358 results about "Iontophoresis" patented technology

An automated system for continual transdermal extraction of analytes present in a biological system is provided. The system can be used for detecting and / or measuring the concentration of the analyte using an electrochemical biosensor detection means. The system optionally uses reverse iontophoresis to carry out the continual transdermal extraction of the analytes.

The present invention relates to an vitro device for the removal of ionized substances from a membrane sample without mechanical penetration, which device comprises:(a) a positive electrode;(b) a negative electrode, and(c) electrical insulation between subpart (a) and (b), wherein the positive electrode, and the negative electrode, and electrical insulation are positioned on the same side of the membrane sample.The present invention also relates to a device for the removal of or delivery of ionized substances to a mammal through intact skin or mucosal membrane without mechanical penetration, which device comprises: (a) a positive electrode, (b) a negative electrode, and (c) an electrically insulating material between subpart (a) and (b), wherein the positive electrode, negative electrode and insulating material are physically positioned so that each present a common surface of the device for contact with the same surface of the skin or mucosal membrane of the mammal.The present invention also relates to the use of iontophoresis to determine the level of a charged molecule in a living mammal, and with the use of a feedback mechanism, administer appropriate levels of therapeutic substances.

The invention generally relates to internal (e.g., implantable, insertable, etc.) drug delivery devices which contain the following: (a) one or more sources of one or more therapeutic agents; (b) one or more first electrodes, (c) one or more second electrodes and (d) one or more power sources for applying voltages across the first and second electrodes. The power sources may be adapted, for example, to promote electrically assisted therapeutic agent delivery within a subject, including electroporation and / or iontophoresis. In one aspect of the invention, the first and second electrodes are adapted to have tissue of a subject positioned between them upon deployment of the medical device within the subject, such that an electric field may be generated, which is directed into the tissue. Furthermore, the therapeutic agent sources are adapted to introduce the therapeutic agents into the electric field. In another aspect, the therapeutic agent sources are polymeric regions that contain one or more types of ion-conductive polymers and one or more types of charged therapeutic agents. In yet another aspect, the therapeutic agent sources are polymeric regions that contain one or more types of electrically conductive polymers and one or more types of charged therapeutic agents.

A skin beautification cosmetic system comprising an iontophoresis device, an infrared (including far infrared) generator, an ultrasonic vibrator, and a cosmetic composition is disclosed. The system ensures effective action of moisturizing and whitening cosmetics without causing any problem in the skin. By specifying the type of cosmetic to be used, the system can ensure a more effective beautification action, can improve dry skin and aging skin which adversely affect the female skin, and can decompose and remove melanin. Moisturizing and / or whitening cosmetic components such as hydrophilic gel and ultrafine gel are applied to the face or skin or impregnated in a skin contact member section, following which iontophoresis high frequency vibration is applied to the face or skin for a prescribed period of time using an ultrasonic vibrator 3 with built-in high ionization iontophoresis device 2 and infrared generator 9.

An automated system for continual transdermal extraction of analytes present in a biological system is provided. The system can be used for detecting and / or measuring the concentration of the analyte using an electrochemical biosensor detection means. The system optionally uses reverse iontophoresis to carry out the continual transdermal extraction of the analytes.

Disclosed are invasive and non-invasive central nervous system (CNS) drug delivery methods and devices for use in these methods that essentially circumvent the blood-brain barrier. More specifically, the disclosed methods and devices utilize iontophoresis as delivery technique that allows for enhanced delivery of a biologically active agent into the CNS of a mammal as well as for (pre)-programmable and controlled transport.

Systems and methods for treating a patient having an ear canal and a target tissue function by positioning a fluid or gel in the ear canal, the fluid or gel comprising a therapeutic agent; retaining the fluid or gel with a support structure, the support structure supporting an electrode and a battery; and applying the agent from the fluid or gel to the target tissue by energizing the electrode with an iontophoresis potential from the battery.

The present invention provides an iontophoresis system for non-invasively taking a physiological substance out of the living body, the system being suitably used for the mucous membrane. The present iontophoresis system non-invasively takes a physiological substance out of a living body. The system includes a plurality of electrode structures and a power supply device connected to the electrode structures. At least one of the electrode structures has a physiological substance extraction pad applied to the mucous membrane. In the present system, the time to apply electric energy to the living body by the power supply device is set between 30 seconds and 20 minutes. The physiological substance extraction pad which is provided in the electrode structure is applicable to the mucous membrane of the mouth and can be used, for example, to monitor glucose in the living body or an amount of drug administered.

This is an iontophoresis device preferred to detect abnormal conductivity at the beginning of energization and during energization. The iontophoresis device has a device (50) as a power source and the device (50) comprises an electric energy generating portion (60) generating electric energy, an output portion (70) outputting the electric energy, and an abnormal conductivity detecting portion (80) detecting whether or not the electric energy is supplied normally. The detecting action of the abnormal conductivity detecting portion (80) is carried out at the time of the non-output action of the output portion (70). During the energization, the output action by the output portion (70) and the detecting action by the abnormal conductivity detecting portion (80) are alternated in response to a command received from the microcomputer (12).

The invention generally relates to internal (e.g., implantable, insertable, etc.) drug delivery devices which contain the following: (a) one or more sources of one or more therapeutic agents; (b) one or more first electrodes, (c) one or more second electrodes and (d) one or more power sources for applying voltages across the first and second electrodes. The power sources may be adapted, for example, to promote electrically assisted therapeutic agent delivery within a subject, including electroporation and / or iontophoresis. In one aspect of the invention, the first and second electrodes are adapted to have tissue of a subject positioned between them upon deployment of the medical device within the subject, such that an electric field may be generated, which is directed into the tissue. Furthermore, the therapeutic agent sources are adapted to introduce the therapeutic agents into the electric field. In another aspect, the therapeutic agent sources are polymeric regions that contain one or more types of ion-conductive polymers and one or more types of charged therapeutic agents. In yet another aspect, the therapeutic agent sources are polymeric regions that contain one or more types of electrically conductive polymers and one or more types of charged therapeutic agents.

An iontophoresis device includes: a first electrode; a biological interface contact member including a substrate having a front surface and a rear surface, and a plurality of needles that protrude from the front surface of the substrate and can be inserted into a biological interface, the biological interface contact member allowing selective permeation of ions of a first polarity; and a drug holding part applied with an electrical potential or voltage through the first electrode and holding a drug solution containing drug ions charged in the first polarity, the drug holding part being interposed between the first electrode and the biological interface contact member.

An iontophoretic method for transporting compounds of interest across a body tissue is provided. The method utilizes an AC signal in conjunction with a barrier-modifying agent such as a fatty acid, fatty alcohol, bile acid, surfactant, or the like. The method enables the maintenance of a substantially constant electrical state in a localized region of the tissue through which transport occurs, thereby allowing a compound of interest to be transported across the tissue in a controlled and predictable manner. The barrier-modifying agent reduces the time as well as the voltage level required to achieve a target electrical resistance, thereby reducing patient discomfort and increasing the battery life of the iontophoresis device.

Active agent delivery devices, for example iontophoresis devices, adjust active agent delivery based at least in part on parameters and / or other performance information received from other active agent delivery devices. The delivery devices may monitor parameters (e.g., current, voltage, time, impedance, active agent identity) and wireless transmit signals indicative of performance information to other delivery devices. The delivery devices may operate sequentially, or simultaneously. The delivery devices may form a repeater system. The devices may monitor for combinations of active agents with likely adverse interactions, or for active agents for which the subject may have a known or suspected adverse reaction.

An iontophoresis device useful for administering an ionic drug by iontophoresis has an iontophoresis electrode section (active electrode section) and a ground electrode section (inactive electrode section) both of which are to be connected to a power source. The iontophoresis device includes elements (members) of both of the electrode sections are all formed of membrane bodies, and includes ion exchange membranes different in ion selectivity, one being selective to ions of the same species as charged ions of the ionic drug and the other to ions different in species from the charged ions of the ionic drug that are arranged in the iontophoresis electrode section, and at least an ion exchange membrane selective to ions opposite to the charged ions of the ionic drug is arranged in the ground electrode section. The iontophoresis device can administer the ionic drug stably over a long period of time at high transport efficiency.

This invention describes the administration of multiple therapeutic agents with insulin in conjunction with bexarotene, ketamine, monoclonal antibodies Etanercept, IGF-1, and acetylcholine esterase inhibitors physostigmine, for treatment of Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases. Insulin, improves memory; also augments and amplifies the effects of the adjuvant therapeutic agents (paracrine and intracrine effects) and consequently reduces the β amyloid, its soluble precursors, prevents damage to the neuronal skeletal network (taupathy), and blocks glutamate excitotoxicity, reduces brain inflammation, prevents apoptosis, and increases the acetylcholine levels in the neurons and synapses; by using a combination of insulin, bexarotene, ketamine, Etanercept, IGF-1, and physostigmine therapeutic agents. The results are achieved by using the specially designed Iontophoresis incorporated olfactory mucosal delivery (ORE) catheter device located at the olfactory nerves, sphenoid sinus, and adjacent structures described here, to transport the large molecules of therapeutic agents to treat AD delivered to the CNS bypassing BBB from ORE.

A skin beautification cosmetic system comprising an iontophoresis device, an infrared (including far infrared) generator, an ultrasonic vibrator, and a cosmetic composition is disclosed. The system ensures effective action of moisturizing and whitening cosmetics without causing any problem in the skin. By specifying the type of cosmetic to be used, the system can ensure a more effective beautification action, can improve dry skin and aging skin which adversely affect the female skin, and can decompose and remove melanin. Moisturizing and / or whitening cosmetic components such as hydrophilic gel and ultrafine gel are applied to the face or skin or impregnated in a skin contact member section, following which iontophoresis high frequency vibration is applied to the face or skin for a prescribed period of time using an ultrasonic vibrator 3 with built-in high ionization iontophoresis device 2 and infrared generator 9.

A self-contained, conveniently disposable percutaneous absorptive patch of the present invention utilizes, in a novel ways, the existing percutaneous absorptive principles to delivering topical medications quickly, painlessly, and effectively through the skin barrier. The absorptive principles include the epidermal microcuts / micro-needles, permeation enhancers, and micro-current iontophoresis. Most importantly, the transdermal absorptive patch of the present invention introduces a novel incorporation of self-producing micro-electrical currents and micro-electrodes into the existing conventional iontophoretic principle.

A system and method for transdermally delivering a vaccine to a patient including an iontophoresis delivery device having a donor electrode, a counter electrode, and electric circuitry for supplying iontophoresis energy to the electrodes, and a non-electroactive microprojection member having a plurality of stratum corneum-piercing microprojections extending therefrom. The vaccine can be contained in a hydrogel formulation in an agent reservoir disposed proximate the donor electrode, in a biocompatible coating that is disposed on the microprojections or in both.

A system for denervation of the renal sympathetic nerve and iontophoresis drug delivery includes an iontophoresis catheter fitted with a drug coated balloon. The balloon contacts the vessel wall when inflated. One or more electrodes are associated with a surface of the balloon, and may be disposed on an outer surface of the balloon. The electrodes are operably coupled to an energy source configured to produce a bipolar or monopolar electric field between two balloon electrodes and / or between one balloon electrode and another electrode placed in contact with the patient's body. The drug-delivery catheter produces an electric potential gradient within adjacent tissue, that, facilitates iontophoresis delivery of a drug. The catheter can also include a store of one or more drugs to be delivered to the targeted tissue.

An iontophoresis device includes an active electrode element operable to provide an electrical potential; an electrolyte reservoir comprising an electrolyte composition; an outer active agent membrane comprising a cross-linked polyelectrolyte gel and distributed in said gel, an interfacial layer having a first side adjacent to the outer active agent membrane, and an active agent of a first polarity.

Methods and apparatus are provided for determining individual vascular responses by employing iontophoresis to deliver vasoactive compounds to local area and determining resultant changes in blood flow by measuring changes in skin temperature as a correlate of local blood flow. The invention further provides methods and apparatus for assessing vascular reactivity in individuals under ambulatory conditions and relating stress responses to vascular reactivity.

There are provided an electrode that is capable of allowing a current to flow at a uniform current density from the entire surface of a conductive sheet during the passage of a current and that solves the problem of the transfer of metal ions to a living body. The electrode comprises a conductive terminal member formed of a non-metal material; and a conductive sheet formed of a non-metal material and attached to the terminal member, the conductive sheet having a specific resistance lower than a specific resistance of the terminal member. An lontophoresis device and a low-frequency treatment device utilizing the electrode is also disclosed.

A method of anesthetizing a tympanic membrane of an ear of a patient using iontophoresis is disclosed. The method involves delivering an anesthetizing drug solution to an ear canal of the patient's ear, wherein the drug solution includes an anesthetic and a buffer, and wherein the drug solution has a pH in the range of about 6.5 to about 7.5; and applying an amount of current to the drug solution, wherein the amount of applied current is increased at a rate of less than about 0.5 milliamp per second until a maximum current is achieved.

An integrated iontophoresis skin-worn patch and method for delivering a therapeutically effective amount of a corticosteroid drug compound in a systemically-safe and skin-safe manner for site-specific treatment of inflammation pain is disclosed.

An iontophoresis device includes an active electrode element operable to provide an electrical potential; an electrolyte reservoir comprising an electrolyte composition; an inner active agent reservoir comprising a gel matrix and distributed in said gel matrix, a first positively charged active agent; an inner ion selective membrane deposed between said electrolyte reservoir and said inner active agent reservoir; and an outermost ion selective membrane having an outer surface, the outer surface being against the biological interface, wherein, the gel matrix comprises a hydrophilic polycarboxylated polymer having net negative charges.

An iontophoresis device and method of producing the same may reduce material loss during the course of production of a conventional iontophoresis device, and may allow for easy automation of production processes and increases in production scale. The iontophoresis device may be used for administering drug ions of a first polarity generated by dissociation of a drug to a living body, and may comprise: a first conductive layer formed on a surface of a first substrate; a drug layer made of a drug coating containing the drug, the drug layer being laminated on the first conductive layer; and a first ion exchange layer made of an ion exchange coating containing an ion exchange resin having an exchange group introduced thereto, the ion exchange group having a counter ion to the first polarity ions, the first ion exchange layer being laminated on the drug layer.

Device structure 100 for iontophoresis provides electrode 101 and electrically conductive layer 102. Electrically conductive layer 102 contains active ingredient D and basic water swelling methacrylate copolymer P1 and / or acidic water swelling methacrylate copolymer P2. Electrode 101 and electrically conductive layer 102 are placed into a hollow of backing 103 and electrode terminal 104 is connected to electrode 101 through backing 103. Adhesive layer 105 is set around backing 103, and liner 106 to be removed when using the device, is placed so as to cover the hollow of backing 103.

Dental trays, toothbrushes, and other devices are provided for the active delivery of medicaments into hard and soft tissues, particularly those of the oral cavity. The devices apply an AC voltage with a DC offset to drive medicaments into the tissues.

An iontophoresis device includes an active electrode assembly including an active electrode element and at least one active agent reservoir. Active agents include one or more angiogenic growth factors suitable to promote or enhance healing or repair of injured or damaged tissue.