Non-invasive chemical species delivery apparatus and method
First Claim
1. A bioelectrode for use in the iontophoretic delivery of a chemical species into the skin or tissue of a person comprisinga pouch for holding a fluid containing the chemical species, said pouch including flexible and deformable walls adapted to generally conform to surface shapes against which they are placed, at least a portion of which includes a microporous membrane separating the interior of the pouch from the exterior and having openings of about 0.22 microns or less in diameter, said portion being formed to present a generally planar to convex exterior surface, andan electrode carried by said pouch for coupling to an electric potential source.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A bioelectrode for non-invasive and inotophoretic delivery of chemical species (such as ions, polar molecules, etc.) into the skin of a person. The bioelectrode includes a pouch having flexible walls, at least a portion of which is composed of a microporous, permeable or semipermeable membrane. The pouch holds fluid which contains the chemical species to be delivered through the skin. An electrode is attached to the pouch so that when the pouch is placed against the skin, with the membrane portion in contact with the skin, and an electric potential is applied to the electrode, chemical species in the pouch are caused to migrate through the membrane and into the skin.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A bioelectrode for use in the iontophoretic delivery of a chemical species into the skin or tissue of a person comprising
a pouch for holding a fluid containing the chemical species, said pouch including flexible and deformable walls adapted to generally conform to surface shapes against which they are placed, at least a portion of which includes a microporous membrane separating the interior of the pouch from the exterior and having openings of about 0.22 microns or less in diameter, said portion being formed to present a generally planar to convex exterior surface, and an electrode carried by said pouch for coupling to an electric potential source.
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12. A bioelectrode for use in the iontophoretic delivery of a chemical species into the skin or tissue of a person comprising
a pouch for holding a fluid containing the chemical species, said pouch including a first flexible and deformable wall portion constructed of a semipermeable membrane having openings of about 0.22 microns or less in diameter, said first wall portion being adapted to allow passage therethrough of certain ions and molecules but to block passage of certain other molecules, and a second flexible and deformable wall portion disposed in a generally facing relationship with said wall portion, and an electrode carried by said pouch for coupling to an electric potential source.
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14. A method of non-invasively delivering chemical species into the skin or tissue of a person comprising,
placing against the skin or tissue a pouch holding a fluid containing said chemical species, said pouch having flexible walls, one of which consists of a microporous or semipermeable membrane which is positioned in contact with the skin or tissue, applying pressure to said pouch to cause that portion of the pouch in contact with the skin or tissue to conform to the surface shape of the skin or tissue, applying a first electric potential to a portion of the skin or tissue spaced from the location of contact of said pouch, and applying a second electric potential to an exterior surface of said pouch to cause the migration of the chemical species through said membrane and into the skin or tissue.
Specification