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US4325367A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Iontophoretic treatment apparatus

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1979-11-19
•
Granted: 1982-04-20
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Expires: 1999-11-19
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Abstract

Abstract A self-contained iontophoretic treatment apparatus is provided which includes a support structure on which is mounted a pair of electrodes in generally close proximity to one another as well as a source of electrical power and appropriate controls for delivering electrical power to the electrodes. The electrodes are arranged so that, for example, the palm of a single human hand can be placed on the device and simultaneously contact both electrodes, thereby confining the iontophoretic treatment to the palm surface of the hand. Alternative embodiments of the invention specially adapted for treating the plantar surfaces of the feet and the axillae are also disclosed.

Inventors

  • 👤 Robert Tapper

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-23 20:09
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; A61N1/0436; A61N1/044; A61N1/303

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim 173 words
A self-contained iontophoretic treatment apparatus comprising: a support structure; a source of electrical power and a control means therefor on said support structure; a pair of electrodes mounted on said support structure in generally close proximity to one another, said electrodes being connected to said source of electrical power through said control means; porous pads on said electrodes, and an insulating member extending between said electrodes, a first of said electrodes being connected to said source of electrical power and arranged to act primarily as a cathode, and the other electrode being connected to said source of electrical power and arranged to act primarily as an anode, said first electrode being formed of stainless steel and said other electrode being formed of substantially pure aluminum, said support structure and said electrodes being sized and arranged so that a surface to be treated can extend across said insulating member and simultaneously contact both of said pads, whereby electric current from said electrodes for effecting iontophoretic treatment will pass only through the surface being treated.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 173 words
A self-contained iontophoretic treatment apparatus comprising: a support structure; a source of electrical power and a control means therefor on said support structure; a pair of electrodes mounted on said support structure in generally close proximity to one another, said electrodes being connected to said source of electrical power through said control means; porous pads on said electrodes, and an insulating member extending between said electrodes, a first of said electrodes being connected to said source of electrical power and arranged to act primarily as a cathode, and the other electrode being connected to said source of electrical power and arranged to act primarily as an anode, said first electrode being formed of stainless steel and said other electrode being formed of substantially pure aluminum, said support structure and said electrodes being sized and arranged so that a surface to be treated can extend across said insulating member and simultaneously contact both of said pads, whereby electric current from said electrodes for effecting iontophoretic treatment will pass only through the surface being treated.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 27 words
An iontophoretic treatment apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which said porous pads are moisture absorbing, said insulating member extending between said moisture absorbing pads.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 18 words
An iontophoretic treatment apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said pads are formed of polyester material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 193 words
A self-contained iontophoretic treatment apparatus comprising: a support structure; a source of electrical power and a control means therefor on said support structure; a pair of electrodes mounted on a treatment surface of said support structure in generally close proximity to one another, said electrodes being connected to said source of electrical power through said control means; porous pads on said electrodes, and an insulating member extending between said electrodes on said treatment surface, said treatment surface being the upper surface of said support structure and being sized to conform generally with the size of the plantar surface of a human foot, said treatment surface including a centrally located raised portion along one side thereof to cooperate with the arch portion of said plantar surface of said foot, said insulating member being disposed transversely across said treatment surface between said electrodes so that said plantar surface of said foot to be treated can be placed on said treatment surface extending across said insulating member and simultaneously contact both of said pads, whereby electric current from said electrodes for effecting iontophoretic treatment will pass only through said plantar surface of said foot being treated.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 193 words
A self-contained iontophoretic treatment apparatus comprising: a support structure; a source of electrical power and a control means therefor on said support structure; a pair of electrodes mounted on a treatment surface of said support structure in generally close proximity to one another, said electrodes being connected to said source of electrical power through said control means; porous pads on said electrodes, and an insulating member extending between said electrodes on said treatment surface, said treatment surface being the upper surface of said support structure and being sized to conform generally with the size of the plantar surface of a human foot, said treatment surface including a centrally located raised portion along one side thereof to cooperate with the arch portion of said plantar surface of said foot, said insulating member being disposed transversely across said treatment surface between said electrodes so that said plantar surface of said foot to be treated can be placed on said treatment surface extending across said insulating member and simultaneously contact both of said pads, whereby electric current from said electrodes for effecting iontophoretic treatment will pass only through said plantar surface of said foot being treated.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 189 words
A self-contained iontophoretic treatment apparatus comprising: a support structure; a source of electrical power and a control means therefor on said support structure; a pair of electrodes mounted on a treatment surface of said support structure in generally close proximity to one another, said electrodes being connected to said source of electric power through said control means; porous pads on said electrodes, and an insulating member extending between said electrodes on said treatment surface, said support structure forming a generally upright housing, said treatment surface including two generally vertical, parallel planes on said housing facing oppositely from one another and the top of said upright housing connecting said oppositely facing planes, said treatment surface being sized to conform generally with the size of a human axilla, said insulating member being disposed transversely across said treatment surface at the top of said upright housing and between said electrodes so that a human axilla to be treated can extend across said insulating member and simultaneously contact both of said pads, whereby electric current from said electrodes for effecting iontophoretic treatment will pass only through the surface of the axilla being treated.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 189 words
A self-contained iontophoretic treatment apparatus comprising: a support structure; a source of electrical power and a control means therefor on said support structure; a pair of electrodes mounted on a treatment surface of said support structure in generally close proximity to one another, said electrodes being connected to said source of electric power through said control means; porous pads on said electrodes, and an insulating member extending between said electrodes on said treatment surface, said support structure forming a generally upright housing, said treatment surface including two generally vertical, parallel planes on said housing facing oppositely from one another and the top of said upright housing connecting said oppositely facing planes, said treatment surface being sized to conform generally with the size of a human axilla, said insulating member being disposed transversely across said treatment surface at the top of said upright housing and between said electrodes so that a human axilla to be treated can extend across said insulating member and simultaneously contact both of said pads, whereby electric current from said electrodes for effecting iontophoretic treatment will pass only through the surface of the axilla being treated.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2590876A Cited
US2784715A Cited
US3472233A Cited
US3991755A Cited
US4092985A Cited
FR2351670A2 Cited
US4141359A Cited
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1985-04-19 1985-10-19 1986-04-20 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1989-04-19 1989-10-19 1990-04-20 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1993-04-19 1993-10-19 1994-04-20 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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