GB2372705A

GB2372705A - A hand-held self-administered iontophoretic drug applicator with roller-ball skin electrode

Info

Publication number: GB2372705A
Application number: GB0026861A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kieron Loy
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-11-03
Filing date: 2000-11-03
Publication date: 2002-09-04
Also published as: GB0026861D0

Abstract

A hand-held iontophoretic transdermal drug delivery device comprises a hand-held housing containing a low-voltage DC power supply 28 and a replaceable plastic drug container 24. A first DC power line is connected to a electrically conducting portion of the housing 34 so as to be held by the operator of the device preferably in series with an LED indicator lamp 18. The second DC power line is connected to two electrodes, the first electrode 22 is immersed in the drug and is driven through the drug container wall by it's spiked shape. The first electrode 22 is connected to the second freely rotating spherical electrode 16 which acts to conduct current to the skin of the operator and to spread the current carrying drug on to the skin. The second electrode 16 acts as a roller-ball or ball-point 16 spreading element. The electrodes may be plastic and coated with conductive material such as corrosion resistant metal.

Description

TITLE: Handheld Iontophoretic transdermal drug delivery device using a roller ball electrode to provide safe, non-evasive, self-treatment of localised skin disorders.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION: 1. Field of the Invention.

This invention relates to a handheld iontophoretic drug delivery device for transdermally delivering a drug or medicine or other treatment substance by self-administered means for localised skin disorders, and more specifically relates to a roller ball electrode device for the non-evasive use in causing a drug to migrate.

2. Description of the Prior Art.

Iontophoresis may be defined as the non-evasive transdermal delivery of a medicine/chemicals achieved by placing a medicine (in ionic form) on a carrier or applied directly upon subject. The electrodes provide an electric current through the skin. The electric current causes a migration of the ionic medicine through the skin and diffusion into the blood stream. This process has become an increasingly popular and effective method of the delivery of pharmaceuticals.

3. There are numerous instances where for medical and cosmetic reasons it is desired to apply a drug, medicine or other treatment substance to the skin for diffusion into the blood stream. Such an instance is for example the treatment of acne.

An improved apparatus has now been devised for such purposes.

According to the present invention there is provided an iontophoretic device comprising a roller head portion, a roller ball electrode, such as used in roll-on deodorant containers, a substance housing portion electrode and a housing containing a low voltage battery-energised D. C. power source with a secondary spike type electrode. The substance housing potion is the negative electrode operatively connected to the negative pole of said source to be held by the user: the roller ball in the head portion is the positive electrode operatively connected to the positive pole of said source to be applied onto the users skin and rolled around the area to be treated: and the secondary spike electrode protruding from the DC power source housing is secondary positive electrode operatively connected to the positive pole of said power source to be directly submerged into the drug, medicine or other treatment substance rendering it electrically active.

It is preferred that the substance housing portion, roller ball and secondary spike are fabricated from plastic such as ABS and coated or impregnated rendering them electrically conductive or formed from corrosion resistant metal, for example stainless steel.

The current operatively applied through said roller ball and/or the secondary spike is preferably less than 1 ma and may be around 0.5 to 0.9 ma.

The D. C. power source may include a low voltage DC battery for providing a source of electric current and a circuit mounted on a printed circuit board for controlling the power supply and generating galvanic electricity.

Preferably the device will include an indicator light or other device to show when current is flowing through the electrode circuit.

Preferably the device will include an audible alarm device, which can be conveniently programmed by the user.

4. The invention will now be further described in a specific embodiment, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig 1 is the Side View of the Iontophoretic device of the present invention; Fig 2 is a Front View of the Iontophoretic device of the present invention and Fig 3 is a Side Sectional Diagram of the Iontophoretic device illustrating its circuitry and plastic substance bottle secured in position ready for use; also, secondary spike electrode shown pierced through the bottom of substance bottle rendering the contents electrically active.

The iontophoretic device includes a roller head portion10 conveniently of moulded plastic, coupled to the substance housing portion by a hinge arrangement 32 (Figures 2 & 3), and mounts a roller ball electrode 16 (Figures 1 & 3), which is formed of ABS and coated or impregnated rendering it electrically conductive or formed from corrosion resistant metal, for example stainless steel.

The roller ball electrode 16 is connected to the positive pole of the low voltage DC battery 28 (Figure 3), by an insulated lead 30 so that the positive pole of the battery makes contact with the users skin when used for treatment of local skin disorders.

The negative pole of the battery 28 is connected to the interior surface of the substance housing portion 12 which, is formed of ABS and coated or impregnated rendering it electrically conductive so that the negative pole of the battery makes contact with the users hand when holding the substance housing portion.

A hinge arrangement 34 (Figures 2 & 3) couples the substance housing portion to the DC power source housing portion 14 (Figures 1,2 & 3). The DC power source housing portion 14 contains a low voltage battery 28 to which all electrodes 12,16 and 22 are connected through a circuit 36 (Figure 3) mounted on a printed circuit board. The circuit will be further described hereafter.

A resistor 38 (Figure 3) is connected in series between negative pole of battery 28 and substance housing portion 12 which is formed of ABS and coated or impregnated or formed from corrosion resistant metal, for example stainless steel rendering it electrically conductive, and said connection also passes in series through a indictor light, an L. E. D. 18 (Figures 1 & 3) which is mounted through the wall of the DC power source housing portion 14 so that it is visible to the user when in use.

The positive pole of battery 28 is connected to the roller ball 16 and secondary spike electrode 22 (Figure 3) which are both formed of ABS and coated or impregnated or formed from corrosion resistant metal, for example stainless steel rendering them electrically conductive so that the positive pole of the battery makes contact with the users skin when in use and roller ball and/or electrically active substance material comes into contact with users skin.

Preferably resistor 38 has a value so that the current applied at the roller ball 16 and/or secondary spike electrode 22 is less than lma and may be around 0. 5-0. 9ma, example value of around 10 kohm.

The current level is such that there is no risk of damaging the skin but it is found that application of the roller ball 16 and/or the electrically active substance material to the skin is effective in promoting a migration of drug, medicine or other treatment substance through the skin & into the blood stream iontophoretically.

Referring now to Figure 3, the roller head portion 10 which is coupled to the substance housing portion 12 which is also coupled to the DC power source housing portion 14 all house and retain the plastic substance bottle 24. The plastic substance bottle, which is conveniently made of PET, contains the drug, medicine or other treatment substance in ionic form and is re-usable or replaced by another substance bottle.

The roller head portion 10 has formed a male neck 40, which pushes into the neck of the PET plastic substance bottle 24 and is sealed by a washer 26. The washer 26 may be manufactured of rubber, silicon or paper.

The DC power source housing portion 14 has protruding a secondary spike electrode 22, which pierces, through the bottom of the PET plastic substance bottle 24 submerging and making electrical contact with the ionic substance contained within thus rendering the substance electrically active.

Accordingly, the present invention enables the user to simply and conveniently, self administer treatment to localised areas of the skin by holding the substance housing portion 12 in one hand and placing the roller ball 16 onto the treatment area, thus automatically completing the electrical circuit. By placing the roller ball 16 on the treatment area e. g. on the face and manipulating the roller ball around the treatment area and holding the substance housing portion 12 in the hand, the electrical circuit is completed through the users body and the indicating light LE. D. 18 will illuminate, thus alerting the user the circuit has been completed.

Application is usually effective if continued for around 10-15 seconds per 25mm2 of treatment area.

The substance housing portion 12 has cut out on one side an inspection window 20 (Figure 1) to allow convenient viewing of PET plastic substance bottle 24 contents, contents level and label information such as drug, medicine or other treatment substance type loaded in the present invention.

An audible alarm may also be included and mounted in the DC power source housing portion 14 to further alert the user of actual application time or as a reminder of re-application period of the treatment substance.

Claims

CLAIMS.

1. A handheld iontophoretic transdermal drug delivery device for delivering medication to an applied area non-evasively and self administered comprising: a roller ball electrode operatively connected to the negative pole of the low voltage DC power source to be applied to area or area's on the users skin requiring treatment; and a second electrode also operatively connected to the negative pole of said power source to be submerged into the ionic drug, medicine or other treatment substance rendering the material electrically active; and a third electrode operatively connected to the positive pole of said power source to be held by the user when administering treatment.

2. A handheld iontophoretic transdermal drug delivery device as in claim 1 wherein said roller ball electrode is formed from ABS and coated or impregnated or formed from corrosion resistant metal.

3. A handheld iontophoretic transdermal drug delivery device as in claim 1 wherein said third electrode is formed from ABS and coated or impregnated or formed from corrosion resistant metal, the electrode being shaped to be held in users hand for electrical contact.

4. A handheld iontophoretic transdermal drug delivery device as in claim 3 wherein said electrode houses internally a PET plastic bottle that contains the ionic drug, medicine or other treatment substance.

5. A handheld iontophoretic transdermal drug delivery device as in claim 4 wherein said PET plastic bottle containing the ionic drug, medicine or other treatment substance mounts on top of the DC power source housing portion 14 (Figures 1,2 & 3).

6. A handheld iontophoretic transdermal drug delivery device as in any proceeding claim wherein the PET plastic bottle mounted on top of the DC power source housing portion is pierced by the said second electrode.

7. A handheld iontophoretic transdermal drug delivery device as in any proceeding claim includes an indicator light to show when current is flowing through the electric circuit.

8. A handheld iontophoretic transdermal drug delivery device as in any proceeding claim wherein the DC power source housing portion incorporates an audible alarm powered from a battery carried in the DC power source housing portion.

9. A handheld iontophoretic transdermal drug delivery device as described herein with reference to Figures 1-3 of the accompanying drawing.