Iontophoretic device with reversible polarity
AssigneeMedtronic, Inc.
InventorsGary A. Lattin, Richard Spevak
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An iontophoretic device in which the polarity of the electrodes is reversible. There is a current source and a pair of electrodes. A polarity control between the current source and the electrodes determines the direction of current flow through and between the electrodes. A timer circuit communicates with the current source and the polarity switching circuit to automatically ramp down the current, switch polarity and then ramp up the current after the polarity has been switched, thereby permitting the iontophoretic process to take place under both electrodes with one application.
Claims13
An iontophoretic device comprising:
- a source of electrical current;
- first electrode means for containing a charged ionic substance for delivery to said body;
- second electrode means for containing said charged ionic substance for delivery to said body;
- timing means coupled to said source of electrical current for timing a first period and a second period;
- and
- polarity switching means coupled to said timing means, said source of electrical current and said first and second electrode means for applying said electrical current across said first and second electrode means in a first direction to effect delivery of said ionic substance contained in one of said first and second electrode means during said first period and for applying said electrical current across said first and second electrode means in a second direction to effect delivery of said ionic substance contained in the other of said first and second electrode means during said second period.
A device for iontophoretic introduction of an ionic substance into tissue, comprising an electrical current source, at least two electrodes each including a source of said ionic substance, means for electrically connecting the electrodes and current source, means for switching the polarity of said electrodes, and means for ramping down said current prior to the switching of polarity and for ramping up said current after the switching of polarity.
A device for iontophoretic introduction of an ionic substance into tissue, comprising an electrical current source, at least two electrodes each including a source of said ionic substance, means for electrically connecting the electrodes and the current source, means for switching the polarity of said electrodes, and a means for indicating which of said electrodes is delivering said ionic substance, and further including an ion switch means for correlating said indicating means with the electric charge type of said ionic substance.
An iontophoresis device, comprising:
- a source of electrical current;
- a first electrode means for containing a charged ionic substance for delivery to a body;
- a second electrode means for containing said charged ionic substance for delivery to said body;
- control means coupled to said first and second electrode means and to said source of electrical current for applying said electrical current across said first and second electrode means in a first direction to deliver said charged ionic substance contained in said first electrode means to said body and in a second direction to deliver said charged ionic substance contained in said second electrode means to said body;
- and
- active electrode indicator means for indicating which of said first and second electrode means is delivering said charged substance to said body.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.