Electrode and iontophoresis device

• US 20060095001A1
• Filed: 06/30/2005
• Published: 05/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: TTI Ellebeau, Inc. (Ease Asset Management Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Transcutaneous Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Nakayama, Mizuo, Matsumura, Akihiko, Matsumura, Takehiko, Akiyama, Hidero
• Application Number:
  US11/171,953
• Publication Number:
  US 20060095001A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0428 Specially adapted for iontophoresis, e.g. AC, DC or including drug reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0436 Material of the electrode
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0444 Membrane
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0448 Drug reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/048 Electrodes characterised by a specific connection between lead and electrode
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0492 Patch electrodes A61N1/0412, A61N1/0428 take precedence

Abstract

There are provided an electrode that is capable of allowing a current to flow at a uniform current density from the entire surface of a conductive sheet during the passage of a current and that solves the problem of the transfer of metal ions to a living body. The electrode comprises a conductive terminal member formed of a non-metal material; and a conductive sheet formed of a non-metal material and attached to the terminal member, the conductive sheet having a specific resistance lower than a specific resistance of the terminal member. An lontophoresis device and a low-frequency treatment device utilizing the electrode is also disclosed.

Claims

1. An electrode, comprising:

a conductive terminal member formed of a non-metal material; and

a conductive sheet formed of a non-metal material and coupled to the terminal member,

the conductive sheet having a specific resistance lower than a specific resistance of the terminal member.

2. The electrode according to claim 1, wherein the conductive sheet has a surface resistance of 1 to 30 Ω

/(square).

3. The electrode according to claim 1, wherein the conductive sheet has a surface resistance of 1 to 10 Ω

/(square).

4. The electrode according to claim 1, wherein the conductive sheet is formed of one of carbon fibers and carbon fiber paper.

5. The electrode according to claim 1, wherein the conductive sheet is formed of one of carbon fibers and carbon fiber paper impregnated with a polymer elastomer.

6. The electrode according to claim 1, wherein the terminal member is formed of a polymer matrix and a non-metal conductive filler dispersed in the polymer matrix.

7. The electrode according to claim 6, wherein the non-metal filler comprises carbon.

8. The electrode according to claim 6, wherein the terminal member is attached to the conductive sheet by being solidified under a condition that one of the carbon fibers and the carbon fiber paper are impregnated with a part of the polymer matrix.

9. The electrode according to claim 6, wherein the conductive sheet is attached to the terminal member by integral molding.

10. The electrode according to claim 6, wherein the polymer matrix is silicon rubber.

11. The electrode according to claim 1, wherein the terminal member has a fitting portion to be fitted with a connector connected to a power source.

12. The electrode according to claim 1 further comprising:

a metal reinforcing member is attached to the terminal member.

13. An iontophoresis device, comprising a power source, a working electrode structure, and a nonworking electrode structure, wherein:

at least one of the working electrode structure and the nonworking electrode structure comprises an electrode comprising;

a conductive terminal member formed of a non-metal material; and

a conductive sheet formed of a non-metal material and attached to the terminal member, the conductive sheet having a specific resistance lower than a specific resistance of the terminal member.

14. An iontophoresis device, comprising a power source, a working electrode structure, and a nonworking electrode structure, wherein:

the working electrode structure comprises;

a first electrode connected to a terminal of a first polarity of the power source;

a first conductive medium layer placed on a front side of the first electrode;

a first ion-exchange membrane for selecting ions of a second polarity that is opposite to the first polarity, the first ion-exchange membrane being placed on a front side of the first conductive medium layer;

a drug layer for holding a drug solution containing a drug that is dissocitatable from ions of the first conductivity, the drug layer being placed on a front side of the first ion-exchange membrane; and

a second ion-exchange membrane for selecting ions of the first polarity, the second ion-exchange membrane being placed on a front side of the drug layer;

the nonworking electrode structure comprises;

a second electrode connected to a terminal of the second polarity of the power source; and

a second conductive medium layer placed on a front side of the second electrode; and

at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode comprises;

a conductive terminal member formed of a non-metal material; and

a conductive sheet formed of a non-metal material and attached to the terminal member, the conductive sheet having a specific resistance lower than a specific resistance of the terminal member.

15. The iontophoresis device according to claim 14, wherein the nonworking electrode structure further includes a third ion-exchange membrane for selecting ions of the second polarity, the third ion-exchange membrane being placed on a front side of the second conductive medium layer.

16. The iontophoresis device according to claim 14, wherein the nonworking electrode structure further includes:

a fourth ion-exchange membrane for selecting ions of the first polarity, the fourth ion-exchange membrane being placed on a front side of the second conductive medium layer;

a third conductive medium layer placed on a front side of the fourth ion-exchange membrane; and

a fifth ion-exchange membrane for selecting ions of the second polarity, the fifth ion-exchange membrane being placed on a front side of the third conductive medium layer.