Systems and methods for electrokinetic delivery of a substance

A method of treatment by electrokinetic self-administration of a medicament into a treatment site for an individual, comprising:

• providing an applicator having a self-contained alternating current power source, a treatment electrode and an auxiliary electrode on one side of said applicator and a counter electrode on an opposite side thereof;
• interposing the applicator between an individual's finger with the counter electrode in electrical contact with the individual's finger and the treatment site, the treatment electrode in electrical contact with the treatment site and with the medicament disposed between the treatment electrode and the treatment site and the auxiliary electrode in electrical contact with a portion of the individual's body adjacent the treatment site and through at least one of the medicament or an electrical conductor;
• and
• supplying current to said electrodes when said electrodes are in electrical contact with the body so that a unidirectional current flow for delivering the medicament into the body is maintained through the treatment electrode at the treatment site and a bidirectional current flow is maintained through the body.

An electrokinetic delivery system for administering a medicament to a treatment site on an individual, comprising:

• an applicator having a self-contained alternating current source and a plurality of electrodes;
• at least one of said electrodes being carried by said applicator adjacent one side thereof;
• at least one auxiliary electrode carried by said applicator adjacent said one side and electrically separated from said one electrode;
• a counter electrode adjacent a side of said electrode remote from said one side for electrical engagement with an individual's fingertip;
• 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 the individual's body and with the medicament interposed between the one electrode and the body so that a unidirectional current flow for delivering the medicament into the body is maintained through the one electrode at the treatment site and a bidirectional current flow is maintained through the body.

A method of treatment by electrokinetic self-administration of a substance into a treatment site of an individual, the method comprising:

• (a) providing an applicator including processing circuitry, a counter electrode and a treatment electrode, wherein the treatment electrode and counter electrode are formed on opposite sides of the applicator;
• a substance in contact with the treatment electrode and adapted for electrical contact with the user's body at the treatment site;
• and a conductive gel in contact with the counter electrode and adapted for electrical contact with a user's finger;
• (b) releasably retaining the applicator on the individual's finger, with the conductive gel in electrical contact with the individual's finger;
• (c) while the applicator remains retained on the individual's finger, placing the substance in contact with the treatment site;
• and
• (d) causing electrical current to flow through said treatment electrode, the substance, the treatment site, the individual's body, and said counter electrode to electrokinetically drive the substance into the treatment site.

An electrokinetic method for delivering a substance into a body, the method comprising:

• (a) providing a substance at a substance-delivery site on the body;
• (b) placing electrodes coupled to an alternating current source in electrical contact with the body, the electrodes including a treatment electrode divided into sub-electrodes and adapted for electrical contact with the body at the substance-delivery site;
• and
• (c) 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.