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System and method for providing iontophoresis at tympanic membrane

  • US 10,130,808 B2
  • Filed: 03/14/2013
  • Issued: 11/20/2018
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. An iontophoresis apparatus, comprising:

  • (a) a first earplug configured for insertion in a first ear of a patient, wherein the first earplug includes;

    (i) a first electrode; and

    (ii) a first fluid port operable to deliver fluid to the first ear;

    (b) a second earplug configured for insertion in a second ear of the patient, wherein the second earplug includes;

    (i) a second electrode; and

    (ii) a second fluid port configured to deliver fluid to the second ear;

    (c) a single ground pad configured to engage exposed skin of the patient and provide an electrical ground return path for the first electrode and the second electrode;

    (d) a driving circuit comprising;

    (i) a first channel configured to receive a first pulsed signal and activate to provide a path for drawing a first current through the first electrode;

    (ii) a second channel configured to receive a second pulsed signal and activate to provide a path for drawing a second current through the second electrode; and

    (iii) a current sink connected to the first and second channels, the current sink configured to alternate between drawing the first current through the first electrode via the first channel and the second current through the second electrode via the second channel; and

    (e) a single control unit configured to couple with the first electrode, the second electrode, and the ground pad, the control unit including a first discharge circuit, a second discharge circuit, a first transistor, and a second transistor, the first discharge circuit being configured to couple to the first electrode downstream from a first transistor, and the second discharge circuit being configured to couple to the second electrode downstream from a second transistor,wherein the control unit is configured to;

    provide the first pulsed signal to the first channel and the second pulsed signal to the second channel at alternating clocked intervals;

    alternate between discretely activating the first channel with the first pulsed signal for iontophoretic delivery of the fluid to tissue in the first ear and discretely activating the second channel with the second pulsed signal for iontophoretic delivery of the fluid to tissue in the second ear such that current is drawn through only one of the first electrode and the second electrode at a particular instant and the single ground pad operates as the electrical ground return path.

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