Iontophoretic and electroosmotic disc treatment

• US 8,676,348 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2012
• Issued: 03/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Discure Technologies Limited
• Original Assignee: Rainbow Medical Ltd.
• Inventors: Gross, Yossi
• Primary Examiner(s): Dietrich, Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAM, MINH DUC GIA
• Application Number:
  US13/663,757
• Publication Number:
  US 20130102952A1
• Time in Patent Office: 504 Days
• Field of Search: 607/117
• US Class Current: 607/117
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/205 for promoting a biological process
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/306 Arrangements where at least part of the apparatus is introduced into the body
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/327 for enhancing the absorption properties of tissue, e.g. by electroporation

Abstract

Apparatus for treating a body of a subject is provided. The apparatus includes (1) a first electrode, configured to be placed at a first site in the body of the subject, (2) a second electrode, configured to be placed at a second site in the body of the subject, (3) a pressure sensor, configured to detect a pressure at at least the first site, and (4) a control unit, configured to, at least in part responsively to the detected pressure, induce electroosmotic movement of a fluid between the first and second sites, by driving a current between the first and second electrodes. Other embodiments are also described.

Claims

1. Apparatus for treating a body of a subject, the apparatus comprising:

a first electrode, configured to be placed at a first site in the body of the subject;

a second electrode, configured to be placed at a second site in the body of the subject;

a pressure sensor, configured to detect a pressure at at least the first site; and

a control unit, configured to, at least in part responsively to the detected pressure, induce electroosmotic movement of a fluid in tissue at the first site to tissue at the second site, by driving a current between the first and second electrodes.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor is integrated with the first electrode.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the first site includes a highly hydrated tissue that is at least partly surrounded by a tissue that is less highly hydrated than the highly hydrated tissue,

at least the first electrode is configured to be placed at the highly hydrated tissue, and

the control unit is configured to, at least in part responsively to the detected pressure, induce the electroosmotic movement of the fluid between the highly hydrated tissue and the second site.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to alter the pressure at the first site by inducing the electroosmotic movement of the fluid.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to maintain the pressure at the first site at a generally constant pressure.

6. A method for use with a body of a subject, the method comprising:

detecting a pressure at a first site in the body of the subject; and

in response to the detected pressure, electroosmotically driving fluid between the first site and a second site in the body of the subject by driving a treatment current between a first electrode disposed at the first site, and a second electrode disposed at the second site.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein detecting the pressure comprises detecting the pressure using a pressure sensor that is integrated with the first electrode.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein:

the first site includes a highly hydrated tissue that is at least partly surrounded by a tissue that is less highly hydrated than the highly hydrated tissue, and

electroosmotically driving the fluid comprises electroosmotically driving the fluid between the highly hydrated tissue and the second site.

9. The method according to claim 6, wherein electroosmotically driving the fluid comprises altering the pressure at the first site.

10. The method according to claim 6, wherein electroosmotically driving the fluid comprises maintaining the pressure at the first site at a generally constant pressure.

11. Apparatus for treating a body of a subject, the apparatus comprising:

a first electrode, configured to be placed at a first site in the body of the subject;

a second electrode, configured to be placed at a second site in the body of the subject;

a pressure sensor, configured to detect a pressure of tissue at at least the first site; and

a control unit, configured to, at least in part responsively to the detected pressure, induce electroosmotic movement of a fluid between the first and second sites, by driving a current between the first and second electrodes.

12. Apparatus for treating a body of a subject, the apparatus comprising:

a first electrode, configured to be placed at a first site in the body of the subject;

a second electrode, configured to be placed at a second site in the body of the subject;

a pressure sensor, configured to detect a pressure at at least the first site; and

a control unit, configured to, at least in part responsively to the detected pressure, induce electroosmotic movement of a fluid through tissue of the subject between the first and second sites, by driving a current between the first and second electrodes.

13. Apparatus for treating a body of a subject, the apparatus comprising:

a first electrode, configured to be placed at a first site in the body of the subject;

a second electrode, configured to be placed at a second site in the body of the subject;

a pressure sensor, configured to detect a pressure at at least the first site; and

a control unit, configured to, at least in part responsively to the detected pressure, change a pressure in tissue at at least the first site by inducing electroosmotic movement of the fluid from the second site to the first site by driving a current between the first and second electrodes.