Apparatus and methods using alternating, possibly stuttered, static electric fields for combatting germs, airborne and otherwise

Abstract

An apparatus for combatting germs includes: two metal plates spaced apart from each other, one or more battery assemblages which can be electronically connected to the metal plates, and one or more switches, wherein the one or more switches are configured to control how and whether the metal plates and the battery assemblages are electronically connected. A method for combatting germs with the apparatus includes: (a) electronically connecting each of the two metal plates to opposite terminals of a battery assemblage to provide an electric field between the two metal plates, and (b) maintaining the electric field in one direction for a time t 1 * , wherein the germs are between the two plates, and wherein the germs are (i) in airborne water droplets which comprise a salt, (ii) in a salty liquid, or (iii) in or on a portion of a person, animal, or plant.

Description

[0001] APPARATUS AND M ETHODS USING ALTERNATING, POSSIBLY STUTTERED, STATIC ELECTRIC FIELDS FOR COM BATTING GERM S, AIRBORNE AND OTHERW ISE

[0002] 1. Cross-Reference to Related Applications

[0003] This application claims the benefit of United States Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 575,152, filed April 5, 2024, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0004] 2. Field of the Invention

[0005] The disclosure relates to the field of healthcare, to wit, reduction and erad- ication of pathogens utilizing apparatus devices applying alternating static electric fields established between parallel metal plates.

[0006] 3. Background of the Invention

[0007] This invention was motivated by the desire to combat the Covid 19 virus, which is often found in airborne water droplets. Multifaceted, the approach can be used to treat a great many other germs found in airborne water droplets. Currently, the measles virus comes to mind. It was theorized that alternating static electric fields could do the job. This was based on the fact that Yoram Palti [2] [7] [8] [9],

[0010] ,

[0011] had introduced the use of alternating sinusoidal electric fields to destroy cancer. The current proposal extends the means of applicability of alternating electric fields to germs found in airborne water droplets and salty liquids, and also extends to treating rapidly mul- tiplying bacterial infections. Morever, the proposal recommends replacing sinusoidally alternating fields by static alternating electric fields.

[0008] There’s been some question of alternating fields’ ability to penetrate very far into the body or other saltwater environments, especially since when ex- posed to electric fields, the dissociated sodium and chlorine ions in the water could simply move to cancel that field. Hence, electric fields could eventually be imagined to be ineffective at penetrating sufficiently far into the body or other saltwater regions.

[0009] However, on further investigation the instant invention may apply. Sinu- soidally varying electric fields cycling at the rate of 1 giga-hertz are in fact attenuated by a factor of 1 / e (.368) over a distance of centimeters, where e is the base of the napicrian logarithm. Constant electric fields can travel a distance of hundreds of meters before they’re attenuated by a factor of 1 / e. Therefore the use of alternating static electric fields in this proposal should be able to penetrate far inside the body and other relevant saltwater realms.

[0010] 4. Preliminary Definitions

[0011] DEFINE FIELD: Whether saying so explicitly or not, a field or electric field can mean an (alternating) static, sinusoidal, square wave, and / or suc- cessions of one or more such electric field, possibly interspersed with rest periods.

[0012] DEFINE: A metal plate or so-called plate can mean a bare piece of metal or one coated with a thin dielectric or metal embedded within a thin dielectric. The metal is with or without a substrate. The metal is coated if there is a need to prevent the electric field from shorting or tarnishing.

[0013] 5. Summary of the Invention

[0014] The invention is designed to produce a succession of static fields of alter- nating direction, sometimes interspersed with rest periods, for use in killing or rendering harmless viruses, bacteria, fungi, yeast cells, cancer cells, and other microscopic entities, collectively referred to as germs. The electric fields are produced between two metal (preferably copper, brass, or aluminum) so- called plates (which could involve electroplated metal onto a dielectric includ- ing by an clcctro-form process) situated opposite and in suitable proximity to one another, having suitable geometric dimensions. The plates (which may include a stack(s) of such plates / electro-plates) are separated to allow air or liquid or solids to lodge and or pass between a (typically adjacent) pair of such plates. If air, the design must allow airborne water droplets containing germs to pass into and out of a region in between such a pair of such plates. There may also be one or more fans or other devices to expedite entry or exit of air and other devices appropriate for liquid.

[0015] The invention proposes to attack those germs located outside the body immersed in local aqueous / liquid solutions by means of the salt and other ions within the liquid that are driven onto the germs’ external surfaces by the alternating electric field. On the other hand, rapidly multiplying infection causing germs and cancer cells located in the body can be attacked by ions (especially those of salt) from inside the cell, the field inducing the ions to disrupt cellular activity. This must be done carefully so as not to injure healthy cells not currently dividing.

[0016] The longer the direction of the field remains constant, the larger the region over which the salt ions can be gathered and transported to a local germ, thereby becoming available locally to do more damage. This can happen either outside or inside a cell depending upon the existence of a salty aqueous environment. Eventually this subjects healthy cells to danger. Hence, when operating within the body the electric field must be reversed after a relatively short duration. Based on page 3, lines 37-40, of Yoram Palti [7] , it may seem most desirable if the electric field operates in one direction for a duration of typically at most l / 2000th of a second, immediately followed by a reverse direction for the same time period.

[0017] However, since the field generated inside the body is typically small, if the field does not need to be on for too long a period altogether it may prove safe in some embodiments to maintain the direction of the field for l / 200th of a second or so, and then or shortly thereafter reverse it for the same duration. Actually, a complex sequence of on / off and direction choices for the electric field will be employed (discussed later). One must conduct experiments to determine its safety, especially in conjunction with the use of various applied voltages. One could begin with animal experiments.

[0018] A particular discussion is offered for treating a urinary tract infection (UTI). The treatment protocol and the method of determining its duration extends to treating virtually any bodily infection. In the course of the dis- cussion even germ survival probabilities are introduced and mathematically analyzed. In fact, they axe used to determine the number of repetitions of a certain six- vector used to specify electronic activity during treatment. For germs located in salty aqueous solutions on or outside the body, the electric field used can be larger than the one situated inside the body. Moreover, the field can then be on in a fixed direction for longer duration. The field is used to drive salt ions onto a germ’s outer surface. At some point one reverses the direction of the field for a generally equal time period. The treatment can also be employed (with or without a rest period) as a preventive measure, such as to sanitize one’s hands or feet, or sterilize knives, forks and other ta- ble ware as well as medical tools or other equipment. It may also be possible for use in sterilizing liquids, even raw milk (possibly in conjunction with a filtering process).

[0019] The anticipated efficacy of a treatment can be qualitatively quantified. Suppose one is attacking a given germ by sending disjoint sets of ions onto its outer surface (e.g., because the germ is moving in a direction non-parallel to the electric field). If q denotes the probability that a random germ in a liquid medium survives one alternating electric field cycle then the probability of its surviving k successive cycles should generally be less than qk. This is because the longer the field is active the more damage any germ cell incurs.

[0020] Regarding rapidly multiplying germs located inside the body, the inventor theorizes that the dividing cells are destroyed because once their separating and duplicating strands of DNA are sufficiently damaged or dislodged, the cells sense that something is amiss and self-destruct, by apoptosis. At other times the cells may manage to divide, but their DNA is so damaged that the daughter cells self-destruct, again by programmed apoptosis. Furthermore, it may be that the disruptive presence of salt or other ions can prevent or inhibit a nucleotide A (T) from mating with nucleotide T (A) and similarly prevent or inhibit from pairing up nucleotides C and G. This will be happening intermittently throughout both DNA strands.

[0021] The plates (or metal mesh, etc.) are electrically isolated from one another and may be plastic coated. The application of an electric voltage between the plates results in the formation of an electric field in the region between the plates. The magnitude and direction of this field depends on the applied voltage level and its polarity. By using switches and timers as described in section 29 the field can be repeatedly reversed or interrupted possibly with short rest periods of various durations, and following a defined programmed regimen.

[0022] The germs that are not inside the body that are to be treated are ei- ther found in airborne (salt) water droplets temporarily passing between the plates, in salty liquid positioned between the plates, on the surface of a person or animal (possibly even a plant) or equipment, medical or otherwise.

[0023] When airborne, viruses and other germs may be encased in water droplets, which are predominantly 5 to 100 microns in diameter, some being larger. These water droplets typically have a salinity comparable to seawater, thereby having about one sodium ion and one chloride ion per 100 molecules of water. In general, one may suppose that the organisms in question reside in a liquid environment whose salt density is / times that of seawater. When in solution the sodium and chloride ions present a uniform charge distribution.

[0024] When attacked by ions externally, the organism is completely unprepared for and defenseless against the relentless hailstorm and associated physical and electromagnetic forces about to be unleashed against it. And it cannot find a future biological escape via cell mutation. Repeatedly it is to be faced with an excessively acidic local environment followed by an excessively alkaline one or vice versa. Organisms die when subjected to such electric charges for even quite short exposure times. Indeed, it is well known that the growth of bacteria is controlled by merely changing the pH of the solution in which they reside to a more extreme value.

[0025] When the field is on, positive ions (typically sodium) are sent in one di- rection while negative ions (typically chloride) are propelled in the opposite direction, and then when the direction of the electric field is reversed, revers- ing which ions land on which spot. Thus, an organism / germ located within this realm is bombarded by a torrent of positive ions on one side of its body and negative ions on its other side. Typically, the outer surface of an or- ganism is negatively charged. Hence the positive ions arriving at the surface will stick, doing internal electrical and mechanical damage to the organism, or they and the molecules to which they become attached are sloughed off, ripping away at the organism, subjecting it to fluid leakage and further at- tack. Also, the positive ion may pull off a negative charge when the direction of the field is reversed. The negative ions that arrive are partially repelled and wind up moving tangentially, sliding around the surface of the organism, encountering (and exerting pressure on) a large number of surface molecules, impacting their associated interior regions, doing damage.

[0026] Yet more significantly, all this is happening at the organism’s external pro- tuberances, the veiy means by which they attach themselves to and invade other cells. Being much smaller than the organism itself, the external pro- tuberances and their various components are far more greatly impacted by ion arrivals. For example, corona virus protuberance components have only three to five molecular layers. That’s virtually no protection.

[0027] Returning to the plates. There are two basic proposed designs, the second of which has two basic variations. In the first design the plates are both flat, typically rectangular and parallel some possibly adjustable distance d apart. In some embodiments the plates could have width .1 meter< W < .3 meters and length .1 meter < L < .75 meters. Often the distance d between the plates is between 1 and 5 cm.

[0028] However, to treat some body parts or even sewage, d could be two or three decimeters or more (unfortunately at a much lower field magnitude but conceivably for a much longer time period between field reversals and / or encompassing a great many cycles of such field reversals). In the case of sewage the plates could have much larger dimensions as well.

[0029] For the second method, imagine a copper tube (hollow cylinder). Bisect it longitudinally.

[0030] 6. How to Conduct Electric Field Switching

[0031] Whether the plates are flat and typically rectangular, or they are curved semicircular pieces, as could be formed from bisecting a hollow cylinder lon- gitudinally, the method of connecting the voltage source to the plates to produce the electric field is the same. A possible implementation of this con- nection is described in "Generating (Possibly Stuttered) Alternating Static Electric Fields". Use a battery, some conducting wire, two conducting plates, and a double pole double (DPDT) throw switch. Connect the battery between the two input poles of the switch as shown in figure 1. Connect one of the plates, plate 1, to one pair of output terminals on the switch, and connect the other plate, plate 2, to the other pair of switch output terminals. These output connections are also shown in the figure. From the figure it can be seen that with the switch in position 1 the positive battery terminal is connected to plate 1 and the negative terminal is connected plate 2. When the switch is changed to position 2 the figure shows that now the positive battery terminal is connected to plate 2 and the negative battery terminal is connected to platel. A DPDT switch wired this way facilitates reversal of the electric field direction(or polarity). DPDT switches are routinely con- nected in this configuration to reverse polarity and change the direction of rotation of DC motors. In the current application a DPDT switch can be used with programmed electronic timing circuits to control the direction of the electric field as well as the time interval between electric field reversals. To completely turn off the electric field between the plates a second single pole single throw (SPST) on off switch can be used at one of the battery terminal connections. This is also indicated in the figure. The on off switch can also be controlled with programmed electronic timing circuits.

[0032] Diagrammatically this may achieved by the following two figures.

[0033] Now it consists of two opposite, curved, semi-circular halves (call them them A and B), each of which could / should be plastic coated while connect- ing each piece to two (copper) wire leads. With respect to plate A one lead enables intermittent connection to the negative terminal of the first battery assemblage and the other lead of plate A enables intermittent connection to the positive terminal of the second battery assemblage. Of the two leads connected to the second plate, one can be intermittently connected to the positive terminal of the first battery assembly and the other can be intermit- tently connected to the negative terminal of the second battery assemblage as described herein. When there is a field between the plates, both plates A. and B are actively electronically connected to exactly one battery assemblage at a time, which one that is determines the direction of the field. The electronics of the curved plate device are essentially the same as for a flat parallel plate device.

[0034] These two metal halves axe then glued or otherwise secured to the inside of a plastic or other non-conducting tube or hollow cylinder of essentially the same longitudinal length. If treating throat infections the two curved halves could be positioned about the neck. If treating lung infections situate curved metal pads under the arms on both sides of the body. Or four pads: two in the front, two in the back. (Thus, two cover each lung.)

[0035] To treat fingernail fungus, the inside diameter of this configuration is about 2.5 cm or so, its length about 15 cm, less or more. A long plastic bag fits over one end of this hollow cylinder and can be dropped down far into the tube. When in use the bag is filled with very salty water and the person’s fungal finger. When this finger is placed inside the tube / bag, the fingernail is to be positioned about midway down the tube (whereupon the system is temporarily turned on).

[0036] By the way, when the plates are curved, though the field’s lines are curved, in the immediate territorial region of an organism (owing to its microscopic size) they are approximately straight and parallel.

[0037] When used as a breathing tube for a hood, so as to avoid acquiring or trans- mitting a contagion, both the metal halves and their outer tubular mount must be supple and flexible.

[0038] Incidentally, bunches of such hollow cylinders / tubes of suitable diameter could be used in air and liquid purification systems. Note also that copper patches can be positioned at various places on the body, such as around the neck, a limb, on either side, the lower back on the one hand and near the groin, etc., in the front.

[0039] Given the distance d between adjacent plates (adjacent plates have alter- nating charge), the primary remaining issues involve (i) What should be the magnitude V* (measured in volts) of the voltage on the plates? If the electric field is to be 8* V* / d volts per meter in the vicinity of the organism being treated (to be determined by calibration), here and in the sequel quantities such as denote the voltages needed on the plates to produce an electric field of magnitude on the ions. (See section entitled More Technical Detail for a fuller de- scription of these quantities.) (ii) How long, t* (measured in seconds), should the present field direction be maintained? (iii) How many successive cycles of a field direction and its reverse direction should there be? (iv) When should the field be turned off, and for how Ion Consider combatting an organism (or organism component) of speed v* (measured in meters per second) and either spherical of radius R or cylindrical of cross-sectional radius R (R is measured in meters). Suppose these parameters satisfy inequality (1), namely, where β > 0. The ratio denotes the electric field experienced, especially by chloride ions. β denotes the average number of chloride ion arrivals per typical surface molecular territory at the relevant hemisphere during a given t* period of constant field direction. For practical application consider β in the range from 1 / 10 to 100.

[0040] The parameter / is the salt density of the liquid environment relative to that of seawater, and is a parameter defined in (14), the line below (18) and lines five and six prior to (14). For a pair of curved plates and tubular region, inequality (1) can still be approximately employed.

[0041] There are a whole host of simultaneous parameter values that satisfy (1), (equivalently (23)), and apply to practical situations. When sufficiently far away from humans or animals, and treating the air or sterilizing a fluid or equipment it is easy to satisfy (1). Here are some joint parameter values that This pertains to inside of a multiplying cell and when attacking viruses. The viruses can be inside a human or farm animals includ- ing pets or farm animals. It may even be useful for treating bee hives and plants. Parallel plates could be used in poultry farms to expose the heads of chickens to electric fields, most likely while the chickens are feeding. That pertains to larger farm animals as well within certain limits. Germs may also be killed in farm animal environments.

[0042] To combat viruses attacking a beehive, arrange the plates in a box-like configuration without metal touching metal. One could sequence through six different perpendicular field directions in some order. For example one could orient the field to be turned on toward the east, then west, north then south, then up and down, and repeat. Any order may be possible. A tropical fish could also be treated.

[0043] 7. Brief Description of Drawings

[0044] Figure 1 is a diagram showing alternate electric field switching.

[0045] Figure 2 is an illustration showing an example embodiment.

[0046] 8. Detailed Description

[0047] This patent is designed to destroy or render harmless viruses, bacteria, fungus, yeast and other one-celled organisms, henceforth called germs, and also cancers. To do this, employ (possibly stuttered) alternating static electric fields established between metal plates (or metal mesh) in suitable proximity to one another and of suitable geometric dimensions.

[0048] Given those plates (or the likes thereof), the key parameters of the system to be determined are the distance d (measured in meters) between the plates, the voltage V* (measured in volts) to put on the plates, so that the electric field £ driving the ions has magnitude V* / d, and the time t* (measured in seconds) at which the direction of the static electric field is reversed or tem- porarily turned off, as measured from the initiation of its current direction.

[0049] The values chosen for these three parameters depend on five other param- eters, namely, the speed v* (measured in meters per second) of the organism; the radius R of the organism (or even of a component of the organism) if it is spherical or its cross-sectional radius if it's cylindrical (a component could include the dimension of an external protuberance on the organism); the average number of chloride ions landing per unit territory; plus the param- eter 17*21, which deals with the extent to which the ions can move in their local environment; and finally f is as mentioned above, the salt density of the liquid environment relative to seawater.

[0050] Sometimes embodiments are partially or wholly immersed within an aque- ous environment. In such cases the “plates” need a plastic coating to prevent a current flow and to protect the integrity of the metal. That will necessitate raising the voltage on the plates by a compensatory factor to be determined. For airborne germs found in water droplets the plates may be considered dry and not need a coating. In other cases the saltwater environment is housed in some container which can be placed between the plates and then removed. Again, the plates may not need to be coated.

[0051] These embodiments are designed to kill or render harmless dangerous and damaging germs, be they viruses (especially corona viruses), bacteria, fun- gus, yeast, one-celled organisms, cancer cells, etc., found in or encompassing ionic environments or those which can be made so. The ionic environments envisioned include airborne water droplets, static or flowing pools of liquid (which could consist of urine, sewage, water to be purified by the addition and subsequent removal of salt), a saltwater environment used for the removal of toenail or fingernail fungus, as well as liquids to be purified to enable drinking, plus regions interior to a harmful rapidly multiplying cell, especially during periods of DNA separation and duplication / multiplication, etc.

[0052] A quantitative perspective: If a particular design kills a particular type of germ in a particular situation with probability 1 — Q due to one treatment cycle of static alternating fields, then (ignoring germ multiplication), since the germs will sustain additional cumulative damage from each successive cycle, it may be anticipated that the probability of the germs surviving a flurry of k successive cycles is <Qkfor integers k ≥2.

[0053] It should also be noted that whenever salt can be added to a liquid envi- ronment, doubling the salt generally doubles the rate of ion arrivals at the surface of an organism (at least for a pseudo-stationary organism).

[0054] To be more specific, consider those organisms that can be modeled by a sphere of radius R. For the sake of definiteness, suppose the organism’s surface has negative charge, which is quite typical. When the electric field has a given sign / direction and is of sufficient magnitude, it drives ions (in this case sodium ions) of charge opposite to the surface charge of the organism onto one hemisphere of its surface (which is defined to be the southern hemisphere). These ions generally travel at a speed directly proportional to where is the magnitude of the voltage on the plates.

[0055] (There are two primary reasons for distinguishing between etc. In the first place, whenever there are one or more dielectrics between the plates there is a reduction in the electric field experienced at the ions. Secondly, because the plates arc not infinite in extent and may not even be flat, the plates have an edge effect where the field begins to drop. Both of these field losses may need some proportional increase in voltage on the plates and / or shrinking of the plates’ separation to provide adequate compensation.)

[0056] Such a positive ion typically attaches to the molecule it encounters where it first lands on this hemisphere, either remaining fixed or causing that molecule to detach from the surface, especially when / as the field reverses direction. That affects the integrity of the organism’s external walls, also impacting its interior. Meanwhile, like charged ions (in this instance negatively charged chloride ions) are driven toward the sphere’s northern hemisphere. Upon landing, they slide down a meridian toward the equator, leaving the organ- ism when reaching its equator, or whenever the field’s direction reverses, whichever happens first. (This phenomena is somewhat akin to the streaks of water that form on a car windshield during rain.) As a result, great numbers of chloride ions visit (for example) below 30 degrees north latitude, exerting tremendous pressure on the organism. Moreover, because organisms hold much salty liquid, there’s a separation of ions internal to the organ- ism, subjecting it to further destruction. Reversing the direction of the field reverses which hemisphere receives each kind of ion.

[0057] According to Avogadro, (6.023 / 18) x 1023water molecules weigh one g while occupying one cubic cm of volume. Therefore one water molecule occu- pies a cube of side about 3.22 nm. Modeling the physical separation between an organism of radius R surface molecules by the average separation of water molecules (which is about 3.22 nanometers), the expected number of surface molecules visited by a single chloride ion landing at northern latitude Go until leaving the organism at its equator equals about is measured in radians. For a corona virus of radius 50 nm that’s about 15.53 Two angles of interest are For an organism such as a bac- terium with R. = 10-6(meters) that’s about While the direction of the field is maintained, the damage is compounded by the further arrival and meridian sliding of more chloride ions along the molecular territory about each meridian.

[0058] In many embodiments, electric fields are used that reside between parallel, usually plastic coated, metal plates or the like (of suitable geometric dimen- sions), separated by a possibly adjustable distance of d meters. Though often desirable, the plates need not actually be parallel or flat. Whatever their configuration, an electric field can be produced between the plates and repeatedly reversed, driving ions back and forth. Its magnitude and direction at different points can be determined from Maxwell’s equations or by direct measurements (prior to use). Significantly, due to the microscopic nature of the size of the organisms, the electric field lines in the immediate vicinity of an organism are virtually parallel and straight, as if they derived from flat, parallel plates infinite in extent!

[0059] Instead of employing two rigid metal plates, in some embodiments the metal (preferably copper) of each piece is flexible and supple, consisting of plastic coated, possibly electroplated or electro-formed copper, copper mesh, woven copper material, or even Mylar™. This proves particularly useful when creating a purifying airway inside a hood.

[0060] To facilitate proper design for those embodiments having flat parallel plates, a mathematical model based on a paper [1] provided by emeritus professor Jonathan Dantzig was employed to determine the speed of sodium (and by inference, also chloride) ions as a function of the magnitude of the electric field. That model also plays a role in deciding how long the current direction of the field should be maintained, facilitated by a calculation of the time required for chloride ions to move some angle of arc while adjacent to the organism’s surface.

[0061] Experiments to establish the efficacy of the approach have been indirectly performed. Peter Wilkes of Vale Brothers, UK, reports that for six years they’ve made a brush that, uses a positive electrical charge provided by a ni- trogen additive put into their brush fibers to help kill bacteria and fungus. To determine its effectiveness they contacted Blutest Laboratories in Scotland which found that 99.99% of the viruses present (they tested Feline Coron- avirus) were destroyed by one minute of brushing. With just four passes (less than two seconds of brushing), 99% of the viruses were destroyed. (And the brush fibers are neither uniformly distributed throughout the viruses nor very dense.)

[0062] Evidently, an organism can be readily killed if met by a sufficient number of ions of charge opposite to that of its exterior. A solution of extreme pH has long been known to kill bacteria, as the Dead Sea fully attests; its pH is between 5 and 6. The inventor expects the germ survival rate per cycle from this general approach using alternating static electric fields to be less than (possibly far less) a probability of 0.01 per cycle for airborne germs as well as for germs in a salty environment.

[0063] The Dead Sea has a salt content about 10 times that of seawater. However, its ions are moving randomly. By contrast, when the electric field is active, ions are directed onto germs rather than striking them merely by chance. Hence the electric field makes the ions far more devastating. Moreover, the actual survival probability should decrease at least exponentially fast with the increasing duration t*, the time period during which the direction of the electric field is held constant. Obviously the germ’s multiplication rate cannot keep up with the field reversal rate. 9. More Technical Details

[0064] Consider a spherical organism of radius R that is moving at some speed The local electric field felt by the sodium ions must be enough to enable them, and ideally also the chloride ions, to keep up with the organism (and attack it from behind). Once that is achieved, define the organism to be pseudo- stationary. Then it may be treated considering it to be fully stationary and at rest.

[0065] Given d there is a magnitude of the voltage on the plates such that a field of magnitude on the ion is sufficient, to cause the average speed of sodium ions to equal t>* during the time from zero to £*, zero denoting the time at which the current field direction is / was initiated, with t* denoting the time at which the field direction is / was to be reversed (or when the field is temporarily turned off). In order that chloride ions also achieve use a voltage which is about 25% larger than An additional voltage must be used to send an adequate number of chloride ions (as well as 25% more sodium ions) onto the surface of the organism. The number sent in time t* is essentially directly proportional to Technically, is a proxy for the values of / needed to achieve the electric field on the ions. And so is Vcon behalf of

[0066] The need for such distinctions has been mentioned on page 8 and else- where.

[0067] It may be helpful to discuss the construction of these next. Based on inequality (20) (also refer to (14) for chloride ions will exceed a speed of whenever

[0068] Since the speed of the organism has been compensated, the problem has been reduced to consideration of stationary organisms. Consider one that can be modeled as a sphere of radius R. Presumably, the average separ ation of the organism’s molecules is at least that of water molecules, each of which may be housed in a disjoint cube of side length about 3.22 nanometers (thanks to Avogadro’s number, which even applies here). Hence there are on the order of territorial regions on a hemispherical surface.

[0069] Assuming the liquid’s salt density is f times that of seawater, as shown in inequality (21), a randomly chosen territory on the organism’s so-called northern hemisphere (that being the one receiving chloride ions during a given detection period) will receive an average of at least ( | | / ) arrivals, independent of R, during a detection period of length t*. For t* = 1 / 30, as before, and = 95, inequality (22) holds for some / ? > |. Hence, in one embodiment use t* = 1 / 30 and field on the ions 200 (volts per meter). However, is the magnitude of the actual voltage to be put on the plates. Thus, if d = 0.02 (meters), = 4 (volts); if d = 0.03 (meters) take = 6 (volts) so that the electric field experienced by the chloride ions is 200 volts per meter. Again, by calibration determine the actual voltage to be used on the plates. This assumes that whatever the field duration it will not harm the body (which must be tested and accounted for) in those instances in which a portion of the body is being temporarily exposed to an electric field.

[0070] How this inventor believes the ions do damage when arriving on the sur- face of the cell has been discussed. At least, part of the presented theory and probably all its inequalities in (22), (23), (26a, b), (27), and (28) are new, as well as treatment parameters for bodily infections and various survival prob- abilities and inequalities. Between the effect of the sodium and chloride ions the organism should, with high probability, be rendered not only harmless but mortally wounded. It is desirable but may not be mandatory that the electric field be on long enough to allow at least some sizable proportion of the mass of chloride ion arrivals to move a reasonable proportional distance along the surface of the organism before being driven off by the field or by a reversal of the field.

[0071] In fact, due to the almost nano scale size of the surface protuberances of all such organisms, when a chloride ion lands on one of them there is generally plenty of time, before the direction of the field is reversed, for it to do maximal damage sliding around such a physical feature until it necessarily falls off, driven off by the external electric field. In some embodiments the total effect on the chloride ion of the voltage on the plates is to be In other embodiments the electric field to be experienced by the sodium ions satisfies

[0072] For instances in which the germs are immersed within airborne water droplets (saltwater droplets) that may last as little as a tenth of a second between the plates, in one embodiment it may be possible to maintain the direction of the electric field for as long as time t* = l / 30th (of a second). Thereby any such water droplet will necessarily experience the field having been on in each direction for a full t* seconds.

[0073] The switching time can be made relatively large in situations wherein the germs, viruses, bacteria, fungi, etc. remain indefinitely between the plates, such as when acting on stationary liquids, or a portion of the body: treating fungus, infection, etc. The number of times the field is to be reversed could be determined by experiments. When treating urinary tract infections and other bodily ailments, e.g. kidney, throat or lung infections, it will be supposed that t* = l / 200th of a second or less in many embodiments.

[0074] Notice that sinusoidally varying alternating fields of the same frequency and maximum magnitude as static alternating fields spend much less time at or near maximum field strength M . Based on the average value of the si- nusoidally varying electric field, it may be anticipated that static alternating fields can be just as effective at a magnitude of about , thus reducing the cost and potential tissue damage if used on the body (for example, to combat germs or cancer). Thus, copying Palti’s cancer treatment protocol but using alternating static fields instead (at a voltage determined by ex- periment), should improve upon his patent and hence constitute an instant invention. And of course we could try to optimize the magnitude of the static fields. No doubt some value between and M should be even better. In addition, sinusoidally varying fields would be dramatically less effective in propelling ions, especially chloride ions, at rates exceeding 20 microns per second, which may well be needed against fairly rapidly moving bacteria and other organisms.

[0075] Previous disclosures have implemented the notion that cells and / or divid- ing cells can be destroyed by sinusoidally varying alternating electric currents and fields (see [2], [7] and [8] and other listed Palti references).

[0076] 10. Proposed Solution (inter alia)

[0077] A four-pronged effort is proposed: In the first place, it is important to treat airborne germs relying on a suit- ably secure dielectric structure to house planar parallel metal plates (or wire screen or mesh grids, or the like), alternating static electrical fields could be established between the plates and located in buildings, restaurants (and their restrooms), and houses, near or over doorways, entranceways and air circula- tion systems. They could also be used in vehicles (cars, trucks and taxis) and public transport (airplanes, trains, buses and subway systems), where pas- sengers should subsequently dramatically increase because of their new-found safety. The so-called metal plates could be of solid metal, wire-reinforced screen / mesh, or plain screen / mesh structure of suitable thickness / thinness (to reduce the cast and weight, possibly coated with a thin plastic or hav- ing a planar plastic backing). In alternate embodiments these plates could be curved, solid or flexible, being two mates lining the inside of a flexible dielectric tube or hollow nonconducting cylinder.

[0078] If necessary to protect against short circuits or injury these metal compo- nent s / plates could be plastic coated or enclosed in plastic, rubber, or other dielectric. One must ensure, however, that the electric field is not significantly diminished by any covering the metal may have. To adequately compensate, one may either increase the voltage on the plates, reduce the distance between the plates, or do some of each.

[0079] It should be non-tarnishable (because it has been coated or treated in some manner, or does not need it), and thereby cleanable, metal (for example, per- haps copper, aluminum or chromium, or even copper, gold or silver Mylar™ (provided the Mylar™ can be adequately durable and carry sufficient volt- age, etc.), or electrifiable variant, etc.)) that could be mounted inside a frame or hidden within a housing, either placed on a stand or on the wall or hanging from the ceiling or mounted horizontally over a doorway, or lodged inside a heating / cooling system. (Mylar sheets should each be connected to at least one metal tab whereby an electric field can be established between parallel Mylar sheets.) The outermost of these two parallel plates could be covered by a thin plain or artistic work.

[0080] In conjunction with such metallic sheets / plates / grids require means of enabling it to produce a succession of static electric fields between these sheets / plates / grids, alternating in sign and possibly of various magnitudes and durations.

[0081] Electronically powered oscillators and timers are also needed to control the time period over which the current state of the system is (to be) maintained, i.e., whether it be on or off and. if on, in which direction the electric field is to point. The system may allow these quantities to be reset or cycled among different sets of values. More than one frequency and duration may be provided for.

[0082] Notice that distant germs can be carried into close proximity to the elec- tric field by air currents and the random motions of air molecules, possibly assisted by one or more fans. In a relatively closed environment the germs will gradually migrate until they encounter the electric field. Thereby, the air can become purified of them, their structures being electronically dam- aged if not destroyed. For airborne germs encased in a salt water droplet the proposed method is designed to destroy them by means of the alternating fields, which repeatedly bombard these structures with sodium and chloride ions. One could also enclose some or all of the air between the plates for some period of time during which the electric field is activated. Then the air could be expelled or released to accommodate a next batch of air.

[0083] By means of a, multiplexer, the system could cycle through a collection of frequencies of various durations, something particularly appropriate for organisms of different sizes.

[0084] This system would also protect people who enter an environment previ- ously inhabited by a diseased person.

[0085] 11. Second Aspect of Proposed Solution (inter alia)

[0086] A second approach to warding off contraction of an airborne disease could be accomplished by providing a person a hood (having a transparent window) that straps around the chest or waist preventing air flow inside it except through a vent which faces the front. The air vent that faces the front is fully adequate and leads immediately to parallel plates held fixed by a rigid structure located just inside the hood, which allows air to flow into it both from the outside and to and from the nose and mouth. The parallel plates are equipped with equipment that enables them to provide alternating static electric fields. When there is danger of them short-circuiting, resulting in harm or malfunction, the plates or the like axe plastic coated or otherwise dielectrically protected such as by the likes of plastic, wood or rubber.

[0087] In alternate embodiments the hood should have a flexible breathing tube leading from the vent. Interior to the tube but secured to its inner walls are two disjoint approximately congruent semi-circular curved disjoint metal pieces an inch or so inside diameter (preferably plastic coated copper), elec- tronically separated, attached to appropriate battery(ies) terminals, etc. of inside cross-sectional diameter of a few centimeters. The metal pieces should be flexible, supple, each possibly of mesh, woven, or even Mylar. Together, these two pieces almost yield one tubular structure.

[0088] Any batteries and electronics associated with controlling electric fields can be housed either inside the hood or worn on the body in a pouch, pocket, or hanging bag secured with Velcro in one embodiment. By making the metal plates thinner they could be made more flexible. One must also insure that they don’t electrically activate anything else or short circuit each other. In- stead of solid metal plates, they could consist of an electrified wire-reinforced screen / mesh, plain screen / mesh, or woven structure, consisting of some possi- bly coated metals, perhaps copper, Mylar, etc. mounted on a planar, suitably flexible dielectric backing. By the way, since the field alternates in direction, charged dust particles and other airborne molecules will not accumulate on the plates. Inequality (23) can be used to construct parameters and d, where cl is now intepreted to mean the inside cross-sectional diame- ter between the plates inside the tube. It may also be desirable to consider inequality (28).

[0089] 11.1 Example

[0090] Emulate HEPPA FILTERS by a multi-faceted system, possibly using an electric field of greater magnitude. With the flip of a switch one may employ a prolonged negative electric field or a prolonged positive field. The system could also be used to reduce the presence of airborne polar molecules, be they organic or inorganic, especially when used in conjunction with a suction device for a fan.

[0091] 12. The Third Prong: Treating Water and Liquid-Borne Germs

[0092] To treat / combat germs found in water and other aqueous solutions, set up the usual alternating electric fields with the liquid residing between the par- allel plates. In one embodiment the water or liquid is located in a waterproof dielectric bag (e.g. plastic or possibly rubber), pan, or container between the two metal plates (wire mesh grids, etc.), the liquid not touching any uncoated metal of the plates to avoid a short circuit. In some embodiments the plates axe coated with a thin dielectric, with wire leads to each to connect them to electrical power sources.

[0093] In one embodiment the water / liquid / fluid is poured into the bag, duct, pan, or container. In another embodiment the water is designed to flow through the region where the plates are located. This technique is effective when the water / liquid is naturally or has been made salty, having some net ionic content. In one embodiment a pan of water is one centimeter in depth. In one embodiment metal plates are 15 cm in length and 15 cm a, cross, having separation between one and two centimeters, secured in a rigid skeletal struc- ture (the plates possibly having an adjustable separation) but removable for cleaning. For purposes of sewage treatment plates of much larger dimensions could be used, even with greater distance between the plates.

[0094] In one embodiment the plates are mounted horizontally, one above the other. In another embodiment the plates are side by side, oriented vertically. In one embodiment the potential on the plates is ± 3 volts (in other embodi- ments, as much as 24 volts or so), alternated at one or more rates for various durations, also allowing for resting periods. The rest periods conserve energy and allow the plates and other electronics to cool if necessary. They can also allow the body a refractory recovery period when relevant.

[0095] If salt is added to the liquid and the alternating field treatment con- ducted to deactivate the liquid’s germs, that salt may then require removal for drinking purposes. To do so (based on “the Bartzis-Sarris method” [1]

[0012]

[0013]

[0014]

[0015] ), turn the electric field on between the (typically horizon- tally or vertically oriented) plates, this time maintained at constant magni- tude and direction. It must be held on for a duration sufficient to move the overwhelming bulk of sodium ions very close to one plate and similarly to attract the overwhelming proportion of chloride ions to within a pre-specified distance of the other plate. Then the liquid suitably close to the midpoint between the plates is drained or sucked off. In one embodiment this is ac- complished by inserting two wall-like partitions, one a pre-specified distance from one plate and the other partition a pre-specified distance from the other plate. Then, for each plate, the liquid between it and its nearby partition is closed off and the liquid between the partitions is emptied / drained out, transferred. For example, it could be removed by a straw or siphon. Now the ion-infested liquid can be disposed of. Therefore, individuals living near seawater could have their own personal water purification and desalination system. Moreover, campers and hikers might carry such a system.

[0096] In addition to using static fields one could employ sinusoidally varying or square waves. To power such fields, in one embodiment (and as suggested by Dr. Daniel Horwood), use of one or two electrical outlets equipped with control circuits could prove extremely effective, possibly necessitating voltage and / or amperage reduction.

[0097] 13. The Fourth Prong: Destroying Presently Multiplying Cells

[0098] Now for a discussion of the strategy for employing (possibly stuttered) alternating fields to destroy rapidly multiplying harmful germs when located inside the body of a human, an animal, or potentially even a plant. In these cases the intermittent presence of the electric field penetrating inside the germ / cell is utilized to propel ions within the germ cell while its DNA is separating and nucleotides are replicating. This relies on the DNA inside a cell being bathed in a saltwater environment. The salt ions are to be enlisted to harm the replicating DNA, for the cell then to recognize that serious damage has occurred, and for the cell to then self-destruct, by apoptosis. By self- destructing, the germ cell is presumably attempting to maintain control of the integrity of future generations of the germ. Taking the replicating DNA to be essentially stationary with respect to the cell itself, one may imagine t’* — 0 in the requisite mathematical inequalities developed later.

[0099] The idea that dividing cells could be (safely) destroyed by alternating electric fields has been previously disclosed and recognized. Previous methods comprised sinusoidal fields, not alternating static ones. Alternating static fields would be more efficient because they could be held at lower maximal voltage, thus also doing less bodily harm.

[0100] When attempting to kill dividing cancer or other harmful cells, Yoram Palti [7] has proposed to change the direction of sinusoidal fields over 200,000 to 600,000 times per second. According to inequality (17) of this document, when using (seconds), sodium ions in a normal saltwater solution will then move back and forth a distance of only about x 10"10meters, even if the resulting electric field inside the cell is as much as (a probably excessive) 200 volts per meter. A heavier ion will move an even shorter distance.

[0101] For sake of comparison, the sodium ion itself has radius of only about 1.8 x 1010meters. Hence, alternating fields of such frequencies appear to primarily act upon outer electrons, heating up the cellular environment and thereby destroying the cell.

[0102] The preceding calculation seems to prove that Haiti’s theory of how cancer cells are destroyed while they multiply is erroneous. This is because the rapid cycling frequency that Palti proposes does not allow the electric field time to move an ion sufficiently far while the field direction remains constant. How then can the ions do damage?

[0103] In a. Ted Talk video by Bill Doyle (possibly Palti ’s patent attorney), a company executive of Novocure, a claim was made that Palti’s method de- stroyed dividing cancer cells by disrupting the positions of positive ions that form between dividing chromosomes. However, those ions should in fact have remained essentially stationary. Nevertheless, the experimental results demonstrate that the alternating fields they employed did destroy some can- cer cells at a non-negligible rate. Apparently the cells were destroyed due to being overheated. There is a much better model to account for the destruc- tion of dividing cells. It also accomplishes the task much more efficiently. Moreover, this model suggests a dramatically different rate of field direction reversal.

[0104] The inventor also contends that if one relies on Palti’s method of treating dividing cells, cancer or otherwise, it is safer and more effective to use the same alternating frequencies, but use alternating static fields at lower maxi- mal voltage, provided it is not less than 2 / TT times the maximum voltage used by Palti. That is probably an instant invention.

[0105] Much as stated earlier, the inventor theorizes that the dividing cells them- selves, or their DNA-damaged daughter cells, are destroyed because once their separating and duplicating strands of DNA are sufficiently damaged or dis- lodged, the cells sense that something is amiss and self-destruct by apoptosis. One might further conjecture that locally present salt ions can interfere with or prevent nucleotide pairs A and T from connecting properly. The same with nucleotides C and G. Technically, the nucleotide is a triad consisting of a phosphate group, a sugar molecule, and a nucleobase (A, 67, G or T). These nucleobases will also be referred to as nucleotides.

[0106] DNA consists of a succession of rungs of nucleotide base pairs that are about 0.33 nanometers (nm) wide, and 2.2 2.6 nm long. The center to center distance between adjacent rungs is about 3.4 nm. If the electric field pen- etrating inside the cell is sufficiently large and its direction constant for a sufficient time period, ions (sodium ions in particular) inside the cell may be induced to move somewhere between 1 and 10 nm, or possibly even further, before the field stops or reverses. That may enable the (potentially stut- tered) alternating static electric field to damage or dislodge nucleotides, or even interfere with proper attachment of their base pair mates as they are being attached and positioned, by transporting nearby salt ions close to nu- cleotides, damaging them or their pairing activity. When the field is turned off, any salt ion encountering a nucleotide may continue to do damage, and when the field is reversed it may strain or tear the nucleotide, damaging its integrity.

[0107] This invention seeks to build upon Palti’s foundational conception, pro- viding what should be a much more effective approach.

[0108] To enable salt ions to have a damaging impact there is a real need to reduce the cycling frequency, but by how much?

[0109] Page 3 of Palti’s patent [7], lines 37-40, states that the stimulatory power of an alternating field on nerves, muscles, etc., is proportional to what in this document is defined to be t*. For t* of duration l / 2000th of a second or less, Palti claims that the stimulatory power of said field is said to approach zero for such alternating fields. Apparently, except for dividing cells, such alternating fields have minimal to negligible impact on the body.

[0110] Therefore it may seem wise to set t* = 1 / 2000 of a second. Because the field used in the body is going to be relatively low and will be turned off during much of the time an infectious disease (e.g. a UTI) is treated, setting t* = 1 / 200th of a second may prove to be safe. The approach proposed to destroy presently multiplying injurious cells, sometimes referred to as germs, depends on several parameters. Let T denote the average time required (for the current germ type) between the initiation of DNA strand separation and completion of DNA replication. During this period the DNA separation bubble (encompassing quite a number of nucleotides) proceeds down the DNA strand. Divide this time period into time intervals of equal length in such way that the separation bubbles comprise disjoint sets of nucleotides on different pairs of such time intervals. This shouldn’t be hard to do because bacteria have between 160,000 and 15 million rungs of DNA base pairs. Then let T* denote the average time required for such a germ to multiply.

[0111] The treatment proposed utilizes multiple repetitions of a single treatment regime cycle [STRC]. An STRC is a six- vector of the form: where ky is a positive integer and the rest of the parameters are non- negative real numbers. The components within a pair of parentheses act as a unit, operated on by the component to its immediate right.

[0112] To interpret such a six-vector: denotes turning the electric field on in a given fixed direction for seconds. Ly, measured in seconds, is a rest period of short or zero duration that follows . Then the field is turned on in the reverse direction for seconds, to be followed by a rest period of L2 seconds, also of short or zero duration. This sequence of between one and four operations is then repeated ky times, to then be followed by a rest period of relatively long duration , where L3 is determined by the equation

[0113] Thus is the full duration of one STRC. It will be assumed on the one hand that , and on the other hand, if the DNA strand was replicating during the current STRC, while the current. rest period is occurring, the DNA replication bubble (where one DNA strand is separating and in the pro- cess of constructing mates to its rungs of single nucleobases) will have been afforded enough time to move to a disjoint set of DNA rungs and their single nucleobases. The STRC is said to be stuttered if either or both. The length rest period, during which the field is off, may afford healthy, non-dividing cells a refractory period providing them time to recover from temporary field induced stress.

[0114] This entire six-component regime is to be immediately repeated multiple times without any other intervening rest period. In that way it is certain that deleterious cells will be caught while their DNA strands are in the process of separating and their DNA is replicating. Afterwards the system is completely turned off and the treatment is ended.

[0115] This six-component vector summarizes the essence of the entire treatment protocol to be iterated to handle rapidly multiplying germs found inside the body. Because of the generality of the six-vector protocol when repeated a specified number of times, it easily covers the envisioned treatments of airborne and waterborne germs, etc. Of course the software implementation of these protocols must be augmented by suitably configured so-called copper plates, various hardware, software, switches and power supply.

[0116] Consider the question: If the treatment for a UTI or other infection were continued indefinitely, for how many generations n will such germs continue to exist? Such n is random and cannot be known in advance. However, it can be approximated / estimated with very good precision. To address the question, let Qj denote the survival probability of the germ associated with a given DNA strand after having experienced j repetitions of the given STRC while the germ’s DNA strand was separating and undergoing replication. It is further assumed that T> is constructed so that for some positive integer kz- Since every STRC causes further damage while moving to essentially the same scenario during DNA separation and replication it is clear that for positive integers i and j, and with j In particular, Qk?(Qi) Moreover, for kz sufficiently large it may be antiepated that

[0117] Without specifying a value for either to construct a reasonable value of n let (7(0) denote the number of infectious germs of a given type at the moment the treatment procedure begins. Due to the volume of a bacterial cell and the limited volume of an infection one may infer that (7(0) is at most a trillion. Let C(j) denote the number of such cells seconds later with (j) signifying its expected value while treatment is ongoing. Observe that The factor upper bounds the expected number of germ lines the cell may generate. It stems from the observation that a replicating germ cell has two DNA strands, each of which could yield a germ. Let For the internal germ in question the STRC will then be repeated about times. To get practical and specific, suppose there is a kz for which the various conditions are satisfied and where e is the base of the Napierian logarithm. This is a modest assumption which is likely to hold if the invention is to be successfully used to treat infections located inside the body. Clearly,

[0118] Being an integer, it may well be that (7(9) = 0, certainly less than a handful in any case. So set n = 9. Then the treatment requires repetitions of a single STRC regime cycle, each lasting seconds. Thus the entire treatment lasts 9T* seconds.

[0119] Suppose one applies this to treating a UTI infection. There are some such UTI germs wherein T* = 20 minutes = 1200 seconds. Hence treatment lasts 3 hours. To keep it simple, suppose T = 10 minutes = 600 seconds. Furthermore, suppose and put k<z = 1200. Then Q During that time, how long will the electric field have been on? One STRC cycle lasts D | seconds and set ky = 1. Then the field will be on for l / 100th of a second, which is exactly 2% of an STRC. Thus the electric field will be active for 216 seconds of the 3-hour treatment. That equals 3 minutes 36 seconds, about the time required to boil an egg.

[0120] Of course there are a great many possible embodiments based on different situations, making electric field values, time parameters, and salt content quite variable. Generally speaking, sewage treatment and other public or commercial applications could favorably apply a higher electric field (maybe well over 1000 volts per meter). When increasing (decreasing) the electric field on the body it could be advisable to use a shorter (longer) duration using different numbers of STRC repetitions. Larger and less salt content could also be a consideration, for short or long term reasons. (For example, with the disposal of waste product, it would be undesirable for salt to be spread over the earth, eventually preventing or inhibiting plant growth.)

[0121] Regarding the hardware side of the treatment, the source of the electric field should probably be external to the body, unless the bodily target is sufficiently small. The electric field could be situated between two plastic coated copper (or other metal) patches, each attached to copper leads and connected to a battery assemblages (of 6 volts in some embodiments) and suitable switches, etc., as described in section 29, “Generating (Possibly Stut- tered) Electric Static Fields” . Often the goal is to intermittently generate an electric field (inside a DNA replicating cell) of somewhere between 10 and 80 volts per meter. But it’s really just a question of what the body can tolerate.

[0122] For humans, one patch (or thin metal plate) should be positioned in the back near the waist and the other positioned in the front near the groin. Depending on the person, from baby to obese adult, the plates could be separated by a distance d varying from less than one decimeter to more than four decimeters. Clearly, when d is smaller, the electric field intermittently induced by (one or more) battery assemblages inside multiplying cells located between the plates will necessarily be larger and more effective at destroying germs. Obviously, for different infections and different physiognomies the positions of the plates will be different.

[0123] As an illustration of the potential safety of the approach, observe, for example, that lung cells divide only once every 17 months and so should be largely unaffected, as they presumably are able to self-repair in any case.

[0124] Quantifying the Effect of the Electric Field: The Mathematics of the Method

[0125] 14. The Differential Equation: Set-Up and Solution

[0126] Given an electric field between parallel plates held at V volts and having a separation of d meters, consider a fluid (possibly found in an airborne droplet) located between those plates housing both positive and negative ions. If the plates are plastic coated or separated from a fluid by a dielectric, V is chosen so that the electric field just beyond the dielectric (and between the plates) is given by V / d. The question is: How will those ions move due to the electric field between the plates?

[0127] Using equation (18) on page 5 of the paper “A theoretical model for salt ion drift due to electric field suitable to seawater desalination,” by V.Bartzis and LE.Sarris [1]. The reader may also want to see other Bartzis-Sarris papers

[0012]

[0013]

[0014]

[0015] . (Other initial values for this problem may be considered but they amount to the same thing.)

[0128] The equation of motion of an ion in such a fluid solution is modeled by the differential equation subject

[0129] Here P is the force in newton’s on the given ion due to the electric field between the plates, other forces ignored; m is the ion’s mass in kilograms: b is the fluid’s drag parameter on the ion measured in units of kilograms per second; and D (measured in kilograms per second per second) pertains to the counter-force on the ion caused by the build-up of like charged ions.

[0130] From physics (see section 32), ( / ) For a sodium ion, m = 3.81 x 1026. According to page 5 of the Bartzis-Sarris paper [1], b = 3.06 x 10-12. The proper scientific value for b corresponding to a chloride ion is not known to the inventor, so direct calculations will be made only for sodium ions.

[0131] To put this differential equation in a standard form when the drag 5 / 0, consider is time in seconds and X (t) is the distance of travel in meters.

[0132] The characteristic polynomial of its homogeneous differential equation is which has roots Observe: for a sodium ion ri is of order — 1014and r2is proximal as well.

[0133] Observe: provided b is independent of m, r2is virtually independent of the mass m as well. The general solution to the differential equation is

[0134] Since the other quantities summing to zero,

[0135] Constants ci and c-2 can be computed from the initial conditions. Thus

[0136] Solving for ci and c2,

[0137] Therefore, the exact solution Is

[0138] Since n and are both negative,

[0139] This limit on an ion’s travels is determined by the boundary of the fluid medium in which the particular ion is immersed, be it a water droplet or duct. Airborne water droplets have radii bounded below by 2.5 x 106meters. If the medium’s limited permissible travel distance is denoted meters, then set which generally differs from 10-16, the numerical value for it given on page 5 of the Bartzis-Sarris paper [1] , thereby generalizing what seems to have been an overly restrictive context. Then Thus, for a sodium ion, and Technically, ?'i and ?'2 are real numbers in units of per second. Also,

[0140] Given the distance d between two, fiat, parallel (preferably copper) plates of suitable length and width, two primary questions need resolution: (1) what should the voltage be?; (2) how long should the (static) field be maintained before its direction is reversed? Notice that the electric field between the plates is to be about V / d. To ensure that the desired field is achieved, adjust V accordingly, where V7is the actual voltage on the plates.

[0141] 15. Quantifying Ionic Travel and Speed

[0142] Let t denote how long the field has had its current direction. The quantity v denotes the speed of the ion just prior to switching the field to its current (new) direction. Consider values of t in embodiments with / 10,000. Due to the large magnitude of and the smallness of cj, and for a sodium ion

[0143] Note: When computing the value of |r2| use the entire voltage on the plate. To calculate the corresponding distance traveled by a chloride ion in time t (seconds) as well as its speed, notice there’s a constant Xcso that the chloride ion has speed Ac(whose value can be found by scientific experiment) times the speed of the sodium ion (in the presence of a constant electric field). Assuming that the electric field imparts equal energies to all such free ions in solution, Ac= 0.805. Hence the distance traveled by a chloride ion is about 80% of the distance traveled by a sodium ion in time t, while traveling at 80% of the rate of the sodium ion.

[0144] 16. Keeping Up with Moving Organisms

[0145] How are moving organisms to be handled? Let denote the speed of an organism. In order that sodium ions keep up with the organism dur- ing time is defined to be the total time the current field direction will have been maintained until that direction is reversed), based on (17), it is sufficient that a portion of the field on the sodium ions satisfy Cancelling £*, it suffices to maintain the following inequality.

[0146] Assuming that all freely moving ions acquire the same energy from the field, chloride ions move at rate Actimes that of sodium ions, where 0.805. To ensure that chloride ions also keep up with the organism, let the field of satisfy

[0147] 17. Stationary Spherical Organisms

[0148] Having compensated for its speed, model the organism as an essentially stationary sphere of radius R. Given the direction of the electric field, the equator of that sphere is defined to be that great circle on the sphere whose plane is perpendicular to the direction of the electric field. For the sake of definiteness, when the field is in a given particular direction suppose that sodium ions are driven vertically upward toward the southern hemisphere <S of the sphere and chloride ions are driven vertically downward toward its northern hemisphere Af. When the direction of the field reverses, sodium ions are sent to what just was the northern hemisphere and chloride to what just was the southern.

[0149] 18. Immediate Territory of an Organism’s Individual Molecules

[0150] Coming from a living organism, the territorial structure of the molecules of this organism can be roughly approximated by the territorial structure of water. Based on Avogadro’s number, 6.023 x 1023water molecules occupy 18 cubic centimeters of volume. Observe that although a water molecule is only 2.8 x 10“10meters in diameter, in its natural habitat each water molecule may therefore be considered to occupy a separate cube of side length 3.22 x 10-9 meters. Since a typical molecule of an organism is at least as large as a water molecule, suppose their immediate territory consists of a cube of side length at least 3.22 nanometers. Thus, the surface of a hemisphere of radius R has at most immediate / local molecular territories.

[0151] 19. Number of Ionic Arrivals

[0152] Whether previously on or off, suppose the field has just been switched (on) to a given direction, that direction having currently been maintained for t* seconds. Then sodium ions will have landed on only one hemisphere S of a stationary spherical organism (call it the southern hemisphere) and chloride ions will have landed only on its complementary hemisphere (call it the northern hemisphere). Then the question is: How many chloride ions (on average) w7ill arrive in t* seconds at the surface of a stationary spherical organism of radius R within the immediate territory of a molecule selected at random from the hemispherical surface T?

[0153] For seawater, sodium and chloride ions are each about 1% as numerous as water molecules. Suppose the liquid medium in question has salt density / times seawater. Because the cross-section of a sphere of radius R has area , applying (17), using in time t* the average number of chloride ions landing on a hemisphere Af when the ions experience a field of magnitude / for a typical surface molecular territory in the appropriate hemisphere is at least

[0154] Hence, given pre-assigned values of β and t*, the average number of chlo- ride ion arrivals for a typical surface molecular territory on Af is at least β whenever

[0155] Whenever β ≥ 1 / 10 this could become dangerous for a germ in the fluid pro- vided the field remains on for a sufficient time period. The inventor proposes consideration of values of β between 1 / 10 and 100. The corresponding expected number of chloride arrivals at any particular surface molecular territory at latitude 0 of AT can be proved to be almost exactly 2β sin 0. However, the likelihood of an ion first arriving at a latitude of 0 radians above (or below) the equator is proportional to sin 20.

[0156] 20. The Chief Multi-Parameter Inequality

[0157] Inequalities (20) and (22) can be combined to yield a lower bound for the total electric field experienced by the ions. Thus, the corresponding electric field must be applied to the plates in terms of the distance d between the plates, the switching time t*, the organism’s speed (the mag- nitude of the component of the organism’s velocity in the direction of the field), the average number β of chloride ions landing at one of hemisphere typical surface molecule’s immediate territories during that time, a salt ion density parameter / , and the constant regarding the ion’s allowable travel distance.

[0158] This is the most fundamental inequality, revealing the magnitude of the electric field necessary to overcome the organism’s speed and ensure that a requisite number of chloride ions encounter the organism during time t*.

[0159] 20.1 Some examples

[0160] Consider situations in which / = 1.

[0161] 1. Suppose (meters per sec- ond). In some embodiments take t* — 1 / 30 (seconds), and set / 200. Then (23) is satisfied for some When then V*ctakes a corresponding value between 2 and 5 (volts). This example is primarily important when combatting germs contained in airborne water droplets.

[0162] Examples 2 to 5 contain four situations in which the organisms in ques- tion can remain between the plates as long as necessary. In these four examples the liquid regions in which the ions move are assumed to be of much greater breadth. To wit, it will be supposed that (meters). As a standard value, in these four examples use V*c= 5 (volts). When sizeable distances are being allowed between the plates, each plate must then have increased length and width to maintain an adequate electric field. Notice that all the values of j will be ac- commodated in situations when is sufficiently small by increasing / or t* or both.

[0163] Examples 2 to 5 are applicable to all viruses, to fungi, and to many bac- teria. Clearly, there is a great range of permissible joint values of V*c, d and t*.

[0164] 21. The Onion and Its Layers

[0165] Another interesting phenomena can be identified. These organisms ap- proximated by a sphere of radius R look like an onion, having many suc- cessive molecular layers. Surprisingly, the approximate number can be com- puted. Stacking its molecular territorial cubes vertically, one atop the other, starting at the center of the sphere and ending at the sphere’s surface, an organism of radius R is seen to have about 22 / (3.22 x 109) = 3.15 x IO8 / ? layers of molecules. (A 50 nm corona virus has about 16 molecular layers. Its corona protuberances each have about 2 to 4.) Note that some of these lay- ers are predominantly negatively charged (typically including the outermost layer) and some are positively charged, the organism itself being neutral.

[0166] 22. Internal Damage Increases with 1 / R Besides the massive external effect of both positive and negative ion ar- rivals, the ions also exert an internal effect as does the electric field in general. Clearly, the devastating nature of the effect beneath the surface becomes proportionately worse the smaller the organism and the smaller its external protuberances. Thus the stalks and flowers of the corona virus are espe- cially vulnerable. These effects are compounded because negatively charged chloride ions are also propelled against the organism, as will be discussed in greater detail shortly. One more point: Note that the electric fields will also impact the interior of these organisms wherever electric charges lurk there, also gutting them from the inside.

[0167] Notice further that if the alternating fields are used on a static pool of water, the switching of the fields could be continued for as long as desired, correspondingly increasing the degree of damage visited on the germs in the liquid.

[0168] With respect to the corona virus covid-19 (which also appears to be neg- atively charged at its surface), a roughly spherical organism of radius about 50 to 60 nanometers, and variants, the corona is a collection of protrusions coming out of the virus’ spherical main body, each looking like a flower atop a stalk. It is by means of these protrusions and their individual electromagnetic fields that the corona virus invades a cell. The stalk is roughly nine nanome- ters tall and six nanometers in diameter. Sitting on this stalk is maybe a twelve nanometer in diameter flower, of thickness about three nanometers.

[0169] These protrusions are small, and are natural targets for the salt ions driven by alternating static or sinusoidal electric fields, readily destroyed, and thereby rendering the covid virus harmless. A device can be designed that focuses only on destroying the corona or other electrically charged viral surface structures. Thereby the virus is rendered unable to invade the cell.

[0170] 23. Outer Layer Destruction of Stationary Spherical Organisms Due to Oppositely Charged Ions

[0171] Most if not all bacteria, yeast, fungus and other organisms (the corona virus appears to be another) have a negatively charged exterior. Being of positive charge, whenever a sodium ion meets the surface of such an organism it strongly tends to stick, affecting the organism externally and internally, either remaining in that fixed position or causing that molecule to be sloughed off and in need of replacement.

[0172] Based on (23), within as little as 2t* seconds most of the negatively charged outer layer should have been destroyed by sodium ion arrivals. Indeed, the rate of sodium ion arrivals can be readily made to greatly exceed the organ- ism’s molecular replacement capacity. For a positively charged outer layer an analogous situation is created by chloride ion arrivals.

[0173] By the way, once the preponderance of its protective outer shell is lost, the integrity of the entire organism is compromised, probably having incurred a mortal wound, both from leakage of its fluids and influx of salt ions. Damage need not be 100% to disable the organism’s functioning. Importantly, its external ionic structures are now probably inoperative, losing their invasive powers.

[0174] 24. Sliding Damage From Like Charges

[0175] What happens to ions of like charge to that of the organism externally? It suffices to only consider chloride ions because they move more slowly than sodium ions. Hence, the current outer molecular layer may be assumed to be negative largely or entirely. To model this, suppose the external field is cur- rently driving negative (chloride) ions onto what will be called the northern hemisphere of the organism. Technically, as mentioned previously, the equa- tor used to define the northern hemisphere is that great circle on the sphere which determines a plane perpendicular to the direction of the electric field. As a chloride ion reaches this hemisphere’s surface the repulsion in the di- rection normal to the surface increases until it balances the component of the opposing external force in that direction. Only the tangential component of the external force remains, propelling the chloride ion downward along a meridian until it either reaches the equator or the field reverses, in each case then departing from the organism. This concept extends to arbitrarily shaped germs.

[0176] 25. Quantifying Tangential Speed

[0177] Model the organism as a stationary sphere of radius R and temporarily hold the electric field in a fixed direction so that whenever a chloride molecule is driven adjacent to the organism’s surface it is located at latitude 9 radians above the equator, for some There it experiences only a tangential force, which drives it along a meridian ever closer to the equator. The exter- nal force (being of magnitude (newton’s)) has tangential component at 0 of magnitude Repeating the analysis found in (1)- (16) with replacing P (as if the chloride ion were merely a negatively charged sodium ion), the tangential speed of the pseudo-sodium ion at lat- itude 0 would be about (meters per second). Until the next section, the second order term in approximating is be- ing ignored. Necessarily, the actual chloride ion would have tangential speed ) ) As before, if the electric field imparts equal energies to freely moving ions,

[0178] Starting from a point at latitude / and traveling along a meridian until the chloride ion reaches the equator (provided the electric field has not yet reversed direction), it will encounter about (1O9 / 3.22) surface molecules (where 0Q is given in radians), dramatically increasing the average number of molecular visits per chloride ion. Furthermore, from each molecular territory and each latitude in the appropiate hemisphere there will be chloride ion arrivals from those chloride ions that landed at some and proceeded to 0i before time t*.

[0179] These considerations suggest that the longer the electric field’s direction is held fixed the more damage is done to one particular hemisphere by ions whose charge has the same sign as the current outer layer. Meanwhile, the oppositely charged ions will actively remove the outer layer of molecules on the opposite hemisphere. Hence, to incorporate both effects throughout the organism’s surface, it is necessary to reverse the direction of the field at some point. The optimal moment could be determined by scientific experiment.

[0180] So how long will the ion take before reaching the equator? When at 0, as seconds the chloride ion moves a distance asymptotic to ( ) along the meridian to latitude where as Writing (seconds),

[0181] Hence, for using a total voltage of and defining r2 based on , for the appropiate corresponding voltage the time required for a chloride ion to go from latitude 9Q to 9\ is at most

[0182] Notice that the upper bound of decreases in and in particular

[0183] Suppose the organism is rod-like or stringy, having circular cross-section of radius R. No matter the organism’s physical orientation with respect to the direction of the electric field, when a chloride ion lands on its (presumed negatively charged) surface it moves at least as fast around it until falling off, and at least as far, as if the surface had been that of a sphere of radius R. Hence, each such chloride ion will visit at least as many molecular territories as if the organism were spherical. And the same story pertains to spherical or cylindrical surface protuberance components.

[0184] 26. Grand Multiparameter Inequality

[0185] For the purpose of designing a device in which chloride ions exceed an average speed of and to ensure that not only do sufficiently many chloride ions land in a typical hemispheric-ally relevant surface molecular territory, but they also frequently continue to travel along the organism for at least a prescribed distance before the field is reversed or turned off, a grand multi- parameter inequality is presented.

[0186] A proportion of those chloride ions landing during time (0,t*] do so by time \ leaving a time of at least ( ) for such ions to proceed around a portion of the organism. Consider For chloride ions landing at latitude within time of the beginning of the current field direction, all such ions will proceed to the equator prior to either the reversal of the field or its being turned off if (provided) ( |2| / ) For liquid of salt ion density / times that of seawater, whenever inequality (22) holds and at least 40% of the chloride ions that will land on the northern hemisphere between latitudes 0 and TT / 4 radians during a current field direction will fall off the organism prior to any change in the field direction.

[0187] The quantity R pertains to the radius of curvature of an organism or a component of one of its protuberances provided they are either spherical of radius R or cylindrical having cross-sectional radius R. Incorporating (20) and recalling that in order that the average speed of chloride ions exceed v* and that there exists Vcwhich satisfies (27) for suitable and R it is sufficient that By incorporating (26b) one can modify (28) by replacing 3.5 by a parameter . It offers some additional flexibility but will not be dignified by a numbered inequality.

[0188] The larger the value of β the better the performance of the device. How- ever, should prove adequate, although is most desirable. Inequalities (27) and (28) provide adequate time for chloride ions to land on the surface of an organism at latitude below radians and proceed to the equator of the germ or organism substantially before the direction of the field is reversed or turned off. Moreover, if the concern is only to disable external protuberances from the surface of the germ, these inequalities can be im- proved because one continues to use the same inequalities while substituting a much smaller value of R.

[0189] More Examples:

[0190] 6. Take f = 1. To treat airborne germs wherein (meters per second) and 1 (meters) using t* = 1 / 30 (seconds) and = 200 (volts per meter): Suppose the external protuberance components of the germs in question are roughly spherical or cylindrical of (cross-sectional) radius Then (28) holds for any reasonable β- Hence, at least 60% of all chloride ions landing on such an organism or on one of its protuberance components at some latitude 6Q where radians will then encounter at least 108 3.22 surface molecular territories before the direction of the field changes or the field is temporarily turned off. In one embodiment V*c= 5 (volts) and d = 2.5 x 102(meters). = 300 works if For example, use an embodiment wherein (volts) and d = 2 x 102(meters). Note, to calculate use (14).

[0191] 7. Consider germs within sizeable stationary bodies of salty liquid (say

[0192] 8. Consider treatment of toenail or fingernail fungus, immersed in salty / ( ) In one embodiment (to be further discussed in the next section).

[0193] 27. Treating a Fungus, or Sanitizing a Hand

[0194] While long and stringy, fungi are about 1 to 5 microns in radius with re- spect to their axial direction. Largely immobile, they may be supposed to have linear speed at most 5 x 10-7(meters per second). To treat a fungal in- fection on the toe nail(s), place the infected foot in salt water (at least as salty as seawater, but the more salt the better. Could use epsom salts. Doubling the salt content doubles the rate at which ions encounter an organism.)

[0195] In one embodiment locate a plastic coated (preferably) copper plate un- derneath the affected toe(s). There’s a parallel plastic coated (preferably) copper plate secured to a slider on a pole (a round, square or multi-sided pole) which enables the upper plate to be continuously adjusted up or down, based on a kind of spring-loaded lever that uses friction to hold the plate at a fixed height. Reduction of the friction enables the plate to slide to a different height. Move the upper plate downward until it touches, or nearly touches, the top of the toe, covering the nail. Note that the toe and nail should be immersed in very salty water. The relevant distance d between the plates is then about 2 to 4 cm. The same concepts can be applied to treating fingernail fungus as well. See example #8 for further parameters of an embodiment. The patient is given repeated treatments until the fungus disappears.

[0196] By the way, being relatively stationary and of radius between 2 and 3 microns, yeast cells are also treatable by the same or similar embodiment, sometimes reducing by 40 or 50%.

[0197] A simpler embodiment could also be constructed, especially apropos for treating fingernail fungus. Construct a non-conducting (preferably plastic) hollow cylinder (tube) about 4 to 6 inches in length, lined inside with two separate, congruent, semi-circular, plastic-coated, metal (preferably copper) pieces located opposite one another along the length of the tube. These metal pieces are connected by copper wires to appropriate terminals of the batteries.

[0198] Inside the tube / cylinder is a long plastic bag which is to be filled with very salty water whenever the device is used to treat fingernail fungus. The patient then places his / her fungal finger inside the bag, and the system is turned on. The tube / cylinder could have an inside diameter of an inch or so. The fingernail should be located roughly half-way down the tube. In this case the plates are curved and situated within the hollow cylinder / tube. To decide the various parameters such as the voltage on the plates and duration of a field direction, let inequality (23) be your guide, but consider (28) as well, interpreting d as the inside cross-sectional diameter between the plates.

[0199] One could also determine whether one can treat or sanitize the whole hand, doing so one finger at a time or altogether, using flat parallel plates or curved ones, suspending a plastic bag of salt water (maybe f = 2 or more) between the plates, much as described when treating a fungal finger.

[0200] 28. Bacterial Movement and Flagella

[0201] Moving bacteria are propelled by flagella mounted forward in their di- rection of movement. These flagella are positively charged, thereby tending to deflect positive ions away from the bacterium’s body, giving it protection from these ions as it moves. Moreover, because the flagella rotate, a magnetic field is generated which wards off both positive and negative ions. However, such bacteria are not protected from the rear (at least those having only one set of flagella). So, increasing the electric field as suggested would render such bacteria vulnerable. The point is, both kinds of ions must move faster than the organism.

[0202] Moreover, if a bacterium sought to escape such an ionic onslaught by reversing course, it must first go into tumble mode, lowering its speed and actually increasing its vulnerability. Furthermore, most of these bacteria require on the order of several hundreths of a second to change direction, expending energy to do so. If the electric field reverses sufficiently frequently the bacteria will not only find themselves repeatedly under attack but they will soon become exhausted in their attempts to fend it off, making them dramatically more vulnerable.

[0203] Among the most rapidly moving bacteria treated by some of these em- bodiments is salmonella. Harmful bacteria like salmonella move no faster than 20 microns per second. Notice that salmonella are rod-shaped, being 2 to 5 microns long and to 1.5 microns in width. If V / d = 600 (volts per meter), the sodium ions will move at the rate of 30 microns per second and the chloride ions will attain a speed of 24 microns per second.

[0204] In point of fact, ion of charge opposite to the exterior of a germ are known to have a killing effect on it, even in the absence of the other type of ion. Hence for most purposes inequalities (27) and (28) may be ignored.

[0205] 29. Generating (Possibly Stuttered) Alternating Static Electric Fields

[0206] Use a battery, some conducting wire, two conducting plates, and a double pole (DPDT) throw switch. Connect the battery between the two input poles of the switch as shown in Figure 1. Connect one of the plates, plate 1, to one pair of output terminals on the switch, and connect the other plate, plate 2, to the other pair of switch output terminals. These output connections axe also shown in the figure. From the figure it can be seen that with the switch in position 1 the positive battery terminal is connected to plate 1 and the negative terminal is connected to plate 2. When the switch is changed to position 2 the figure shows that now the positive battery terminal is connected to plate 2 and the negative battery terminal is connected to plate 1. A DPDT switch wired this way facilitates reversal of the electric field direction (or polarity). DPDT switches are routinely connected in this configuration to reverse polarity and change the direction of rotation of DC motors. In the current application a DPDT switch can be used with programmed electronic timing circuits to control the direction of the electric field as well as the time interval between electric field reversals. To completely turn off the electric field between the plates a second single pole single throw (SPST) on off switch can be used at one of the battery terminal connections. This is also indicated in the figure. The on off switch can be controlled with programmed electronic timing circuits.

[0207] 30. Device geometry of an example embodiment

[0208] The device causes air (or other fluid to be processed) to flow through regions of space which contain electric fields. T o define the geometry of the device consider a rectangular coordinate system with the plus x direction to the right, the plus y direction out of the paper, and the plus z direction up as shown in Figure 2. Fans, or some means of fluid circulation, move air (or the fluid to be processed) from the left where it enters the device and move it in the plus x direction, flowing as a river. It is passed through electric fields formed and contained within the device before it exits the device on the right. Upon entering the device the fluid first passes through a region (Region 0) containing an electric field with the orientation of the field in the plus or minus z direction. The electric field in this region is formed by a pair of metallic plates parallel to the x - y plane, separated by a distance d centimeters and with an electric voltage V applied between them. The magnitude of this field is V / d.

[0209] As the fluid being processed leaves Region 0 it flows into Region 1 which consists of n passages (Passages 1 to n) where the orientation of the field is in the plus or minus y direction. The fields in these passages are formed by pairs of parallel plates all parallel to the x - z plane, as shown in Figure 2. The pairs of plates in these passages are each separated by a distance d* and have an electric voltage of applied between them. The magnitude of the fields in each of these regions is In the next paragraph it is shown that should equal V, and d* should equal d.

[0210] For many applications, the separation d of the two Region 0 plates, will be a few cm; if they were much smaller the volume of the region would become too restrictive for efficient processing. If the separation were much larger, the voltage required for the necessary field strength would become unreasonably high. For some industrial applications both the separation d and the voltage

[0211] V could be much larger. The width of the Region 1 plates should be made as large as possible to maximize the processing volume. This maximum width is equal to the Region 0 plate separation, d. The Region 1 plates separations should also be d, for the same the same reasons given for Region 0. This means that Region 1 consists of n passages formed by plates of both width and separation of d cm. A suitable selection of n, the number of Region 1 passages will depend on the desired processing throughput. Note that the width of the Region 0 plates becomes dn, the plate separation, d, times the number of region 1 passages. Region 0 has a single pair of parallel plates with

[0212] V volts applied between them by using switches and circuits as described in a previous section.

[0213] Region 1 has n pairs of parallel plates with V volts applied between adja- cent plates. These plates are numbered 0 through n. For j strictly between 0 and n plate j bounds passageway j on one side and j + 1 on the other side. The appropriate fields within these passageways can be obtained by electrically connecting all the even-numbered plates together and all the odd numbered plates together and applying a voltage V between the even num- bered plates and the odd numbered plates. The voltage V would be applied using switches and circuits as with Region 0. The actual voltage on the plates may be somewhat different from V and is selected to obtain a field of V / d between the plates. Region 0 and Region 1 join together to form a unit. A finite succession of these units can be joined together either linearly or at slight angles to one another if required to accommodate the available space.

[0214] The physical supporting structure for all the device plates must be rigid enough to secure them, but it must also provide electrical isolation between them. Electrical contact between metal plates may only be allowed where intentionally provided. Because of this, non-conductive coatings and non- conductive structural pieces may be required throughout.

[0215] 31. Percent Salt Molecules in Seawater

[0216] There are 35 grams of salt per 1000 grams seawater. Water molecules are each 18.02 atomic mass units (amu). Salt molecules are each 58.44 amu. Hence, if the salt molecules had not dissociated into ions, the proportion of seawater molecules that are salt would be which is about 1%.

[0217] 32. Force on a Charge Between Plates

[0218] Given battery assemblages of V volts, planar metal plates separated by a distance d, and an object having a charge of q electrons (or q protons) between those electrified plates, the magnitude of the force F on the charged object is given by the equation volts, and d = 1.5 cm,

[0219] 33. Penetration of Electric Fields into Seawater

[0220] According to an article on the internet (“Attenuation and Skin Depth - Electro-magnetic Field Physics”, https: / / em.geosci.xyz >content >maxwelll_ fundamentals): Sinusoidal electric fields are attenuated by sea water (which has about the same salt density as found in cells). The higher the sinusoidal frequency of the electric fields the faster the sea water attenuates it. Let A denote the skin depth, i.e., the distance the electromagnetic wave must travel in order that the magnitude of its field be reduced by a factor of 1 / e = .368. Here are their given numerical values:

[0221] Consequently, pulsed static electric fields, whether alternating in sign or not, do not dissipate to any meaningful degree relative to the distances in- volved in this application. Even sinusoidally varying electric fields will have negligible attenuation when impacting a water droplet.

[0222] 34. Further Specifications of Proposed Solutions: (inter alia) To power electric fields and control their magnitude wires are needed from the hood to the battery and a pulsing mechanism. Indeed, the electronics of the pulsing mechanism would likely be smaller than a cell phone. With this hood a person is protected from contracting the disease from the outer world, and the outer world is simultaneously protected from being infected by a contagious wearer. In that way quarantining can be largely eliminated. Another issue: tarnishing and cleansing are probably treated by thin film or coating technology. Ideally, the components of the hood should have longevity and not need to be discarded for quite some time. They should be in a washable housing, or detachable from same, possibly in a pouch secured by velcro.

[0223] Fluid Purification

[0224] Construction of a Structure

[0225] Holding a Liter of Fluid to be Purified of Germs

[0226] 35. Summary Description of Liquid Purification Chamber

[0227] Suppose that at most a liter of some liquid is to be (sufficiently) purified of germs. How is this to be accomplished? Suppose the liquid is already adequately salty. What is described below pertains to a particular and related embodiments.

[0228] The salty liquid to be purified is to be poured into a 1-piece box-like structure (open at the top) made of glass whose bottom has inside dimensions x 9 inches. Two opposite vertical sides, call them A and A', adjacent to the bottom have inside dimensions x 9 inches, 9 inches being their height. The other two opposite sides, call them B and B', are each 9 x9 inches and inch thick. These two glass sides are each backed by and bonded to a 12 x 12 inch ten to twenty mil (0.01 0.02 inches) copper plate. The glass on sides A and A' and bottom is inch thick. The thickness of the glass on sides B and B' could conceivably be made smaller and its dielectric constant should be minimized. All of this is one unified leak-proof piece. The structure may have a removable cover.

[0229] The copper plates are each connected to copper wire leads and, except for the glass portion, are coated by and enclosed within plastic. Projecting the interior of glass plate B onto its associated copper plate, the copper extends beyond it 1 j inches in each direction both horizontally and vertically, yielding a (roughly) inch border around the four sides of glass plate B. The same goes for plate B' and its associated copper plate.

[0230] The voltage on the plates is 9 volts in some embodiments. The point is, it is highly desirable that the electric field in the liquid be at least 200 volts per meter. In some embodiments the switching time t* is 1 to 2 seconds. The copper wire leads can be connected to and detached from the appropriate battery assemblages and terminals. These in turn are connected to various electronics including one or more clocks / timers, 3-valued switches of various kinds, plus suitable wiring.

[0231] In some embodiments the power supply is provided by two rechargeable 9- volt battery assemblages. In another embodiment the power is provided by an electric outlet which produces alternating current. This requires a different / additional set of electronic components.

[0232] In some embodiments the entire unified structure is also connected to a supporting base for gravitational stability. In alternate embodiments the structure is stabilized by means of arms extending out from the middle of the plastic covering the outside of the copper plate to flat pads at the level of the bottom of those covered plates. In some embodiments polythylene plastic is used, even in place of the glass, especially since a very thin amount could be used adjacent to the copper plates at the locations of plates B and B'. Secondly, because plastic is less breakable than glass. However, glass is a better overall material than plastic, being safer for containing salty, ingestible liquids. In some embodiments the glass is reinforced and further sealed at the edges and corners.

[0233] In some embodiments the system has been designed so that the user de- cides what voltage to use / purchase, and the time t* at which the direction of the field is reversed. In some embodiments the time period t* is programmable and can even be made to cycle among different values for different numbers of cycles as well as allowing a rest, period during which the field is turned off. The entire device will be called a Liquid Purification Chamber (LPC).

[0234] 36. Liquid Purification and Desalination Seawater has about 9 grams of sodium per cup (about a quarter of a liter). By contrast, well water has about 4.5-9 milligrams per cup; orange juice has 2 milligrams, while tomato juice has 680—880 milligrams per cup. Thus, in general, to purify liquid of germs, one should first measure its sodium content and then add 9 to 18 grams of salt per cup. Then pour the liquid into a (mod- ified) Liquid Purification Chamber (LPC) and conduct the germ purification process for some requisite number of electric field reversing cycles of suitable durations. Except as discussed below, for the embodiment considered, the modified LPC has the same dimensions and composition as that of the LPC mentioned in the previous section.

[0235] For the embodiments considered here, it’ll be supposed that the liquid in question is at most 3 / 4 of a liter (about 3 cups).

[0236] Once the genii purification process is complete, the excess salt must be removed, at least for some 50-80% of the original liquid.

[0237] To accomplish this, turn on the electric field, maintaining it in one fixed direction for 35 to 60 minutes or more, depending on the

[0238] 1. distance between the copper plates,

[0239] 2. magnitude of the field within the liquid,

[0240] 3. recoverable proportion of the liquid to be sufficiently freed of ions.

[0241] Let d denote the distance between the flat copper plates. Copper plate 1 is adjacent to dielectric plate B and copper plate 2 is adjacent to dielectric plate B*. For the embodiment, considered, plates B and B* are inch thick.

[0242] Suppose that, based on the aforementioned three factors, the predominant portion of the ions in solution have been moved to within distance d\ of copper plate 1 and distance d^ from copper plate 2. Then the fluid / liquid in the region in between these two ion-rich regions is drinkable, essentially both germ free and ion free.

[0243] To isolate this liquid (while the electric field is still on), imagine inserting two identical, thin planar partition panels parallel to the copper plates at distance d\ from the first plate and d-2 from the second plate. In one em- bodiment the partition panels are 0.015 inches thick and made of tinplate. Their other dimensions will be described shortly. (Notice: No part of the first partition panel extends beyond distance d\ from copper plate 1, and similarly with partition panel 2.) The partition panels need to prevent liquid from passing from one region to another, and be held in a fixed position. To accomplish this, recess the side walls inch, ending at distance dy from copper plate 1 and distance d-2 from copper plate 2. The recessed region consists of three planar pieces, two sides of which are inch with the connecting piece being of an inch or less. The angles produced are right angles.

[0244] Also recess the floor of the chamber by inch just beneath each of these two panels to accommodate them a quarter of an inch. Thus, two recessed furrows have been created going down one side wall, across the bottom, and up the opposite side wall carving out two U-shaped regions parallel to the plates. In one embodiment the width of each recess is of an inch. Ideally the recess should have width between 0.02 to 0.025 inches.

[0245] These two partition panels split the original liquid into three disjoint re- gions, regions 1, 2 and 3, where region #2 denotes the middle region. When inserting the partition panels into the two furrows (recessed regions), squeeze them together (with one hand) to maintain the half inch minimal separation everywhere. Then (with the other hand) add liquid to regions 1 and 3 to nearly the top of the side walls. Now release the grip on the partition pan- els. The liquid pressure on the panels will seal off the essentially germ-free and ion-free liquid in region 2 from regions 1 and 3. Proceed to remove this liquid by straw(s) or siphon(s), possibly putting it in a bottle, adding back a requisite amount of salt, and drinking it or sealing the top. The strength of the seal may be increased by beginning with less liquid to purify (e.g. 2 to cups).

[0246] In a more refined embodiment the distances dy and d<2 are not equal, the different sizes being due to the fact that sodium and chloride ions travel at different speeds. Therefore dy and cfo can be adjusted so that the sodium and chloride concentrations in regions 1 and 3 are approximately equal.

[0247] 37. Enhancing Purification and Salination Capacity

[0248] To increase the capability of the previously proposed system and to de- crease its cost per unit volume purified, imagine stringing together two or more such devices in succession. Notice that, except for the two outermost copper plates, the rest of them come in virtually adjacent pairs. One plate of each of these pairs can be eliminated, together with its dielectric housing. Thus, to increase the purification and desalination capacity of a single system by a factor of n, duplicate this system n times, except use only n+1 copper plates, not 2n. Furthermore, only the two battery assemblages associated with the original system are needed. Number the n+1 plates in consecutive order in the newly created system. The odd numbered copper plates are to be connected to the two battery assemblages in identical fashion, and the even numbered copper plates are also to be connected to the two battery assemblages in like fashion, the same way as was used with respect to the two copper plates in the original system. More batteries could be linked in parallel to a given battery assemblage. If linked in series the voltage in the various chambers will of course be increased.

[0249] The partition panels should be constructed at distances with respect to the consecutive copper plates in the order

[0250] 38. The Physical Housing of One or More Regions for Maintaining and Changing Electric Fields (For Use in Treating Airborne Germs, Toenail and Fingernail Fungus and Ailments of Small Appendages)

[0251] To construct one or more regions of alternating electric fields, consider copper plates (plastic-coated in some embodiments), each having two copper wire leads attached / attachable to two battery (or other power) assemblages and electronics. The plates are rectangular, of length L, width VV, and some suitable thickness. In some embodiments, L = W is 6 to 8 inches. In others the lengths are much larger. The goal is to construct a dielectric structure enabled to hold two or more metal pieces (such as the copper plates) parallel, one above the other, at one or more potential separation distances.

[0252] Consider a small-scale version of the skeleton frame dielectric structure of a fixed 4-legged card table without table top. Label the legs, In one embodiment the minimal inside distance between adjacent legs L\ and L2 is slightly more than L but close to inch. Similarly for the adjacent legs L3 and L4. The outermost distance between adjacent legs Li and L3 is more than W and at most inch. The same is true of adjacent legs L2 Support platforms are mounted (each secured to one leg) at various chosen heights. A support platform consists of a horizontal component, which in one embodiment is a square inch on a side and inch thick (made of high density polythylene). Attached at one edge of the horizontal component is a vertical component which rises inch above the top surface of the horizontal component and extends inch so the vertical piece is flush with the bottom of the horizontal component. The vertical piece extends inch along the edge of the horizontal component.

[0253] The vertical component, is always abutting a leg and located on the out- ermost face of the overall complete skeleton structure. Thereby, a corner of a copper plate can be supported by the horizontal component of a platform while the copper plate is confined by the vertical platform component in conjunction with the associated leg into / with which the platform is merged.

[0254] The vertical member of the platform attached to L\ is parallel to the vertical member of platform attached to L3. The distance between them is about inches. The same for vertical members attached to legs L2and L4. In another embodiment L and W are switched. The design must afford enough room to insert, into and remove the (plastic-coated) copper plate from the four platform supports at each possible height.

[0255] Notice: The construction of each of the four legs is identical, having a collection of locations at which platform supports are merged. These legs are then merged into / with the top of the structure, which consists of four rods arranged in a rectangle.

[0256] In one embodiment there are two copper plates. The upper copper plate can rest at one of five locations. The lower plate is positioned at the very bottom of the structure, the available separation distances between the upper and lower / bottom copper plates being 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, and 4 centimeters. This embodiment is particularly useful in treating people with toenail fungus. The structure is placed in a pan of saltwater and the top plate inserted as close as possible to the bottom plate while covering the fungal toes. It can also be used to treat fingernail fungus and other ailments of the fingers and hands, also enabling electric field treatment of certain ailments for someone having a sufficiently thin forearm.

[0257] In another embodiment, there are n+l plates, each a common distance d from its adjacent neighboring plates. This is particularly useful to increase the rate at which air can be purified of germs.

[0258] The dielectric used for various parts for all of the structure is high density polythylene or other durable plastic(s). Whatever plastics are employed must be highly impervious to salt water degradation and of a thickness capable of maintaining a rigid structure.

[0259] This structure can be used to treat airborne germs, toenail and fingernail fungus, and ailments on small appendages.

[0260] References

[0261] [1] “A theoretical model for salt ion drift due to electric field suitable to sea- water desalination,” by V.Bartzis and LE.Sarris, Desalination, vol.473, 1 January 2020, 114163.

[0262] [2] “Microbial growth and inhibition by alternating electric fields in mice by pseudomonas aeruginosa lung infection,” by Moshe Giladi, Y.Porat, A.Blatt, E.Schmueli, Y. Wasserman, E.D.Kirson and Yoram Palti, An- timicrob. Agents Chemother., Oct.2008, 52(10):3517 22. Epub 2008 Jul 28.

[0263] [3] “Using weak electric fields to make virus-killing face masks,” by Megan Scudellari, IEEE Spectrum, The human OS\biomedical\biomedical devices, 28 May 2020.

[0264] [4] “New very low frequency oscillator using only single cfoa,” by D.K.Srivastava, V.K.Singh, R.Senani, American J. of Elec. & Electronic Eng., vol.3, no.l, 1-3, 2015.

[0265] [5] “High speed motility originates from cooperatively pushing and pulling flagella bundles in bilophotrichous bacteria,” by Klaas Bente, Sarah Mo- hammadinejad et al., Physics of Living Systems, Jan. 28, 2020.

[0266] [6] “Microampere electric current causes bacterial membrane damage and two-way leakage in a short period of time,” by V.R.Krishnamurthi, A.Rogers, J.Peifer, I.I.Niyonshuti, J. Chen and Y.Wang, Applied & Environmental Microbiology, vol. 86, issue 16, Aug.2020, 1015 20. [7] Yoram Palti, U.S. Patent #8,706,261 (Apr.2014), Treating a tumor or the like with electric fields at different frequencies.

[0267] [8] Yoram Palti, list of patents: https: / / patents.justia.com / inventor / yoram- palti?page=9

[0268] [9] Yoram Palti and Giladi Moshe, Novocure Ltd., Patent US2011137229A1, 2011-06-09, ’’Treating bacteria with electric fields”

[0269]

[0010] Yoram Palti and Matan Dishon, Novocure Ltd., Patent US2017215939A1, 2017-08-03, “Optimizing treatment using alternating fields by changing the frequency during the course of long term tumor treatment” .

[0270] [ L11] J K.Gotlib, 7 E.Zeevi, 7 R.Schnaiderman, 7 T. Voloshin-Sela, 7 M.Giladi. / A.Kinzel,7

[0271] E.Kirson, U.Wcinbcrg, Y.Palti and S.Davidi, Novocure Ltd., Patent US2020016067A1, 2020-01-16, “Methods and compositions for treating tumors with alternating fields and Sorafenib”

[0272]

[0012] “Time evolution study of the electric field distribution and charge den- sity due to ion movement in salty water”, by V.Bartzis and I.E.Sarris, Water 2021, 13, 2185. https: / / doi.org / 10.3390 / wl31628185

[0273]

[0013] “Water purification from heavy metals due to electric field ion drift”, by V.Bartzis, G. Ninos, and I.E.Sarris, Water 2022, 14, 2372. https: / / doi.org / 10.3390 / wl4152372.

[0274]

[0014] “Exploring the impact of steric effects on ion removal of water solu- tions under the influence of an electric field,” by V.Bartzis, N.Merlernis, G.Ninos, and I.E.Sarris, Water 2024, 16, 1983. https: / / doi.org / 10.3390 / W16141983.

[0275]

[0015] “Electric field distribution and diffuse layer thickness study due to salt ion movement in water desalination, by V.Bartzis and S.E.Sarris, https: / / www.sciencedirect.com / science / article / abs / pii / SOOl 1916420307293.

[0276] SPECIFICATIONS AND CLAIMS GENERALLY Certain terminology in the enclosed description exist for convenience rather than limitation. For example, words such as “upward,” “downward,” “left,” and “right” would refer to directions in the T to which reference is made unless otherwise stated. Similarly, words such as “inward” and “outward” would refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of a device or area and designated parts thereof. References in the singular tense include the plural, and vice versa, unless otherwise noted. The term “comprises,” and grammatical equivalents thereof are used herein to mean that other components, ingredients, steps, among others, are option- ally present. For example, an article “comprising” (or “which comprises”) components A, B and C may consist of (i.e., contain only) components A, B and C, or may contain not only components A, B, and C but also contain one or more other components.

[0277] Where reference is made herein to a method comprising two or more de- fined steps, the defined steps may be carried out in any order or simultane- ously (except where the context excludes that possibility), and the method may include one or more other steps which are carried out before any of the defined steps, between two of the defined steps, or after all the defined steps (except where the context excludes that possibility). The term “at least” fol- lowed by a number is used herein to denote the start of a range beginning with that number (which may be a range having an upper limit or no upper limit, depending on the variable being defined). Any element in a claim that does not explicitly state “means for” performing a specified function, or “step for” performing a specific function is not to be interpreted as a “means” or “step” clause as specified in Specifically, the use of “step of’ in the claims herein is not intended to invoke the provisions of

[0278] Technology introduced herein may therefore be implemented by programmable circuitry (e.g., one or more microprocessors) programmed with software and / or firmware, or entirely in special-purpose hardwired (non-programmable) cir- cuitry, or in a combination of such forms. Special-purpose hardwired circuitry may be in the form of, for example, one or more ASICs, PLDs, FPGAs, etc. to prompt or respond to data produced for / from the herein-disclosed exercise apparatus device.

[0279] Where reference is made herein to a method comprising two or more de- fined steps, the defined steps can be carried out in any order or simultaneously (except where the context excludes that possibility), and the method can in- clude one or more other steps which are carried out before any of the defined steps, between two of the defined steps, or after all the defined steps (except where the context excludes that possibility).

[0280] In the present disclosure, various features may be described as being op- tional, for example, through the use of the verb “may” , or, through the use of any of the phrases: “in some embodiments” , “in some implementations” , “in some designs” , “in various embodiments” , “in various implementations” , “in various designs” , “in an illustrative example” , or “for example” ; or, through the use of parentheses. For the sake of brevity and legibility, the present disclosure does not explicitly recite each and every permutation that may be obtained by choosing from the set of optional features. However, the present disclosure is to be interpreted as explicitly disclosing all such permutations. For example, a system described as having three optional features may be embodied in seven different ways, namely with just one of the three possible features, with any two of the three possible features or with all three of the three possible features.

[0281] Many suitable methods and corresponding materials to make each of the individual parts of embodiment apparatus are known in the art. According to an embodiment of the present invention, one or more of the parts may be formed by machining, 3D printing (also known as additive manufactur- ing), CNC machined parts (also known as subtractive manufacturing), and injection molding, as will be apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art. Metals, wood, thermoplastic and thermosetting polymers, resins and elastomers as may be described herein-above may be used. Many suitable materials are known and available and can be selected and mixed depend- ing on desired strength and flexibility, preferred manufacturing method and particular use, as will be apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

[0282] Embodiments of the Present Invention

[0283] The present invention includes various embodiments, including the follow- ing embodiments:

[0284] 1. An apparatus for combatting germs, comprising: two metal plates spaced apart from each other, one or more battery assemblages which can be electronically connected to the metal plates, and one or more switches, wherein the one or more switches are configured t o e ontrol h ow and whether the metal plates and the battery assemblages arc electronically connected.

[0285] 2. An apparatus for combatting germs, comprising: two metal plates spaced apart from each other, two or more battery assemblages which can be electronically connected to the metal plates, and one or more switches, wherein the one or more switches are configured to control how and whether the metal plates and the battery assemblages are electronically connected.

[0286] 3. The apparatus of embodiment 1, wherein the apparatus comprises: two metal plates spaced apart from each other, twro battery assemblages which can be electronically connected to the metal plates, and one switch that is configured to control how and whether the metal plates and the battery assemblages are connected.

[0287] 4. The apparatus of embodiment 1, wherein the metal plates are flat par- allel plates.

[0288] 5. The apparatus of embodiment 1, wherein the metal plates are curved plates.

[0289] 6. The apparatus of embodiment 1, wherein the metal plates are rigid.

[0290] 7. The apparatus of embodiment 1, wherein the metal plates are flexible.

[0291] 8. The apparatus of embodiment 1, wherein the metal plates are copper plates.

[0292] 9. The apparatus of embodiment 1, wherein the metal plates are coated with a dielectric material.

[0293] 10. The apparatus of embodiment 1, wherein the metal plates have a solid metal structure. 11. The apparatus of embodiment 1, wherein the metal plates have a mesh structure.

[0294] 12. The apparatus of embodiment 1, wherein the metal plates have a width W which satisfies 4 inches inches and a length L which satisfies 4 inches feet.

[0295] 13. The apparatus of embodiment 1, wherein the metal plates are spaced apart from each other at a distance d which satisfies

[0296] 14. The apparatus of embodiment 1, wherein the metal plates are housed in a dielectric structure.

[0297] 15. The apparatus of embodiment 1, wherein the one or more switches com- prises a three way switch.

[0298] 16. A hood comprising a transparent window, a vent, and the apparatus of embodiment 1.

[0299] 17. A method for combatting germs with the apparatus of embodiment 1, comprising,

[0300] (a) electronically connecting each of the two metal plates to opposite terminals of a battery assemblage to provide an electric field between the two metal plates, and

[0301] (b) maintaining the electric field in one direction for a time tl*, w’herein the germs are between the two plates, and wherein the germs are (i) in airborne water droplets which comprise a salt, (ii) in a salty liquid, or (iii) in or on a portion of a person, animal, or plant.

[0302] 18. The method of embodiment 17, w’herein the method further comprises:

[0303] (c) after the time elapses, providing a rest period LI and then elec- tronically connecting the two plates to opposite terminals of the battery assemblage or another battery assemblage to cause the electric field to point in a reverse direction, and

[0304] (d) maintaining the electric field in this direction for a time

[0305] (e) after the time elapses, providing a rest period L2 and then elec- tronically connecting the two plates to opposite terminals of the battery assemblage or another battery assemblage to cause the electric field to point in a reverse direction, wherein steps (b), (c), (d) and (e) are re- peatedly carried out kl times to combat the germs, and

[0306] (f) providing a rest period of a duration L3 which concludes a single treatment regime cycle, wherein the single treatment regime cycle has a duration D according to the following equation: wherein (1) steps (b), (c), (d), and (c) repeatedly carried out and (2) step (f) are conducted plural times.

[0307] 19. The method of embodiment 17, wherein the method further comprises placing salt water in a container, placing one or more fingers or toes in the container, and positioning the one or more fingers or toes between the two plates, and carrying out steps (a) and (b) to treat fingernail or toenail fungus.

[0308] 20. The method of embodiment 17, wherein the method further comprises positioning one or more fingers or toes between the two plates, flowing salt water between the plates and the one or more fingers or toes, and carrying out steps (a) and (b) to treat fingernail or toenail fungus.

[0309] 21. The method of embodiment 18, wherein the method further comprises placing salt water in a container, placing one or more fingers or toes in the container, and positioning the one or more fingers or toes between the two plates, and carrying out steps (b), (c), (d) and (e) repeatedly to treat fingernail or toenail fungus.

[0310] 22. The method of embodiment 18, wherein the method further comprises positioning one or more fingers or toes between the two plates, flowing salt water between the plates and the one or more fingers or toes, and carrying out steps (b), (c), (d) and (e) repeatedly to treat fingernail or toenail fungus.

[0311] 23. The method of embodiment 17, wherein the method further comprises placing salt water in a container, placing medical equipment in the con- tainer, and positioning the medical equipment between the two plates, and carrying out steps (a) and (b) to sterilize the medical equipment.

[0312] 24. The method of embodiment 17, wherein the method further comprises positioning medical equipment between the two plates, flowing salt water between the plates and the medical equipment, and carrying out steps (a) and (b) to sterilize the medical equipment.

[0313] 25. The method of embodiment 18, wherein the method further comprises placing salt water in a container, placing medical equipment in the con- tainer, and positioning the medical equipment between the two plates, and carrying out steps (b), (c), (d) and (e) repeatedly to sterilize the medical equipment.

[0314] 26. The method of embodiment 18, wherein the method further comprises positioning medical equipment between the two plates, flowing salt water between the plates and the medical equipment, and carrying out steps (b), (c), (d) and (e) repeatedly to sterilize the medical equipment.

[0315] 27. The method of embodiment 17, wherein the method further comprises placing salt water in a container, placing one or more utensils for food in the container, and positioning the one or more utensils between the two plates, and carrying out steps (a) and (b) to sterilize the one or more utensils.

[0316] 28. The method of embodiment 17, wherein the method further comprises positioning one or more utensils for food between the two plates, flowing salt water between the plates and the one or more utensils, and carrying out steps (a) and (b) to sterilize the one or more utensils.

[0317] 29. The method of embodiment 18, wherein the method further comprises placing salt water in a container, placing one or more utensils for food in the container, and positioning the one or more utensils between the two plates, and carrying out steps (b), (c), (d) and (e) repeatedly to sterilize the one or more utensils.

[0318] 30. The method of embodiment 18, wherein the method further comprises positioning one or more utensils for food between the two plates, flowing salt water between the plates and the one or more utensils, and carrying out steps (b), (c), (d) and (e) repeatedly to sterilize the one or more utensils.

[0319] 31. The method of embodiment 17, wherein the method further comprises positioning one or more food items between the two plates, and carrying out steps (a) and (b) to sterilize the one or more food items.

[0320] 32. The method of embodiment 18, wherein the method further comprises positioning one or more food items between the two plates, and carrying out steps (b), (c), (d) and (e) repeatedly to sterilize the one or more food items.

[0321] 33. The method of embodiment 18. wherein the plates are positioned in conjunction with a doorway, entranceway, or air circulation system of a building, restaurant, house, room, restroom, vehicle, or public transport.

[0322] 34. The method of embodiment 18, wherein the time is from 1 / 400 to 60 seconds, the time is from 1 / 400 to 60 seconds, the rest period LI has a duration of 0 to 0.1 second, the rest period L2 has a duration of 0 to 0.1 second, steps (b), (c), (d) and (e) are carried out for from 1 to 100 cycles before the rest period in step (f) is provided, the duration L3 is from 0.5 to 10 seconds, and the duration D is at least 0.25 second.

[0323] 35. The method of embodiment 34, wherein the germs are in a person, an- imal, or plant, the electric field is from 5 to 80 V !m inside a cell, tl* and £2* are from 1 / 400 to 1 / 10 second, and the single treatment regime c •y / cle is carried out from 100 to 100, 7000 times.

[0324] 36. The method of embodiment 34, wherein the germs are not in a person, animal, or plant, the electric field is from are from 1 / 50 to 60 seconds, and the single treatment regime cycle is carried out from one time to 1,000 times.

[0325] 37. The method of embodiment 36, wherein the germs are on a surface of a person. 38. The method of embodiment 37, wherein the surface is at least one fin- gernail or toenail.

[0326] 39. The method of embodiment 18, wherein the duration D is at least 0.25 second.

[0327] 40. The method of embodiment 34, wherein the duration D is from 101 / 200 to 12,030 seconds.

[0328] 41. The method of embodiment 17, wherein the apparatus comprises: two metal plates spaced apart from each other, two or more battery assem- blages which can be electronically connected to the metal plates, and one or more switches, wherein the one or more switches are configured to control how and whether the metal plates and the battery assemblages are electronically connected.

[0329] 42. The method of embodiment 17, wherein the apparatus comprises: two metal plates spaced apart from each other, two battery assemblages which can be electronically connected to the metal plates, and one switch that is configured to control how and whether the metal plates and the battery assemblages are connected.

[0330] 43. The method of embodiment 17, wherein the metal plates are flat parallel plates.

[0331] 44. The method of embodiment 17, wherein the metal plates arc curved plates.

[0332] 45. The method of embodiment 17, wherein the metal plates are rigid.

[0333] 46. The method of embodiment 17, wherein the metal plates are flexible.

[0334] 47. The method of embodiment 17, wherein the metal plates are copper plates.

[0335] 48. The method of embodiment 17, wherein the metal plates are coated with a dielectric material.

[0336] 49. The method of embodiment 17, wherein the metal plates have a solid metal structure. 50. The method of embodiment 17, wherein the metal plates have a mesh structure.

[0337] 51. The method of embodiment 17, wherein the metal plates have a width W which satisfies 4 inches inches and a length L which satisfies 4 inches 2.5 feet.

[0338] 52. The method of embodiment 17, wherein the metal plates are spaced apart from each other at a distance d which satisfies

[0339] 53. The method of embodiment 17, wherein the metal plates are housed in a dielectric structure.

[0340] 54. The method of embodiment 17, wherein the one or more switches com- prises a three way switch.

[0341] 55. The method of embodiment 17, wherein the germs are in airborne water droplets which comprise a salt.

[0342] 56. The method of embodiment 17, wherein the germs are in a salty liquid.

[0343] 57. The method of embodiment 17, wherein the germs are in or on a portion of a person, animal, or plant.

[0344] Although the present invention has been described in detail and with reference to specific embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A method for combatting germs with an apparatus for combatting germs, wherein the apparatus comprises: two metal plates spaced apart from each other, one or more battery assemblages which can be electronically connected to the metal plates, and one or more switches, wherein the one or more switches are configured to control how and whether the metal plates and the battery assemblages are electronically connected, the method comprising:(a) electronically connecting each of the two metal plates to opposite terminals of a battery assemblage to provide an electric field between the two metal plates, and(b) maintaining the electric field in one direction for a timewherein the germs are between the two plates, and wherein the germs are (i ) in airborne water droplets which comprise a salt, (ii) in a salty liquid, or (iii) in or on a portion of a person, animal, or plant.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:(c) after the timeelapses, providing a rest period L\ and then electronically connecting the two plates to opposite terminals of the battery assemblage or another battery assemblage to cause the electric field to point in a reverse direction, and(d) maintaining the electric field in this direction for a time(e) after the timeelapses, providing a rest period Li and then electronically connecting the two plates to opposite terminals of the battery assemblage or another battery assemblage to cause the electric field to point in a reverse direction, wherein steps (b), (c ), (d) and (e) are repeatedly carried out k\ times to combat the germs, and(f) providing a rest period of a duration La which concludes a single treatment regime cycle,wherein the single treatment regime cycle has a duration D according to the following equation:wherein (1) steps (b), (c), (d), and (e) repeatedly carried out and (2) step (f) are conducted plural times.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises placing salt water in a container, placing one or more fingers or toes in the container, and positioning the one or more fingers or toes between the two plates, and carrying out steps (a) and (b) to treat fingernail or toenail fungus.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises positioning one or more fingers or toes between the two plates, flowing salt water between the plates and the one or more fingers or toes, and carrying out steps (a) and (b) to treat fingernail or toenail fungus.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the method further comprises placing salt water in a container, placing one or more fingers or toes in the container, and positioning the one or more fingers or toes between the two plates, and carrying out steps (b), (c), (d) and (e) repeatedly to treat fingernail or toenail fungus.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the method further comprises positioning one or more fingers or toes between the two plates, flowing salt water between the plates and the one or more fingers or toes, and carrying out steps (b), (c), (d) and (e) repeatedly to treat fingernail or toenail fungus.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises placing salt water in a container, placing medical equipment in the container, and positioning the medical equipment between the two plates, and carrying out steps (a) and (b) to sterilize the medical equipment.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises positioning medical equipment between the two plates, flowing salt water between the plates and the medical equipment, and carrying out steps (a) and (b) to sterilize the medical equipment.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein the method further comprises placing salt water in a container, placing medical equipment in the container, and positioning the medical equipment between the two plates, and carrying out steps (b), (c), (d) and (e) repeatedly to sterilize the medical equipment.

10. The method of claim 2, wherein the method further comprises positioning medical equipment between the two plates, flowing salt water between the plates and the medical equipment, and carrying out steps (b), (c), (d) and (e) repeatedly to sterilize the medical equipment.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises placing salt water in a container, placing one or more utensils for food in the container, and positioning the one or more utensils between the two plates, and carrying out steps (a) and (b) to sterilize the one or more utensils.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises positioning one or more utensils for food between the two plates, flowing salt water between the plates and the one or more utensils, and carrying out steps (a) and (b) to sterilize the one or more utensils.

13. The method of claim 2, wherein the method further comprises placing salt water in a container, placing one or more utensils for food in the container, and positioning the one or more utensils between the two plates, and carrying out steps (b), (c), (d) and (e) repeatedly to sterilize the one or more utensils.

14. The method of claim 2, wherein the method further comprises positioning one or more utensils for food between the two plates, flowing salt water between the plates and the one or more utensils, and carrying out steps (b), (c), (d) and (e) repeatedly to sterilize the one or more utensils.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises positioning one or more food items between the two plates, and carrying out steps (a) and (b) to sterilize the one or more food items.

16. The method of claim 2, wherein the method further comprises positioning one or more food items between the two plates, and carrying out steps (b), (c), (d) and (e) repeatedly to sterilize the one or more food items.

17. The method of claim 2, wherein the plates are positioned in conjunction with a doorway, entranceway, or air circulation system of a building, restaurant, house, room, restroom, vehicle, or public transport.

18. The method of claim 2, wherein the timeis from 1 / 400 to 60 seconds, the time is from 1 / 400 to 60 seconds, the rest period L\ has a duration of 0 to 0.1 second, the rest period Li has a duration of 0 to 0.1 second, steps (b), (c), (d) and (e) are carried out for from 1 to 100 cycles before the rest period in step (f) is provided, the duration Za is from 0.5 to 10 seconds, and the duration D is at least 0.25 second.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the germs are in a person, animal, or plant, the electric field is from 5 to 80 V / m inside a cell, arc from 1 / 400 to 1 / 10 second, and thesingle treatment regime cycle is carried out from 100 to 100,000 times.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the germs are not in a person, animal, or plant, the electric field is from 100 to 800are from 1 / 50 to 60 seconds, and the single treatment regime cycle is carried out from one time to 1,000 times.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the germs are on a surface of a person.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the surface is at least one fingernail or toenail.

23. The method of claim 2, wherein the duration D is at least 0.25 second.

24. The method of claim 18, wherein the duration D is from 101 / 200 to 12,030 seconds.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises: two metal plates spaced apart from each other, two or more battery assemblages which can be electronically connected to the metal plates, and one or more switches, wherein the one or more switches are configured to control how and whether the metal plates and the battery assemblages are electronically connected.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises: tw o metal plates spaced apart from each other, two battery assemblages which can be electronically connected to the metal plates, and one switch that is configured to control how and whether the metal plates and the battery assemblages are connected.

27. The method of claim 1, wherein the metal plates are flat parallel plates.

28. The method of claim 1, wherein the metal plates are curved plates.

29. The method of claim 1, wherein the metal plates are rigid.

30. The method of claim 1, wherein the metal plates are flexible.

31. The method of claim 1, wherein the metal plates are copper plates.

32. The method of claim 1, wherein the metal plates are coated with a dielectric material.

33. The method of claim 1, wherein the metal plates have a solid metal structure.

34. The method of claim 1, wherein the metal plates have a mesh structure.

35. The method of claim 1, wherein the metal plates have a width W which satisfies 4 inches < W< 12 inches and a length L which satisfies 4 inches36. The method of claim 1, wherein the metal plates are spaced apart from each other at a distance d which satisfies37. The method of claim 1 , wherein the metal plates are housed in a dielectric structure.

38. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more switches comprises a three way switch.

39. The method of claim 1, wherein the germs are in airborne water droplets which comprise a salt.

40. The method of claim 1, wherein the germs are in a salty liquid.

41. The method of claim 1 , wherein the germs are in or on a portion of a person, animal, or plant.

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