Handheld apparatus to deliver active agents to biological interfaces
First Claim
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1. A device for delivering an active agent under the influence a power source to a biological entity, the device comprising:
- a handle sized and dimensioned to be grasped;
a plurality of probes extending from the handle;
a counter electrode assembly at least partially positioned in the handle, the counter electrode assembly comprising at least a counter electrode element operable to supply an electrical potential of a first polarity, the counter electrode assembly operable to provide an electrically conductive path between a first biological interface and the counter electrode element when the handle is grasped; and
at least one active electrode assembly positioned proximate the plurality of probes, the active electrode assembly comprising at least one active electrode element operable to supply an electrical potential of a second polarity different than the first polarity, the active electrode assembly operable to provide an electrically conductive path between a second biological interface and the active electrode element when the probes are placed proximate the second biological interface, where the first and the second biological interfaces are each part of the biological entity, and wherein at least some of the active agent is positioned between the at least one active electrode element and an exterior of the each of the probes.
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Abstract
A device to deliver an active agent to a biological entity includes a handle shaped portion configured to be grasped to provide a first portion of the biological entity, and a probe shaped portion extending from the handle shaped portion configured to be positioned on or proximate a second portion of the biological entity to complete a circuit path from a power source through the biological entity. The device may employ iontophoresis. The device may be configured to approximate the shape of a conventional toothbrush or electric tooth brush.
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Citations
41 Claims
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1. A device for delivering an active agent under the influence a power source to a biological entity, the device comprising:
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a handle sized and dimensioned to be grasped;
a plurality of probes extending from the handle;
a counter electrode assembly at least partially positioned in the handle, the counter electrode assembly comprising at least a counter electrode element operable to supply an electrical potential of a first polarity, the counter electrode assembly operable to provide an electrically conductive path between a first biological interface and the counter electrode element when the handle is grasped; and
at least one active electrode assembly positioned proximate the plurality of probes, the active electrode assembly comprising at least one active electrode element operable to supply an electrical potential of a second polarity different than the first polarity, the active electrode assembly operable to provide an electrically conductive path between a second biological interface and the active electrode element when the probes are placed proximate the second biological interface, where the first and the second biological interfaces are each part of the biological entity, and wherein at least some of the active agent is positioned between the at least one active electrode element and an exterior of the each of the probes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An iontophoresis device to deliver an active agent to a biological entity by forming a circuit path from a power source via two different portions of the biological entity, the iontophoresis device comprising:
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a handle having a perimeter sized and configured to be grasped;
a counter electrode assembly at least partially received in the handle portion of the housing, the counter electrode assembly comprising a counter electrode element operable to supply an electrical potential of a first polarity from a power source; and
at least one active electrode assembly including a plurality of probes, at least one active electrode element, and at least one active agent reservoir, each of the plurality of probes extending from the handle and having an exterior that is distinct from one another, the at least one active agent reservoir being positioned between the at least one active electrode element and the exterior the probes, the at least one active electrode element operable to supply an electrical potential of a second polarity, opposite to the first polarity to the active agent reservoir such that at least some active agent is driven from the active agent reservoir through the exterior of the probes in response to the supply of the electrical potential of the second polarity. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. An iontophoresis device to deliver an active agent to a biological entity by forming a circuit path from a power source via two different portions of the biological entity, the iontophoresis device comprising:
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a handle having a perimeter sized and configured to be grasped;
a counter electrode assembly at least partially received in the handle portion of the housing, the counter electrode assembly comprising a counter electrode element operable to supply an electrical potential of a first polarity from a power source; and
at least one active electrode assembly including a plurality of probe shaped active agent reservoirs each extending from the handle and having an exterior that is distinct from one another, and at least one active electrode element, the at least one active electrode element operable to supply an electrical potential of a second polarity, opposite to the first polarity to the active agent reservoir such that at least some active agent is driven from the active agent reservoir in response to the supply of the electrical potential of the second polarity. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. An active agent delivery device to deliver an active agent to a biological entity, the active agent delivery device comprising:
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a power source;
a plurality of probe means selectively positionable proximate a tooth of the biological entity for actively delivering an active agent thereto via an active current path to the power source; and
handle means selectively grippable by the biological entity for forming a return current path to the power source via the biological entity. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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Specification