US4301794A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method for iontophoretic treatment
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1978-10-18
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Granted: 1981-11-24
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Expires: 1998-10-18
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for applying iontophoretic treatment to a living body is provided by which a unidirectional treatment current is periodically interrupted by a relatively short pulse of current in the opposite direction in order to prevent the formation of undesirable vesicles and bulla in the skin being treated. The apparatus and method are arranged to impose the treatment current gradually at the beginning of each treatment.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert Tapper
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 13:35
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/18; A61N1/20; A61N1/30; A61N1/02; A61N1/04; A61N1/0404; A61N1/0408; A61N1/0428; A61N1/0432; A61N1/32; A61N1/325
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
104 words
A method of minimizing vesicle formation while applying iontophoretic treatment to a living body, said method including the steps of: conducting direct current through the skin of said body in a first direction from a first electrode to a second electrode on said skin; intermittently reversing the polarity of said electrodes to cause direct current to flow in a second direction opposite said first direction; and controlling the flow of said current in said first and second directions so that the energy applied in said first direction exceeds the energy applied in said second direction by a ratio of between about 2:1 and 7:1.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
104 words
A method of minimizing vesicle formation while applying iontophoretic treatment to a living body, said method including the steps of: conducting direct current through the skin of said body in a first direction from a first electrode to a second electrode on said skin; intermittently reversing the polarity of said electrodes to cause direct current to flow in a second direction opposite said first direction; and controlling the flow of said current in said first and second directions so that the energy applied in said first direction exceeds the energy applied in said second direction by a ratio of between about 2:1 and 7:1.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said energy applied in said first direction exceeds said energy applied in said second direction by a ratio of about 2.3 to 1.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 further including the step of gradually increasing said current in said first direction to a treatment level at the beginning of each treatment period.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as set forth in claim 3 wherein said gradual increase of said current occurs over a period of about two seconds.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein in the step of intermittently reversing, the current flows in the second direction for a duration of about 10 μsec.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as set forth in claim 5, wherein in the step of intermittently reversing, the time period between successive reversals of the direction of current is at least 35 μsec.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
CA707011A
Cited
US2263205A
Cited
US3215139A
Cited
US3955583A
Cited
US4019510A
Cited
US4141359A
Cited
US4116238A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-11-23 | 1985-05-25 | 1985-11-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-11-23 | 1989-05-25 | 1989-11-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-11-23 | 1993-05-25 | 1993-11-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |