GB2554455A — Skin treatment device and method for delivery of an active ingredient into the human skin by means of iontophoresis, using an array of electrodes

USPTO Abstract

Skin treatment device 10, adapted for delivery of an active ingredient into human skin by means of iontophoresis. Device 10 comprises an electrode array comprising n electrodes, with at least a first and a second electrode A,B to establish an electric field on human skin. Device 10 establishes an electric field between pairs of electrodes formed by the first and second electrodes A,B of the electrode array, where device 10 is adapted to form a subsequent pair of electrodes B,C comprising one of the electrodes of a previous pair of electrodes and a further electrode selected from the electrode array. Device 10 is adapted to inverse the polarity of the electrode B used in both the previous pair A,B and subsequent pair B,C prior to establishing an electric field with the subsequent pair of electrodes B,C. Device 10 may successively form a pair of electrodes with the first and second electrodes of the array, then a pair with the second and third electrodes, until the pair comprises electrodes n-1 and n, where device 10 subsequently forms a pair of electrodes with electrode n and the first electrode. The electrodes of the array may be positioned to form a circle together.