US4886489A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Flow-through methods and apparatus for iontophoresis application of medicaments at a controlled pH
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1987-06-19
•
Granted: 1989-12-12
•
Expires: 2007-06-19
Abstract
Abstract Methods and apparatus for administering known quantities of medicaments by iontophoresis, while avoiding burns caused by extremes in the pH of the medicament medium during passage of an electric current, are disclosed. It is known that as iontophoresis progresses in conventional iontophoresis systems, the electrolysis of water occurs to produce hydrogen or hydroxyl ions at the interface of the electrode and medicament medium. Since these ions are highly mobile, they are transported directly into the skin of a patient in preference to the larger medicament ions. Thus, extreme changes in pH are experienced which result in burns due to the acidification or alkalinization of the medicament medium and passage of electric current through the skin. In addition, the efficiency of iontophoresis decreases over time. The present invention avoids extremes in pH by removing the hydrogen or hydroxyl ions which are created during iontophoresis and creates conditions for constant delivery over prolonged periods of time. In the present invention, the medicament medium adjacent the patient is periodically or constantly replaced by adding fresh medicament medium which is at the original pH. The present invention also discloses a flow-through electrode which allows new solution to constantly flow into the iontophoresis area.
Inventors
- 👤 Stephen C. Jacobsen
- 👤 Tomasz J. Petelenz
- 👤 Robert L. Stephen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 01:19
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/02; A61N1/04; A61N1/0404; A61N1/0408; A61N1/0428; A61N1/0432; A61N1/0448
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
214 words
A method for iontophoretically administering a medicament through the skin of a patient while removing competing ions produced within the iontophoresis system by the electrolysis of water, the method comprising the steps of: (a) obtaining a first electrode and a second electrode; (b) obtaining a medium containing a medicament; (c) placing the first electrode in communication with the medium; (d) placing the medium in communication with the skin of the patient such that the medium is disposed between the first electrode and the skin of the patient; (e) placing the second electrode in communication with the skin of the patient at a point distal from the first electrode; (f) creating a voltage differential between the first and second electrodes such that the medicament is driven into the skin of a patient; and (g) simultaneously flowing fresh quantities of the medium containing medicament between the first electrode and the skin of the patient and removing quantities of the medium from between the first electrode and the skin of the patient which contain products of the electrolysis reaction of water while the voltage differential between the first and second electrodes exists, thereby iontophoretically administering a medicament through the skin of the patient while removing competing ions produced within the iontophoresis system by the electrolysis of water.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
214 words
A method for iontophoretically administering a medicament through the skin of a patient while removing competing ions produced within the iontophoresis system by the electrolysis of water, the method comprising the steps of: (a) obtaining a first electrode and a second electrode; (b) obtaining a medium containing a medicament; (c) placing the first electrode in communication with the medium; (d) placing the medium in communication with the skin of the patient such that the medium is disposed between the first electrode and the skin of the patient; (e) placing the second electrode in communication with the skin of the patient at a point distal from the first electrode; (f) creating a voltage differential between the first and second electrodes such that the medicament is driven into the skin of a patient; and (g) simultaneously flowing fresh quantities of the medium containing medicament between the first electrode and the skin of the patient and removing quantities of the medium from between the first electrode and the skin of the patient which contain products of the electrolysis reaction of water while the voltage differential between the first and second electrodes exists, thereby iontophoretically administering a medicament through the skin of the patient while removing competing ions produced within the iontophoresis system by the electrolysis of water.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method for iontophoretically administering a medicament as defined in claim 1 wherein fresh quantities of medium are continuously flowed between the first electrode and the skin of the patient.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method for iontophoretically administering a medicament as defined in claim 1 wherein fresh quantities of medium are periodically flowed between the first electrode and the skin of the patient.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method for iontophoretically administering a medicament as defined in claim 1 wherein fresh quantities of medium are flowed between the first electrode and the skin of the patient in response to changes in pH outside of a predetermined range.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
258 words
A method for iontophoretically administering a medicament through the skin of a patient while simultaneously providing a continuous supply of fresh medicament and while removing medicament medium containing competing ions produced during iontophoresis, the method comprising the steps of: (a) obtaining a first electrode and a second electrode; (b) obtaining a iontophoresis medium containing a medicament; (c) placing the first electrode in communication with the iontophoresis medium; (d) placing the iontophoresis medium in communication with the skin of the patient such that the medium is disposed between the first electrode and the skin of the patient; (e) placing the second electrode in communication with the skin of the patient at a point distal from the first electrode; (f) providing means for flowing fresh medium between the first electrode and the skin of the patient and means for removing quantities of medium from between the first electrode and the skin of the patient which contain the products of the electrolysis reaction of water; (g) creating a voltage differential between the first and second electrodes such that medicament ions are driven into the skin of the patient; and simultaneously (h) flowing fresh medium between the first electrode and the skin of the patient, and removing quantities of medium from between the first electrode and the skin of the patient which contain the products of the electrolysis reaction of water while the voltage differential between the first and second electrodes exists, such that the pH of the medium between the first electrode and the patient is maintained within a predetermined range.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
258 words
A method for iontophoretically administering a medicament through the skin of a patient while simultaneously providing a continuous supply of fresh medicament and while removing medicament medium containing competing ions produced during iontophoresis, the method comprising the steps of: (a) obtaining a first electrode and a second electrode; (b) obtaining a iontophoresis medium containing a medicament; (c) placing the first electrode in communication with the iontophoresis medium; (d) placing the iontophoresis medium in communication with the skin of the patient such that the medium is disposed between the first electrode and the skin of the patient; (e) placing the second electrode in communication with the skin of the patient at a point distal from the first electrode; (f) providing means for flowing fresh medium between the first electrode and the skin of the patient and means for removing quantities of medium from between the first electrode and the skin of the patient which contain the products of the electrolysis reaction of water; (g) creating a voltage differential between the first and second electrodes such that medicament ions are driven into the skin of the patient; and simultaneously (h) flowing fresh medium between the first electrode and the skin of the patient, and removing quantities of medium from between the first electrode and the skin of the patient which contain the products of the electrolysis reaction of water while the voltage differential between the first and second electrodes exists, such that the pH of the medium between the first electrode and the patient is maintained within a predetermined range.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method for iontophoretically administering a medicament as defined in claim 5 wherein fresh medium is flowed constantly between the first electrode and the skin of the patient.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method for iontophoretically administering a medicament as defined in claim 5 wherein fresh medium is flowed periodically between the first electrode and the skin of the patient.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method for iontophoretically administering a medicament as defined in claim 5 wherein fresh medium is flowed between the first electrode and the skin of the patient when the pH of the medium leaves the predetermined range.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
143 words
A flow-through electrode for use in iontophoresis comprising: an electrode; means for placing the electrode in communication with a source of electrical current; a drug compartment in communication with the electrode having an inlet through which iontophoresis medium containing a medicament enters said drug compartment and an outlet through which the iontophoresis medium exits said drug compartment; iontophoresis medium containing a medicament located within said drug compartment; means for forming an interface between the drug compartment and the skin of a patient such that medicament ions within the iontophoresis medium are capable of iontophoretic administration to the patient through said interface; means for passing iontophoresis medium containing medicament through the drug compartment while the interface between the drug compartment and the patient exists, thereby permitting the flow-through electrode to iontophoretically administer the medicament while simultaneously passing the iontophoresis medium through the drug compartment.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
143 words
A flow-through electrode for use in iontophoresis comprising: an electrode; means for placing the electrode in communication with a source of electrical current; a drug compartment in communication with the electrode having an inlet through which iontophoresis medium containing a medicament enters said drug compartment and an outlet through which the iontophoresis medium exits said drug compartment; iontophoresis medium containing a medicament located within said drug compartment; means for forming an interface between the drug compartment and the skin of a patient such that medicament ions within the iontophoresis medium are capable of iontophoretic administration to the patient through said interface; means for passing iontophoresis medium containing medicament through the drug compartment while the interface between the drug compartment and the patient exists, thereby permitting the flow-through electrode to iontophoretically administer the medicament while simultaneously passing the iontophoresis medium through the drug compartment.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
42 words
A flow-through electrode for use in iontophoresis as defined in claim 9, further comprising a source chamber in communication with the drug compartment such that iontophoresis medium can flow from the source chamber into the drug compartment through the drug compartment inlet.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
42 words
A flow-through electrode for use in iontophoresis as defined in claim 10, further comprising an outlet chamber in communication with the drug compartment such that iontophoresis medium can flow from the drug compartment into the outlet chamber through the drug compartment outlet.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2126070A
Cited
US3623479A
Cited
US3991755A
Cited
US4141359A
Cited
US4166457A
Cited
US4140130A
Cited
US4215696A
Cited
US4250878A
Cited
US4292968A
Cited
US4383529A
Cited
US4416274A
Cited
US4474570A
Cited
US4419092A
Cited
US4477971A
Cited
US4526176A
Cited
US4602909A
Cited
US4465074A
Cited
US4465074B1
Cited
US4639244A
Cited
US4557723A
Cited
US4570637A
Cited
EP0182520A2
Cited
US4744787A
Cited
US4747819A
Cited
US4722726A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-12-11 | 1993-06-12 | 1993-12-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-12-11 | 1997-06-12 | 1997-12-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-12-11 | 2001-06-12 | 2001-12-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |