Apparatus and method for indication of iontophoretic drug dispenser operability

• US H71 H
• Filed: 08/03/1984
• Issued: 06/03/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/1984
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Gary A. Lattin, Paul D. Sorenson
• Original Assignee: Gary A. Lattin, Paul D. Sorenson
• Inventors: Sorenson, Paul D., Lattin, Gary A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Terapane, John F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jorgensen, Eric
• Application Number:
  US66/376,43
• Time in Patent Office: 669 Days
• Field of Search: 128734, 128783, 604020
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/30 Apparatus for iontophoresis, i.e. transfer of media in ionic state by an electromotoric force into the body, or cataphoresis

Abstract

An iontrophoretic medical device has a first light of controlled brightness. Iontophoretic contact with skin is measured by current flow and a second light is illuminated in proportion to current flow. Generally, equivalent brightness of the two lights indicates successful iontophoretic contact.

Claims

1. A medical device for making iontophoretic contact with skin of a patient comprising:

a first visual indicator having a first controlled indication level;

means for making iontophoretic contact with skin of a patient;

means for measuring current flow across the impedance of the patient'"'"'s skin;

a second visual indicator;

means for activating the second visual indicator to a indication level indicative of current flow across the impedance of the patient'"'"'s skin, so that the indication level may be viually compared to the first indication level.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the first visual indicator and the second visual indicator are lights.

3. In a medical device operating by iontophoretic contact with the skin, the improvement comprising:

a first control light which is constantly illuminated to a control brightness;

means for making iontophoretic contact with skin of a patient;

means for measuring iontophoretic current flow across the impedance of the patient'"'"'s skin; and

means electrically connected to the means for sensing current flow for determining a level of satisfactory current flow;

a second indicator light; and

means responsive to the means for sensing current flow for illuminating the second light, such that a satisfactory level of current flow results in an illumination of the second light generally visually equivalent to the illumination of the first light.

4. A method of iontophoretic treatment of a human patient comprising the following steps:

providing a device for making iontophoretic contact with the skin;

providing a first light of a constant control brightness;

providing a second light electrically connected with the device for iontophoretic contact such that brightness of a light indicates the quality of the contact with the skin;

comparing the brightness of the second light with the brightness of the first light; and

determining, based upon general equivalence of the brightness of the first and second lights that proper iontophoretic contact with the skin has been achieved.