Iontophoresis device

• US 20070066932A1
• Filed: 09/14/2006
• Published: 03/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TTI Ellebeau, Inc. (Ease Asset Management Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Transcutaneous Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Nakayama, Mizuo, Matsumura, Akihiko, Matsumura, Takehiko, Akiyama, Hidero
• Granted Patent: US 7,890,164 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/303 Constructional details electrodes for external use A61N1/0428
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0606 Mouth
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/063 comprising light transmitting means, e.g. optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0644 Handheld applicators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0651 Diodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0601 Apparatus for use inside the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0603 for treatment of body cavities
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/062 Photodynamic therapy, i.e. excitation of an agent

Abstract

An shaped iontophoresis device is capable of permeating an active agent (e.g., a drug solution) into an oral cavity, a skin cancer, or the like by iontophoresis in a pinpoint manner. A catheter-type iontophoresis device includes a small working electrode assembly and a small non-working electrode assembly at the tip of a holding portion. A first ion exchange membrane and a fourth ion exchange membrane at the tips of the assemblies are brought into close contact with a target area so that a drug solution is permeated by iontophoresis in a pinpoint manner. The working electrode assembly and the non-working electrode assembly 14 are attached to the tip of a rod-shaped member. The rod-shaped member is detachable from the tip of the holding portion, and is exchangeable integrally with the portion. The iontophoresis device may advantageously take the form of a rod or catheter.

Claims

1. An iontophoresis device, comprising:

a working electrode assembly and a non-working electrode assembly, for use in administering an ionic drug by iontophoresis; and

a DC electric power source connected to the working electrode assembly and the non-working electrode assembly with opposite polarities;

a rod-shaped member that supports the working electrode assembly and the non-working electrode assembly; and

a holding portion for detachably supporting the rod-shaped member,

the working electrode assembly and the non-working electrode assembly being disposed at a tip of the rod-shaped member, and

a predetermined amount of spacing being provided between the working electrode assembly and the non-working electrode assembly.

2. The iontophoresis device according to claim 1, wherein:

the holding portion comprises an electric power source side working electrode terminal and an electric power source side non-working electrode terminal connected to the DC electric power source with opposite polarities through wiring from the DC electric power source, the wiring being housed in the holding portion;

the rod-shaped member comprises on a proximal end of a side thereof detachable from the holding portion a working electrode side contact and a non-working electrode side contact which are electrically connected to and electrically separated from the electric power source side working electrode terminal and the electric power source side non-working electrode terminal when the rod-shaped member is respectively physically attached to and detached from the holding portion, and

the working electrode side contact and the non-working electrode side contact are connected to a working electrode and a non-working electrode in the working electrode assembly and the non-working electrode assembly, respectively.

3. The iontophoresis device according to claim 1, wherein the working electrode assembly and the non-working electrode assembly are disposed such that central axes thereof are in parallel with each other.

4. The iontophoresis device according to claim 1, wherein the working electrode assembly and the non-working electrode assembly are disposed such that central axes thereof spread out to a tip direction.

5. The iontophoresis device according to claim 1, wherein the working electrode assembly and the non-working electrode assembly are disposed such that central axes thereof intersect each other in a tip direction.

6. The iontophoresis device according to claim 1, further comprising:

the ionic drug is formed of a photosensitized reactive material to be activated by absorbing light, and an irradiation optical system for applying light from a vicinity of a tip of the working electrode assembly carried by the holding portion.

7. The iontophoresis device according to claim 6 wherein:

the holding portion comprises an electric power source side working electrode terminal and an electric power source side non-working electrode terminal connected to the DC electric power source with opposite polarities through wiring from the DC electric power source, the wiring being housed in the holding portion;

the rod-shaped member comprises on a proximal end of a side thereof detachable from the holding portion a working electrode side contact and a non-working electrode side contact which are electrically connected to and electrically separated from the electric power source side working electrode terminal and the electric power source side non-working electrode terminal when the rod-shaped member is respectively physically attached to and detached from the holding portion, and

the working electrode side contact and the non-working electrode side contact are connected to a working electrode and a non-working electrode in the working electrode assembly and the non-working electrode assembly, respectively.

8. The iontophoresis device according to claims 6, wherein the working electrode assembly and the non-working electrode assembly are disposed such that central axes thereof are in parallel with each other.

9. The iontophoresis device according to claim 6, wherein the working electrode assembly and the non-working electrode assembly are disposed such that central axes thereof spread out to a tip direction.

10. The iontophoresis device according to claims 6, wherein the working electrode assembly and the non-working electrode assembly are disposed such that central axes thereof intersect each other in a tip direction.

11. The iontophoresis device of claim 6 wherein the irradiation optical system comprises:

a light source comprising a light-emitting diode or a laser diode for emitting light having a wavelength to which the photosensitized reactive material reacts; and

an optical fiber to guide light emitted from the light source to at least proximate the rod-shaped member.

12. The iontophoresis device according to claim 11, wherein the working electrode assembly and the non-working electrode assembly are disposed such that central axes thereof are in parallel with each other.

13. The iontophoresis device according to claim 11, wherein the working electrode assembly and the non-working electrode assembly are disposed such that central axes thereof spread out to a tip direction.

14. The iontophoresis device according to claim 11, wherein the working electrode assembly and the non-working electrode assembly are disposed such that central axes thereof intersect each other in a tip direction.

15. The iontophoresis device according to claim 11, wherein:

the holding portion comprises an electric power source side working electrode terminal and an electric power source side non-working electrode terminal connected to the DC electric power source with opposite polarities through wiring from the DC electric power source, the wiring being housed in the holding portion;

the rod-shaped member comprises on a proximal end of a side thereof detachable from the holding portion a working electrode side contact and a non-working electrode side contact which are electrically connected to and electrically separated from the electric power source side working electrode terminal and the electric power source side non-working electrode terminal when the rod-shaped member is respectively physically attached to and detached from the holding portion, and

the working electrode side contact and the non-working electrode side contact are connected to a working electrode and a non-working electrode in the working electrode assembly and the non-working electrode assembly, respectively.

16. The iontophoresis device according to claim 15, wherein the working electrode assembly and the non-working electrode assembly are disposed such that central axes thereof are in parallel with each other.

17. The iontophoresis device according to claim 15, wherein the working electrode assembly and the non-working electrode assembly are disposed such that central axes thereof spread out to a tip direction.

18. The iontophoresis device according to claim 1, wherein the working electrode assembly and the non-working electrode assembly are disposed such that central axes thereof intersect each other in a tip direction.

19. The iontophoresis device of claim 15, further comprising:

a controller carried by the holding portion, the controller being disposed in an electric power source circuit between the electric power source side working electrode terminal and the electric power source side non-working electrode terminal and the DC electric power source operable to adjust at least one of a current value during energization and an energization time.

20. The iontophoresis device according to claim 19 wherein the working electrode assembly and the non-working electrode assembly are disposed such that central axes thereof are in parallel with each other.

21. The iontophoresis device according to claim 19, wherein the working electrode assembly and the non-working electrode assembly are disposed such that central axes thereof spread out to a tip direction.

22. The iontophoresis device according to claim 19, wherein the working electrode assembly and the non-working electrode assembly are disposed such that central axes thereof intersect each other in a tip direction.

23. The iontophoresis device according to claim 1, wherein:

the working electrode assembly comprises;

the working electrode connected to the DC electric power source having the same polarity as that of a charged ion of the ionic drug;

an electrolyte solution holding portion holding an electrolyte solution, the electrolyte solution holding portion being placed on a front surface of the working electrode;

a second ion exchange membrane selecting an ion having a polarity opposite to that of the charged ion of the ionic drug, the second ion exchange membrane being placed on a front surface of the electrolyte solution holding portion;

a drug solution holding portion holding the ionic drug, the drug solution holding portion being placed on a front surface of the second ion exchange membrane; and

a first ion exchange membrane selecting an ion having the same polarity as that of the charged ion of the ionic drug, the first ion exchange membrane being placed on a front surface of the drug solution holding portion; and

the non-working electrode assembly comprises;

the non-working electrode connected to the DC electric power source having a polarity opposite to that of the charged ion of the ionic drug;

a second electrolyte solution holding portion holding a second electrolyte solution, the second electrolyte solution holding portion being placed on a front surface of the non-working electrode;

a third ion exchange membrane selecting an ion having the same polarity as that of the charged ion of the ionic drug, the third ion exchange membrane being placed on a front surface of the second electrolyte solution holding portion;

a third electrolyte solution holding portion holding a third electrolyte solution, the third electrolyte solution holding portion being placed on a front surface of the third ion exchange membrane; and

a fourth ion exchange membrane which is the ion exchange membrane selecting an ion having a polarity opposite to that of the charged ion of the ionic drug, the fourth ion exchange membrane being placed on a front surface of the third electrolyte solution holding portion.