Iontophoretic delivery device and power supply therefor

Claim 2

An iontophoretic delivery system for delivering a beneficial agent by iontophoresis through an intact body surface of a patient having an associated body surface electrical resistance, the system comprising: a first electrode means for containing a beneficial agent to be delivered and for contacting a body surface of a patient in agent-transmitting relation therewith; a second electrode means for contacting the body surface in ion-transmitting relation therewith at a location spaced apart from the first electrode means; first and second electrical power sources, each having a pair of terminals and each producing an electrical potential difference between its said pair of terminals; and bi-state switch means, coupled to said two power sources and said first and second electrode means, for selectively switching between: (1) a first state, in which said two power sources are connected in series circuit relation between said first and second electrode means, and (2) a second state, in which said two power sources are connected in parallel circuit relation between said first and second electrode means, where switching occurs in response to a change of electrical resistance of the patient's body surface.

Claim 3

The iontophoretic delivery system of claim 1 wherein said bi-state switch means comprises a manually operable switch.

Claim 4

The iontophoretic delivery system of claim 1 wherein at least one of said power sources comprises a DC source.

Claim 5

The iontophoretic delivery system of claim 1 wherein at least one of said power sources comprises a lithium battery.

Claim 6

The iontophoretic delivery system of claim 1 comprising a unitary iontophoretic delivery device incorporating said first and second electrode means.

Claim 7

The iontophoretic delivery system of claim 5 wherein said unitary iontophoretic delivery device further incorporates said two electrical power sources and said bi-state switch means.

Claim 8

The iontophoretic delivery system of claim 1, further including switch control means, coupled to said bi-state switch means and at least one of said first and second electrode means, for: (1) sensing the value of an electrical parameter present at least one of said first and second electrode means and associated with the delivery of electrical power from said power sources to said first and second electrode means, and (2) comparing the value of said sensed parameter with a pre-established value thereof, and (3) causing said bi-state switch means to transit between said first and second states, according to where the sensed parameter value lies in relation to the pre-established value.

Claim 9

The iontophoretic delivery system of claim 7 wherein said bi-state switch means comprises at least one field-effect transistor (FET).

Claim 10

The iontophoretic delivery system of claim 7, wherein said sensed parameter value is a voltage related to the resistance between said first and second electrode means.

Claim 11

The iontophoretic delivery system of claim 7, wherein said switch control means comprises a switching transistor coupled to at least one of said first and second electrode means and responding to the voltage thereat by causing said bi-state switch means to transit from said first state to said second state when said voltage exceeds said pre-established value.

Claim 12

The iontophoretic delivery system of claim 1, further including a constant current regulator coupled to said power sources and said first and second electrode means.

Claim 13

The iontophoretic delivery system of claim 11 wherein said constant current regulator comprises a JFET transistor.

Claim 14

The iontophoretic delivery system of claim 1, wherein said bi-state switch means comprises: a first electrical switch connected to a lower voltage terminal of said first power source and said first electrode means; a second electrical switch connected to the lower voltage terminal of said first power source and a higher voltage terminal of said second power source; a third electrical switch connected to said second electrode means and a higher voltage terminal of said second power source; where a higher voltage terminal of said first power source is connected to said second electrode means and a lower voltage terminal of said second power source is connected to said first electrode means; and where the first electrical switch and the third electrical switch are both open.

Claim 15

The iontophoretic delivery system of claim 1, wherein said bi-state switch means comprises: a first electrical switch connected to a lower voltage terminal of said first power source and said first electrode means; a second electrical switch connected to the lower voltage terminal of said first power source and a higher voltage terminal of said second power source; a third electrical switch connected to said second electrode means and a higher voltage terminal of said second power source; where a higher voltage terminal of said first power source is connected to said second electrode means and a lower voltage terminal of said second power source is connected to said first electrode means; and where the first electrical switch and the third electrical switch are both closed.

Claim 16

An iontophoretic delivery system for delivering a beneficial agent by iontophoresis through an intact body surface of a patient, said body surface having an electrical resistance, the system comprising: a first electrode means for containing a beneficial agent to be delivered and for contacting the body surface of the patient in agent-transmitting relation therewith; a second electrode means for contacting the body surface in ion-transmitting relation therewith at a location spaced apart from the first electrode means; at least two electrical power sources, each producing an electrical potential difference; and bi-state switch means, coupled to said power sources and said first and second electrode means, for selectively switching between: (1) a first state, in which said two power sources are connected in series circuit relation between said first and second electrode means, and (2) a second state, in which said two power sources are connected in parallel circuit relation between said first and second electrode means, where switching occurs after the electrical resistance of the body surface drops from an initial electrical resistance level to a level substantially below said initial level.

Claim 17

An iontophoretic delivery system for delivering a beneficial agent by iontophoresis through an intact body surface of a patient, said body surface having an electrical resistance, the system comprising: a first electrode means for containing a beneficial agent to be delivered and for contacting the body surface of the patient in agent-transmitting relation therewith; a second electrode means for contacting the body surface in ion-transmitting relation therewith at a location spaced apart from the first electrode means; at least two electrical power sources, each producing an electrical potential difference; and bi-state switch means, coupled to said power sources and said first and second electrode means, for selectively switching between: (1) a first state, in which said two power sources are connected in series circuit relation between said first and second electrode means, and (2) a second state, in which said two power sources are connected in parallel circuit relation between said first and second electrode means, where switching occurs after the electrical resistance of the body surface drops from an initial electrical resistance level to a level substantially below said initial level.

Claim 18

The iontophoretic delivery system of claim 1 or 15, wherein the bi-state switch means comprises an automatically operable switch.

Claim 19

The iontophoretic delivery system of claim 1 or 15, wherein switching occurs when the body surface electrical resistance drops to a level below about 30 kohm-cm 2 .

Claim 20

The iontophoretic delivery system of claim 1 or 15, wherein switching occurs when the body surface electrical resistance drops to a level of about 20 to 30 kohm-cm 2 .

Claim 21

The iontophoretic delivery system of claim 15, further including switch control means, coupled to said bi-state switch means and at least one of said first and second electrode means, for (1) sensing a value of an electrical parameter present at at least one of said first and second electrode means and associated with the delivery of electrical power from said power sources to said first and second electrode means, and (2) comparing the value of said sensed parameter with a pre-established value thereof, and (3) causing said bi-state switch means to transit between said first and second states, according to where the sensed parameter value lies in relation to the pre-established value.

Claim 22

The iontophoretic delivery system of claim 15, wherein said bi-state switch means comprises at least one field effect transistor.

Claim 23

An iontophoretic delivery system for delivering a beneficial agent by iontophoresis through an intact body surface of a patient having an associated body surface electrical resistance, the system comprising: a first electrode means for containing a beneficial agent to be delivered and for contacting a body surface of a patient in agent-transmitting relation therewith; a second electrode means for contacting the body surface in ion-transmitting relation therewith at a location spaced apart from the first electrode means; at least two electrical power sources, each having a pair of terminals and each producing an electrical potential difference between its said pair of terminals; bi-state switch means, coupled to said two power sources and said first and second electrode means, for selectively switching between: (1) a first state in which said two power sources are connected in series circuit relation between said first and second electrode means, and (2) a second state in which said two power sources are connected in parallel circuit relation between said first and second electrode means; and switch control means, coupled to said bi-state switch means and at least one of said first and second electrode means, for sensing the voltage at one of said first and second electrode means and for causing said bi-state switch means to transit between its first state and its second state, according to where the sensed voltage lies in relation to a pre-established voltage value.

Claim 24

An iontophoretic delivery system for delivering a beneficial agent by iontophoresis through an intact body surface of a patient having an associated body surface electrical resistance, the system comprising: a first electrode means for containing a beneficial agent to be delivered and for contacting a body surface of a patient in agent-transmitting relation therewith; a second electrode means for contacting the body surface in ion-transmitting relation therewith at a location spaced apart from the first electrode means; at least two electrical power sources, each having a pair of terminals and each producing an electrical potential difference between its said pair of terminals; bi-state switch means, coupled to said two power sources and said first and second electrode means, for selectively switching between: (1) a first state in which said two power sources are connected in series circuit relation between said first and second electrode means, and (2) a second state in which said two power sources are connected in parallel circuit relation between said first and second electrode means; and switch control means, coupled to said bi-state switch means and at least one of said first and second electrode means, for sensing the voltage at one of said first and second electrode means and for causing said bi-state switch means to transit between its first state and its second state, according to where the sensed voltage lies in relation to a pre-established voltage value.

Claim 25

The iontophoretic delivery system of claim 21 wherein said bi-state switch means comprises a plurality of field-effect transistors (FETs).

Claim 26

The iontophoretic delivery system of claim 21, wherein said switch controls means comprises a switching transistor coupled to at least one of said first and second electrode means and responding to said sensed voltage thereat by causing said bi-state switch means to transit from said first state to said second state in response to said sensed voltage exceeding said pre-established voltage value.

Claim 27

The iontophoretic delivery system of claim 21, further including a constant current regulator coupled to said power sources and said first and second electrode means.

Claim 28

The iontophoretic delivery system of claim 24 wherein said constant current regulator comprises a JFET transistor.

Claim 31

The method of claim 18, further comprising the steps of: sensing an electrical parameter associated with the delivery of electrical power from said power sources to said first and second electrode means; comparing the sensed value of the electrical parameter with a pre-established value thereof; and switching said power sources from said first state to said second state if said electrical parameter has a value above said pre-established value.

Claim 32

The method of claim 27, wherein said sensing step comprises sensing of the voltage at one of said first and second electrode means.

Claim 33

The method of claim 26, wherein the switching of the power sources occurs automatically.

Claim 34

The method of claim 26, wherein switching occurs when the body surface electrical resistance drops to a level below about 30 kohm-cm 2 .

Claim 35

The method of claim 26, wherein switching occurs when the body surface electrical resistance drops to a level of about 20 to 30 kohm-cm 2 .

Claim 36

The method of claim 26, further comprising: sensing an electrical parameter associated with the delivery of electrical power from said power sources to said first and second electrode means; comparing the sensed value of the electrical parameter with a pre-established value thereof; and causing said power sources to transit between said first and second states according to where the sensed parameter value lies in relation to said pre-established value.

Claim 37

The method of claim 26, wherein the switching between the first and second states occurs with the two power sources connected between the first and second electrode means.