Electrotherapeutic apparatus for iontophoresis

• US 4,689,039 A
• Filed: 07/01/1986
• Issued: 08/25/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ken Hayashibara
• Original Assignee: Ken Hayashibara
• Inventors: Masaki, Kazumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohen, Lee S.
• Application Number:
  US06/881,117
• Time in Patent Office: 420 Days
• Field of Search: 604/20, 128/419 R, 128/420 R, 128/421, 128/422, 128/790, 128/803
• US Class Current: 604/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0436 Material of the electrode
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/044 Shape of the electrode
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/303 Constructional details electrodes for external use A61N1/0428
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/325 for iontophoresis, i.e. transfer of media in ionic state by an electromotoric force into the body electrodes for external use A61N1/0428

Abstract

An electrotherapeutic apparatus is disclosed for iontophoretical removal of pigmentation, which comprises an electrode means (first electrode means) capable of bearing a mixture solution of kojic acid and a supporting electrolyte, and functioning as the active electrode in the iontophoresis; another electrode means (second electrode means) functioning as the dispersive electrode in the iontophoresis; and an oscillator means to generate a low-frequency voltage, said oscillator means having the output connected with the first- and second-electrode means in a manner that the potential at the first electrode means is lower than that at the second electrode means.

Claims

1. An electrotherapeutic apparatus for iontophoresis, comprising:

(a) first electrode means bearing a solution of kojic acid and a supporting electrolyte, and functioning as the active electrode in the iontophoresis;

(b) second electrode means functioning as the dispersive electrode in the iontophoresis; and

(c) an oscillator means for generating a low-frequency voltage, said oscillator means having outputs connected with the first and second electrode means in a manner that the potential at the first electrode means is lower than that at the second electrode means.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the supporting electrolyte is vitamin C.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the concentration of kojic acid is in the range of 0.01 to 5 w/v %.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said oscillator means is a blocking oscillator.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said low-frequency voltage is a train of diphasic pulses.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first electrode means is a moist-pad active electrode.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first electrode means is composed of ion exchange material.