METHOD AND SYSTEM TO DETECT MALFUNCTIONS IN AN IONTOPHORESIS DEVICE THAT DELIVERS ACTIVE AGENTS TO BIOLOGICAL INTERFACES
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method usable with an iontophoresis device that delivers an active agent to a biological interface, the method comprising:
- detecting a value of a characteristic associated with at least one component of the iontophoresis device;
evaluating the detected value of the characteristic to determine whether the detected value is indicative of a possible defective condition of the iontophoresis device; and
if the evaluated value is determined to be indicative of the possible defective condition, generating at least one human-perceptible indication that is indicative of the possible defective condition of the iontophoresis device, including providing the human-perceptible indication in a manner that is perceivable from an exterior of the iontophoresis device.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An active agent delivery device is operable to deliver an active agent such as a drug or therapeutic agent to a biological interface such as skin or mucous membrane. The device, such as an iontophoresis device, may include one or more human-perceptible indicators operable to provide an indication of a malfunction or other defective condition of the device. Detectors may be provided to detect a value of a characteristic or parameter associated with one or more components of the device, with the value being usable to determine whether a defective condition may exist.
-
Citations
28 Claims
-
1. A method usable with an iontophoresis device that delivers an active agent to a biological interface, the method comprising:
-
detecting a value of a characteristic associated with at least one component of the iontophoresis device;
evaluating the detected value of the characteristic to determine whether the detected value is indicative of a possible defective condition of the iontophoresis device; and
if the evaluated value is determined to be indicative of the possible defective condition, generating at least one human-perceptible indication that is indicative of the possible defective condition of the iontophoresis device, including providing the human-perceptible indication in a manner that is perceivable from an exterior of the iontophoresis device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. An article of manufacture, comprising:
-
a machine-readable medium usable with an iontophoresis device and having instructions stored thereon that are executable by a processor to determine whether a possible defective condition of the iontophoresis device exists, by;
evaluating a detected value of a characteristic associated with operation of the iontophoresis device to determine whether the detected value is indicative of the possible defective condition; and
initiating generation of at least one human-perceptible indication that is indicative of the possible defective condition of the iontophoresis device, if the evaluated value is determined to be indicative of the possible defective condition. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A system, comprising:
-
iontophoresis device means for delivering an active agent to a biological interface;
detector means for obtaining a value of a parameter associated with operation of at least one component of the iontophoresis device means;
evaluation means for evaluating the obtained value of the parameter to determine whether there may be a possible malfunction of the iontophoresis device means; and
indicator means for providing, based on the evaluated value of the parameter, a human-perceptible indication of whether the possible malfunction of the iontophoresis device means may exist. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. An iontophoresis device, comprising:
-
an active electrode assembly to deliver an active agent to a biological interface;
a power supply coupled to the active electrode assembly to apply a current to the active electrode assembly to induce delivery of the active agent to the biological interface;
a counter electrode assembly coupled to the power supply; and
a control unit coupled to the electrode assemblies and to the power supply, the control unit including;
at least one detector to detect a value of a characteristic associated with any one or combination of the electrode assemblies and the power supply;
an evaluation unit coupled to the detector to receive an input based on the detected value and to determine whether the input is indicative of a possible malfunction; and
an indicator coupled to the evaluation unit and responsive to the evaluation unit to provide a human-perceptible indication of the possible malfunction. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
-
Specification