PATCH FOR REVERSE IONTOPHORESIS
First Claim
1. A patch for sampling one or more analytes through the skin of a patient comprising:
- an electrode layer for positioning adjacent to the skin of a patient;
means for actuating the electrode layer to induce the withdrawal of analytes through the skin of the patient by reverse iontophoresis;
a first reservoir containing an electrically conducting medium;
means for controlling transport of the conducting medium from the first reservoir onto a surface of the electrode layer adjacent to the skin to increase the conductivity between the electrode layer and the skin; and
means for transporting analytes withdrawn from the skin of the patient to a location where they are to be analysed.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A patch for sampling one or more analytes through the skin of a patient comprises an electrode layer for positioning adjacent to the skin of a patient; and means for actuating the electrode layer to induce the withdrawal of analytes through the skin by reverse iontophoresis. A first reservoir in the patch contains an electrically conducting medium such as a liquid electrolyte, which can be controllably delivered onto a surface of the electrode layer adjacent to the skin to increase the conductivity between the electrode layer and the skin. Means are provided for transporting the analytes to a location where they are to be analysed. The patch may comprise a second reservoir containing a drug for transdermal delivery to the patient. An actuator may stretch and/or compress the reservoirs to expel their contents. The actuator may comprise a generally planar mesh formed from a shape memory alloy.
-
Citations
31 Claims
-
1. A patch for sampling one or more analytes through the skin of a patient comprising:
-
an electrode layer for positioning adjacent to the skin of a patient; means for actuating the electrode layer to induce the withdrawal of analytes through the skin of the patient by reverse iontophoresis; a first reservoir containing an electrically conducting medium; means for controlling transport of the conducting medium from the first reservoir onto a surface of the electrode layer adjacent to the skin to increase the conductivity between the electrode layer and the skin; and means for transporting analytes withdrawn from the skin of the patient to a location where they are to be analysed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A method of sampling one or more analytes through the skin of a patient comprising the steps of:
-
positioning a patch such that an electrode layer of the patch is adjacent to the skin of the patient; transporting an electrically conducting medium from a first reservoir in the patch onto a surface of the electrode layer adjacent to the skin to increase the conductivity between the electrode layer and the skin; actuating the electrode layer to induce the withdrawal of analytes through the skin of the patient by reverse iontophoresis; and transporting the analytes withdrawn from the skin of the patient to a location where they are to be analysed. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
-
- 23. An actuator (2) for a transdermal patch comprising a generally planar mesh formed from a shape memory alloy.
- 29. A patch for transdermal delivery of drugs or sampling of analytes, comprising an actuator having a generally planar mesh formed from a shape memory alloy, a fluid reservoir arranged to be stretched or compressed by operation of the actuator, and controlling means for controlling operation of the actuator.
Specification