EP0847775A1 — Iontophoresis device and method of current control therefor

USPTO Abstract

An iontophoresis device which is capable of reducing variations in drug delivery caused by the individual difference in the impedances of the skin or mucous membrane and inhibiting a decrease in drug delivery at a different electrode and is excellent in pharmacological effects, safety, reliability, and mass-producibility. The device comprises a different electrode, an indifferent electrode, a current detection section for determining an active current value as a difference between the value of an applied current flowing between the different and indifferent electrodes when pulse voltage/current are applied and the value of a discharge current flowing when the electric charge accumulated in the living organism is discharged as a result of short-circuiting in the different and indifferent electrodes occurring when the application of pulse voltage/current is suspended, and a feedback control section for controlling the active current value by making pulse voltage/current amplitudes variable. The method of current control for the device comprises the step of determining the active current value and the feedback control step for controlling the active current value.