Surgery – Means for introducing or removing material from body for... – Infrared – visible light – ultraviolet – x-ray or electrical...
Patent
1995-12-06
1997-12-09
Bockelman, Mark
Surgery
Means for introducing or removing material from body for...
Infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, x-ray or electrical...
607 72, A61N 130
Patent
active
056954590
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to an iontophoresis system for percutaneously administering a medicine by means of an electric current.
BACKGROUND ART
An iontophoresis system comprises a pair of iontophoretic elements (hereinafter elements) each containing, for example, an ionic drug or medicine, and a power source for applying pulsating voltages to the elements. In the system, the elements are placed on the skin, and then pulsating voltages are applied to the elements. An electrically-closed circuit is thus formed via the skin, whereby a medicine is introduced into a human body. The conductivity of the thus formed electrically closed circuit is dependent greatly on the states of the elements contacting the skin. The electrodes in the elements, which are connected to the power source, are deposited in the same environment as a fluid containing an ionic drug or medicine. Besides, when the system is in operation, voltages that are pulsating in one direction are applied intermittently to the electrodes. Therefore, the electrodes may undergo chemical changes, or electrolysis or adhesion of electrically insulating materials may occur at the surfaces of the electrodes.
The conductivity of the electrically closed circuit therefore deteriorates with the variations of the states of the electrodes in the elements in the system. The persistence of the efficacy of the medication is therefore impaired.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
The objects of the present invention are to provide an iontophoresis system in which electrodes in the elements are not susceptible to the influence of electrode reactions such as chemical changes and electrolysis, and to improve the persistence of efficacy of medication.
According to the present invention, an iontophoresis 5 system comprises at least three elements any or all of which contain a medicine, and a power supply means for applying pulsating voltages to any pair of elements so as to generate a potential difference between the pair of elements. The power supply means includes a device selecting means for selecting a combination of elements from among the at least three elements according to a given timing, and a potential difference generating means for generating a potential difference between a selected combination of elements by applying pulsating voltages to the elements over different time periods.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the potential difference generating means preferably generates potential differences between selected combinations of elements by applying a voltage, which is opposite in polarity to the polarity of a voltage applied to at least one of the elements which was selected previously, to the element. The device selecting means preferably selects combinations of elements, in a given order, cyclically.
In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, a selected combination of elements is a pair of elements. The potential difference generating means preferably retains any element other than the selected elements in an electrically neutral state.
In yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the at least three elements are in one package.
According to the foregoing embodiments of the present invention, any combination of elements is selected according to a given timing. A potential difference is generated between combinations of elements by applying pulsating voltages to the elements at different time periods. The phase of a pulsating voltage to be applied to each element is inverted according to the given timing and the electrodes in the elements are renewed. Thus the aforesaid problem concerning electrode reactions is solved.
When a combination of elements is a pair of elements, the phase of a pulsating voltage to be applied to each element is inverted efficiently and effectively.
Moreover, since any element other than the selected elements is retained in an electrically neutral state, the power consumption of a power source in the system can be minimized.
According to the present invention, the
REFERENCES:
patent: 4942883 (1990-07-01), Newman
patent: 5088977 (1992-02-01), Sibalis
patent: 5254081 (1993-10-01), Maurer et al.
patent: 5380272 (1995-01-01), Gross
Bockelman Mark
Hisamitsu Pharmaceutical Co. Inc.
Too Ellen S.
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