Monopolar and bipolar current application for transdermal drug delivery and analyte extraction

A device for facilitating passage of a substance through skin on the body of a subject, comprising:

• an electrode;
• a housing, adapted to be placed on the skin and to support the electrode in a position not in contact with the skin;
• and
• a control unit, adapted to apply electrical energy to the electrode capable of ablating stratum corneum epidermidis of the skin, so as to facilitate transdermal passage of the substance.

A device for facilitating passage of a substance through skin on the body of a subject, comprising:

• an electrode;
• a housing, adapted to be placed on the akin and to support the electrode in a position in which the electrode is in contact with the skin and substantially does not extend past a plane defined by a surface of the skin;
• and
• a control unit, adapted to drive the electrode to apply to the skin a current capable of ablating stratum corneum epidermidis of the skin, so as to facilitate transdermal passage of the substance.

A device for facilitating passage of a substance through skin on the body of a subject, comprising:

• an electrode;
• and
• a control unit, adapted to:
• drive the electrode to apply to the skin a current capable of ablating stratum corneum epidermidis of the skin, so as to facilitate transdermal passage of the substance,
• detect generation of at least one spark responsive to application of the current, and
• modify a parameter of the current responsive to detecting the generation of the at least one spark.

A device for facilitating passage of a substance through skin on the body of a subject, comprising:

• a longitudinal electrode, comprising:
• a first portion, having a first property at a first longitudinal site of the electrode, and
• a second portion, having a second property at a second longitudinal site of the electrode, the second property being different from the first property, the electrode being adapted to be placed such that the first portion is in contact with the skin;
• and
• a control unit, adapted to drive the electrode to apply an electric current to the skin capable of ablating stratum corneum epidermidis thereof.

A device for facilitating passage of a substance through skin on the body of a subject, comprising:

• a housing;
• an ablating electrode, fixed to the housing and adapted to apply a current to the skin capable of ablating stratum corneum epidermidis in a vicinity of the ablating electrode, so as to facilitate transdermal passage of the substance;
• and
• a non-ablating electrode, fixed to the housing and adapted to provide a return path for the current, substantially without ablating stratum corneum in a vicinity of the non-ablating electrode.

A device for facilitating passage of a substance through skin on the body of a subject, comprising:

• an electrode, adapted to be applied to the skin;
• a mechanical sensor, adapted to detect an indication of a contact force between the electrode and the skin and to generate a sensor signal responsive thereto;
• and
• a control unit, adapted to receive the sensor signal and, responsive thereto, to drive the electrode to apply a current to the skin capable of ablating stratum corneum epidermidis thereof, so as to facilitate transdermal passage of the substance.

A device for facilitating passage of a substance through skin on the body of a subject, comprising:

• a housing;
• an electrode coupled to the housing, the electrode comprising:
• a first portion, adapted for insertion into the skin, and
• a second portion, adapted to remain outside the skin, and to convey a compressive force from the housing to the skin;
• and
• a control unit, adapted to drive the electrode to apply a current to the skin capable of ablating stratum corneum epidermidis of the skin, so as to facilitate passage of the substance through the skin.