exhibits a bactericidal ability.
It should be understood that the power supply 106 may be a linear, switched, battery based, or any suitable power supply for applying power to the fabric 104.
Typical voltages may range from 1.5-3.0 volts and typical currents may range from 10-5000 μA. For purposes of the disclosed embodiments, a bactericidal current may be defined as a current that, over time, causes denaturation, lysis, or other damage that renders the bacteria unable to function, for example, 10 ma over 1 hour and 25 mA over 25 minutes.
Typical batteries used for the battery based power supply may have voltage ranges from 1.5-3 volts with typical mAh capacities from 200-1200 mAh. Some typical battery life examples are illustrated for a 1.5 volt battery with a 1030 mAh capacity:
As mentioned above, the fabric 104 may be impregnated with a solution in order to provide an electrical load and achieve a through current capable of destroying bacteria. Concentrations of components of the solution may be varied to achieve various electrical loads.
The fabric 104 may be a conductive or non-conductive fabric, made of natural and/or synthetic material, and may be woven and/or nonwoven. Typical fabrics may include cotton, rayon, polyester, silk, satin, denim, or any other suitable material. The fabric may be utilized in any suitable application, for example, face masks, air filters, clothing, compression sleeves for various body parts such as elbows, wrists, and knees, enclosures, pet beds, and heating pads.
For applications where skin will not be irritated, an exemplary moisture content may be up to or even greater than, 30%
The fabric 104 may be saturated with a salt solution composition with the following components and concentrations:
The components may be mixed together until the solution is homogenous and the fabric 104 may be saturated with the solution. The fabric 104 may then be dried until a desired moisture content is achieved.
An exemplary 2″×2″ (0.50 gram w/w) of dry fabric may absorb 1.5 grams of the solution.
The saturated fabric may exhibit the following electrical characteristics, where R represents a load, I is expressed in μA, V is expressed in volts, and R=V/I:
The salt solution may include a conductor, a humectant, a solvent, and a binder. The conductor may include a salt, for example, NaCl, the humectant may include glycerol, the solvent may include water (H2O), and the binder may be a casein based agent for intermediate fixation in laminate applications.
Table 1 shows different empirical studies A-D used to determine a preferred amount of glycerin to be used for the salt solution composition. Column D of the Components section represents an empirically determined amount of glycerin that results in the fabric feeling dry to the touch:
The Dry Basis section shows the weight in grams of the components, the moisture content and the impedance of the fabric after drying
Table 2 shows different empirical studies E-H used to determine a preferred amount of sodium chloride to be used for the conductor of the salt solution composition, when the glycerin is held at a % w/w of 9. The target concentrations of the components are shown in column H:
The conductor may include, for example, one or more of organic and inorganic types of sodium, potassium, lithium salts of chloride, citrates, sulfates, phosphates, and any suitable conducting material.
The humectant may include, for example, one or more of glycerin, propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol (PEG's) butylene glycol etc. triethylene glycol, tripropylene glycol, PPGs, sorbitol (sugar alcohol), hexylene and butylene glycol, urea, and collagen.
The binder may include, for example, one or more natural binders such as glue and gelatin, synthetic binders such as TROL, SLN, IG, Acramin, etc.
IG Binders: Emulsion copolymer of vinyl acetate and butyl acrylate with a modified urea formaldehyde.
Ag Binders, which may be made by emulsion copolymerization of olifinic unsaturated monomers in an aqueous medium. The monomers may include, for example, acrylic acid ester (butyl or ethyl acrylate), styrene, acrylonitrile, vinyl chloride, asymmetric dichloroethane, vinyl acetate, and diolifine, such as butadiene
It is noted that the embodiments described herein can be used individually or in any combination thereof. It should be understood that the foregoing description is only illustrative of the embodiments. Various alternatives and modifications can be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the embodiments. Accordingly, the present embodiments are intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variances that fall within the scope of the appended claims.
Various features of the different embodiments described herein are interchangeable, one with the other. The various described features, as well as any known equivalents can be mixed and matched to construct additional embodiments and techniques in accordance with the principles of this disclosure.
Furthermore, some of the features of the exemplary embodiments could be used to advantage without the corresponding use of other features. As such, the foregoing description should be considered as merely illustrative of the principles of the disclosed embodiments and not in limitation thereof.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63286209 | Dec 2021 | US |
