Iontophoretic electrode

• US 8,447,393 B2
• Filed: 08/05/2011
• Issued: 05/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DJO LLC (Enovis Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Encore Medical Asset Corporation (Enovis Corp.)
• Inventors: Koschinsky, Ralph, Hause, Robert F., Isaacson, Jim
• Primary Examiner(s): MENDEZ, MANUEL A
• Application Number:
  US13/204,113
• Publication Number:
  US 20110295188A1
• Time in Patent Office: 655 Days
• Field of Search: 604 19- 22, 606/13, 606/14, 606/27, 606/31, 606/32, 606/41, 606/48, 606/129
• US Class Current: 604/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0428 Specially adapted for iontophoresis, e.g. AC, DC or including drug reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/044 Shape of the electrode
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0448 Drug reservoir

Abstract

An electrode for an iontophoretic drug delivery system includes a retainer having a malleable characteristic. The retainer and a conductor are connected to a platform. The conductor and a dose controller are electrically coupled to the iontophoretic drug delivery system. A drug delivery matrix is operably connected to the platform and proximate the conductor wherein the conductor, the drug delivery matrix, and the dose controller cooperate to deliver a drug to a user when the electrode is affixed to the user and operably connected to the iontophoretic drug delivery system.

Claims

1. An iontophoretic drug delivery system, comprising:

a drug delivery electrode and a return electrode;

a dose controller coupled to at least one of the drug delivery electrode and the return electrode; and

a monitor operably coupled to the dose controller for observing an electrical characteristic associated with delivery of a drug, the monitor including a sensor in communication with the monitor, wherein the sensor, monitor and dose controller cooperate to monitor at least one characteristic associated with the delivery of a drug, and automatically adjust at least one electrical characteristic of the drug delivery electrode in response to the monitored characteristic associated with the delivery of the drug.

2. The iontophoretic drug delivery system of claim 1 wherein the at least one characteristic associated with the delivery of a drug includes at least one of voltage, current and resistance.

3. The iontophoretic drug delivery system of claim 2 comprising a conductor, wherein the at least one characteristic associated with the delivery of a drug includes the amount of current associated with the conductor.

4. The iontophoretic drug delivery system of claim 3, wherein the conductor is proximate to a treatment area.

5. The iontophoretic drug delivery system of claim 1, wherein the electrical characteristic of the drug delivery electrode is one of voltage and current.

6. The iontophoretic drug delivery system of claim 5, wherein the at least one electrical characteristic of the drug delivery electrode is adjusted according to a prescribed amount of medicament to be delivered.

7. The iontophoretic drug delivery system of claim 1, wherein the dose controller, the monitor, and the current controller are located within a housing.

8. The iontophoretic drug delivery system of claim 1, wherein the sensor includes a current shunt.

9. The iontophoretic drug delivery system of claim 1, wherein the sensor includes a Hall Effect sensor.

10. The iontophoretic drug delivery system of claim 1, wherein the drug delivery electrode comprises a malleable retainer.

11. A method for delivering a drug dose, the method comprising:

providing a drug delivery electrode and a return electrode;

activating the drug delivery electrode and the return electrode to deliver a drug;

sensing at least one characteristic associated with delivering the drug;

monitoring the at least one characteristic associated with delivering the drug; and

automatically adjusting at least one electrical characteristic of the drug delivery electrode in response to the monitored characteristic associated with the delivery of the drug.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one characteristic associated with the delivery of a drug includes at least one of voltage, current and resistance.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising providing a conductor, wherein the at least one characteristic associated with the delivery of a drug includes the amount of current associated with the conductor.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the conductor is placed proximate to a treatment area.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the electrical characteristic of the drug delivery electrode is one of voltage and current.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising adjusting the at least one electrical characteristic of the drug delivery electrode according to a prescribed amount of medicament to be delivered.

17. The method of claim 11, comprising using a dose controller to control the level of current associated with the conductor.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the level of current is controlled by a variable resistor.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein a sensor is operably coupled near an area to be treated.

20. The method of claim 11, further comprising conforming the drug delivery electrode to a contour of an area on a user to be treated.