Method and apparatus for skin absorption enhancement and transdermal drug delivery

• US 20050049642A1
• Filed: 10/14/2004
• Published: 03/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mattioli Engineering Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mattioli Engineering Corporation
• Inventors: Bernabei, Gian Franco
• Granted Patent: US 7,532,926 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/3
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/10 with further special therapeutic means, e.g. electrotherapy, magneto therapy or radiation therapy, chromo therapy, infrared or ultraviolet therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/105 with means for delivering media, e.g. drugs or cosmetics
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/02 with electric or magnetic drive
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/0263 using rotating unbalanced masses
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 39/002 Using electric currents electrotherapy A61N1/32
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 7/008 Suction kneading
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 9/005 Pneumatic massage
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2037/0007 having means for enhancing the permeation of substances through the epidermis, e.g. using suction or depression, electric or magnetic fields, sound waves or chemical agents
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/0092 using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic vibrations, e.g. phonophoresis
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0424 Shape of the electrode
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0428 Specially adapted for iontophoresis, e.g. AC, DC or including drug reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0476 Array electrodes (including any electrode arrangement with more than one electrode for at least one of the polarities)
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/30 Apparatus for iontophoresis, i.e. transfer of media in ionic state by an electromotoric force into the body, or cataphoresis
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/325 for iontophoresis, i.e. transfer of media in ionic state by an electromotoric force into the body electrodes for external use A61N1/0428
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/327 for enhancing the absorption properties of tissue, e.g. by electroporation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0008 Destruction of fat cells
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/00 Ultrasound therapy lithotripsy A61B17/22, A61B17/225; massage using supersonic vibration A61H23/00 ; using ultrasound for introducing media into the body A61M37/0092

Abstract

A removable component for a probe used to treat a patient'"'"'s skin with a skin-treatment substance, include an attachment device having a plurality of holes for respectively accommodating a plurality of electrodes disposed on a head of the probe. It also includes at least one gauze pad disposed between the attachment device and the head of the probe. The attachment device is removably attached to the head of the probe.

Claims

1. A removable component for a probe used to treat a patient'"'"'s skin with a skin-treatment substance, comprising:

an attachment device having a plurality of holes for respectively accommodating a plurality of electrodes disposed on a head of the probe; and

at least one gauze pad disposed between the attachment device and the head of the probe,

wherein the attachment device is removably attached to the head of the probe.

2. The removable component according to claim 1, wherein the attachment device is a polypropylene cap.

3. The removable component according to claim 1, wherein the head of the probe includes a plurality of return electrodes and an active electrode, and

wherein the at least one gauze pad comprises:

a first gauze pad disposed between the active electrode and the attachment device; and

a second gauze pad disposed between the plurality of return electrodes and the attachment device.

4. The removable component according to claim 3, wherein the active electrode is centrally positioned on the head of the probe, and

wherein the plurality of return electrodes are positioned on a periphery of the head of the probe surrounding the active electrode.

5. The removable component according to claim 3, further comprising:

a conductive insulator provided between the first gauze pad and the second gauze pad.

6. The removable component according to claim 5, wherein the conductive insulator is made from a rubber material.

7. The removable component according to claim 1, wherein the head of the probe includes a channel region surrounding at least one of the electrodes, the removable component further comprising:

means for providing the skin-treatment substance to the channel region.

8. The removable component according to claim 7, wherein the providing means is a tube that connects the channel region to a syringe containing the skin-treatment substance.

9. A method of treating a patient'"'"'s skin with a skin-treatment substance, comprising:

providing a gauze pad on either a removable attachment device or on a head of a probe, the attachment device having a plurality of holes for respectively accommodating a plurality of electrodes disposed on the head of the probe;

removably attaching the removable attachment device to the head of the probe; and

treating the patient'"'"'s skin by providing the skin-treatment substance to the head of the probe and moving the head of the probe with the removable attachment device attached thereto, across portions of the patient'"'"'s skin.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the attachment device is a polypropylene cap.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the head of the probe includes a plurality of return electrodes and an active electrode, and

wherein the at least one gauze pad comprises:

a first gauze pad disposed between the active electrode and the attachment device; and

a second gauze pad disposed between the plurality of return electrodes and the attachment device.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the active electrode is centrally positioned on the head of the probe, and

wherein the plurality of return electrodes are positioned on a periphery of the head of the probe surrounding the active electrode.

13. The removable component according to claim 11, further comprising:

providing a conductive insulator between the first gauze pad and the second gauze pad.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the conductive insulator is made from a rubber material.

15. The method according to claim 9, wherein the head of the probe includes a channel region surrounding at least one of the electrodes, the method further comprising:

providing the skin-treatment substance to the channel region.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the providing step comprises:

connecting, by way of a tube, the channel region to a syringe containing the skin-treatment substance.