System and method for providing iontophoresis at tympanic membrane
US10130808B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 14, 2013 |
| Grant date | Nov 20, 2018 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 12, 2035 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61N1/306
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Various systems and methods provide iontophoretic delivery of anesthesia at a patient's tympanic membrane. Some implementations provide channel switching enabling a single current sink to pull current through two electrodes in an alternating fashion based on clock pulses. The iontophoretic delivery of anesthesia may be driven by an AC modulated current. Some implementations provide for continuous flow of fresh iontophoresis fluid to the ear canal during iontophoresis. The fluid flows from a source reservoir into the cavity between the tympanic membrane and a plug, and then drains out of the cavity to a reservoir. An iontophoresis system may also detect capacitance between an anode electrode and an auxiliary electrode in a patient's ear canal, watching for reduced capacitance to indicate presence of a bubble in the iontophoresis fluid.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.