Skin-contact type medical treatment apparatus

• US 5,944,685 A
• Filed: 03/24/1997
• Issued: 08/31/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Polytronics Limited
• Original Assignee: Polytronics Limited
• Inventors: Muroki, Masahisa
• Primary Examiner(s): Bockelman, Mark
• Application Number:
  US08/824,653
• Time in Patent Office: 890 Days
• Field of Search: 604/20-21, 607/1, 607/72, 607/2, 607/3, 607/152, 607/149, 429/3
• 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 1/205 for promoting a biological process
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/326 for promoting growth of cells, e.g. bone cells

Abstract

A first conductive sheet film is disposed on a partial area of the skin-contact surface of an adhesive member. A conductive matrix is disposed on the first conductive film, the conductive matrix being dispersed with a drug to be permeated through skin. A second conductive film is disposed on the conductive matrix, the second conductive film having a plurality of openings distributed on the surface of the conductive matrix and having a standard single electrode potential lower than that of the first conductive film. An insulating film is disposed between the conductive matrix and the second conductive film in a manner such that an electric short path is not formed between the conductive matrix and the second conductive film. The insulating film has a plurality of openings distributed on the surface of the conductive matrix, and a connection member electrically interconnects the first and second conductive films.

Claims

1. A transcutaneous dosing element comprising:

an adhesive sheet member having a skin-contact surface;

a first conductive film disposed on a partial area of the skin-contact surface of said adhesive sheet member;

a conductive matrix adapted to be disposed on said first conductive film, said conductive matrix being dispersed with drug to be permeated through skin;

a second conductive film disposed on said conductive matrix, said second conductive film having a plurality of openings distributed on a surface of said conductive matrix, and said second conductive film having a single standard electrode potential which is different from a single standard electrode potential of the first conductive film;

an insulating film disposed between said conductive matrix and said second conductive film in a manner such that an electric short path is not formed between said conductive matrix and said second conductive film, said insulating film having a plurality of openings distributed on the surface of said conductive matrix; and

a connection member for electrically interconnecting said first conductive film and said second conductive film;

wherein when said adhesive sheet member is adhered to skin, an electromotive force generated due to a difference between the standard single electrode potential of the first conductive film and the standard single electrode potential of the second conductive film causes an electric current to flow through an electric circuit that includes each of said first conductive film, said conductive matrix, the skin to which the adhesive sheet member is adhered, said second conductive film, and said connection member.

2. A transcutaneous dosing element according to claim 1, wherein said first conductive film comprises a metal and said second conductive film comprises a semiconductor.

3. A transcutaneous dosing element according to claim 2, wherein said second conductive film comprises an anoxia oxide semiconductor selected from a group consisting of zinc oxide, aluminum oxide, tin oxide, lead oxide, bismuth oxide, antimony oxide, iron oxide, chromium oxide, molybdenum oxide, niobium oxide, and titanium oxide.

4. A transcutaneous dosing element according to claim 1, wherein said second conductive film is divided into a plurality of disconnected portions which are separately connected to said first conductive film by different connection members.

5. A transcutaneous dosing element according to claim 4, wherein said plurality of openings in said insulating film and said second conductive film each have one of:

(i) a polygon shape whose each two consecutive sides have an angle therebetween which is larger than 90 degrees, and (ii) a shape surrounded by smoothly connected curved lines along an outer periphery of the Polygon shape.

6. A transcutaneous dosing element according to claim 4, wherein one of said first and second conductive films comprises a semiconductor and the other comprises a metal, and wherein said metal has a standard single electrode potential which is higher than a standard single electrode potential of said semiconductor.