A portable, self-contained hand-held device for treating an illness or
infection of tissue of a body is provided. The device comprises an
integrally mounted metal ion source contactable with the tissue with an
antimicrobial substance on at least a portion of the metal ion source. A
conducting surface is contactable with the user. An automatically
controlled and modulated field electrically is connected to the metal ion
source and the conducting surface with the control system creating an
electric field between the metal ion source and the conducting surface
through the body wherein the antimicrobial substance is ionized upon
application of the electric field thereby profusing the substance into the
infected tissue. In another embodiment, a bandage is provided for adhering
to the skin of the user.
