Device and method for monitoring and controlling electrical resistance at a tissue site undergoing iontophoresis
First Claim
1. A device for iontophoretically transporting a compound through a localized region of an individual'"'"'s body tissue, comprising:
- a first electrode adapted to be placed in ion-conducting relation with the localized region to allow iontophoretic transport of a compound therethrough;
a second electrode adapted to contact the individual'"'"'s body tissue and spaced apart from the first electrode;
a reference electrode adapted to contact the individual'"'"'s body tissue and spaced apart from the first and second electrodes;
a current source electrically connected to the first and second electrodes, for applying a current to the localized region of body tissue to transport the compound iontophoretically through the localized region; and
a monitoring means for monitoring the electrical resistance of the localized region by measuring any voltage difference between the reference electrode and at least one of the first and second electrodes.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention provides a device for iontophoretically transporting a compound through a localized region of an individual'"'"'s body tissue. The device comprises first and second iontophoretic electrodes, a reference electrode, a current source, and a monitoring means. The first electrode is placed in ion-conducting relation with the localized region to allow iontophoretic transport of a compound therethrough. The second and transport electrodes are each placed in contact with the individual'"'"'s body tissue, and all electrodes are spaced apart from each other. The current source is electrically connected to the first and second electrodes and applies a current to the localized region of body tissue to effect iontophoretic transport. The monitoring means monitors the electrical resistance of the localized region by measuring any voltage difference between the reference electrode and the first and/or second electrodes. Methods for using a reference electrode to monitor and control iontophoresis are also provided.
261 Citations
64 Claims
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1. A device for iontophoretically transporting a compound through a localized region of an individual'"'"'s body tissue, comprising:
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a first electrode adapted to be placed in ion-conducting relation with the localized region to allow iontophoretic transport of a compound therethrough;
a second electrode adapted to contact the individual'"'"'s body tissue and spaced apart from the first electrode;
a reference electrode adapted to contact the individual'"'"'s body tissue and spaced apart from the first and second electrodes;
a current source electrically connected to the first and second electrodes, for applying a current to the localized region of body tissue to transport the compound iontophoretically through the localized region; and
a monitoring means for monitoring the electrical resistance of the localized region by measuring any voltage difference between the reference electrode and at least one of the first and second electrodes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A method for iontophoretically transporting a compound through a localized region of an individual'"'"'s body tissue, comprising:
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(a) placing a first electrode in ion-conducting relation with the localized region;
(b) placing second and reference electrodes in contact with the individual'"'"'s body tissue, wherein the electrodes are spaced apart from each other;
(c) applying a current to the localized region of body tissue through the first and second electrodes to transport a compound iontophoretically through the localized region; and
(d) monitoring the electrical resistance of the localized region during step (c) by measuring any voltage difference between the reference electrode and at least one of the first and second electrodes. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58)
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- 59. In a method for transporting a compound iontophoretically through a localized region of an individual'"'"'s body tissue wherein a current is applied to the localized region of body tissue through first and second electrodes each in contact with the body tissue, the improvement comprising measuring the tissue resistance at the first electrode independently from tissue resistance at the second electrode, using an iontophoretic reference electrode in combination with either the first or second electrodes.
Specification