Method and system for electrokinetic delivery of a substance
AssigneeBiophoretic Therapeutic Systems, LLC
InventorKuo-Wei Chang
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An electrokinetic system for delivering a substance into tissue includes an alternating current source of a predetermined frequency. A first electrode is coupled to a first terminal of the alternating current source and a second electrode is coupled to a second terminal of the alternating current source. A rectifying circuit is coupled between the first electrode and the first terminal of the alternating current source. One of the first and second electrodes is adapted for electrical contact with a substance-delivery site. A current rectified by the rectifying circuit flows in a current path between the first and second electrodes when the one of the first and second electrodes is in electrical contact with the substance-delivery site to effect delivery of the substance into the tissue.
Claims53
An electrokinetic system for delivering a substance into a body, said system comprising:
- an alternating current source of a predetermined frequency;
- electrodes coupled to said alternating current source, said electrodes including a treatment electrode adapted for electrically contacting a substance-delivery site on the body, a counter electrode and an auxiliary electrode;
- and
- circuitry coupled between said electrodes and said alternating current source for supplying currents to said electrodes when said electrodes are in electrical contact with the body in order to deliver the substance into the body at the substance-delivery site.
An electrokinetic system for delivering a substance into a body, said system comprising:
- an alternating current source of a predetermined frequency;
- first and second electrodes coupled to a first terminal of said alternating current source, and a third electrode coupled to a second terminal of said alternating current source;
- and
- a first rectifying circuit coupled between said first electrode and the first terminal of said alternating current source and a second rectifying circuit coupled between said second electrode and the first terminal of said alternating current source,
- wherein
- said first electrode is adapted for electrical contact with a substance-delivery site on the body, and
- when said electrodes including said first electrode are in electrical contact with said body,
- a current rectified by said first rectifying circuit flows in a current path between said first and third electrodes during first cycle portions of current generated by said alternating current source so as to effect delivery of the substance into the body, and
- a current rectified by said rectifying circuit flows in a current path between said second and third electrodes during second cycle portions of the current generated by said alternating current source.
An electrokinetic method for delivering a substance into a body, the method comprising:
- providing a substance at a substance-delivery site on the body;
- placing electrodes coupled to an alternating current source in electrical contact with the body, the electrodes including a treatment electrode adapted for electrical contact with the body at the substance-delivery site;
- and
- supplying current to said electrodes when said electrodes are in electrical contact with the body so that a uni-directional current flow for delivering the substance into the body is maintained through said treatment electrode at the substance-delivery site and a bi-directional current flow is maintained through the body.
An electrokinetic drug delivery device for personal use and self-administration of a medicament into an individual's skin, comprising:
- an assembly having an outer surface, a portion thereof shaped for grasping within an individual's hand for manual manipulation by the individual;
- a self-contained alternating current source of a predetermined frequency within said assembly;
- electrodes coupled to said alternating current source, said electrodes including a treatment electrode adapted for electrically contacting a substance-delivery site on the skin, a counter electrode and an auxiliary electrode;
- and
- circuitry coupled between said electrodes and said alternating current source for supplying currents to said electrodes when said electrodes are in electrical contact with the skin in order to deliver the substance into the body at the substance-delivery site.
A system for delivering a substance into a body at a treatment site, said system comprising:
- an alternating current source;
- a plurality of electrodes;
- and
- circuitry connected between the alternating current source and the electrodes for supplying current to said electrodes when said electrodes are in electrical contact with said body so that a uni-directional current flow for delivering the substance into the body is maintained at the treatment site and a bi-directional current flow is maintained through the body.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.