Electrode and iontophoresis device
There are provided an electrode that is capable of allowing a current to flow at a uniform current density from the entire surface of a conductive sheet during the passage of a current and that solves the problem of the transfer of metal ions to a living body. The electrode comprises a conductive terminal member formed of a non-metal material; and a conductive sheet formed of a non-metal material and attached to the terminal member, the conductive sheet having a specific resistance lower than a specific resistance of the terminal member. An lontophoresis device and a low-frequency treatment device utilizing the electrode is also disclosed.
1 . An electrode, comprising:
a conductive terminal member formed of a non-metal material; and
a conductive sheet formed of a non-metal material and coupled to the terminal member,
the conductive sheet having a specific resistance lower than a specific resistance of the terminal member.
2 . The electrode according to claim 1 , wherein the conductive sheet has a surface resistance of 1 to 30 Ω/(square).
3 . The electrode according to claim 1 , wherein the conductive sheet has a surface resistance of 1 to 10 Ω/(square).
4 . The electrode according to claim 1 , wherein the conductive sheet is formed of one of carbon fibers and carbon fiber paper.
5 . The electrode according to claim 1 , wherein the conductive sheet is formed of one of carbon fibers and carbon fiber paper impregnated with a polymer elastomer.
6 . The electrode according to claim 1 , wherein the terminal member is formed of a polymer matrix and a non-metal conductive filler dispersed in the polymer matrix.
7 . The electrode according to claim 6 , wherein the non-metal filler comprises carbon.
8 . The electrode according to claim 6 , wherein the terminal member is attached to the conductive sheet by being solidified under a condition that one of the carbon fibers and the carbon fiber paper are impregnated with a part of the polymer matrix.
9 . The electrode according to claim 6 , wherein the conductive sheet is attached to the terminal member by integral molding.
10 . The electrode according to claim 6 , wherein the polymer matrix is silicon rubber.
11 . The electrode according to claim 1 , wherein the terminal member has a fitting portion to be fitted with a connector connected to a power source.
12 . The electrode according to claim 1 further comprising:
a metal reinforcing member is attached to the terminal member.
13 . An iontophoresis device, comprising a power source, a working electrode structure, and a nonworking electrode structure, wherein:
at least one of the working electrode structure and the nonworking electrode structure comprises an electrode comprising:
a conductive terminal member formed of a non-metal material; and
a conductive sheet formed of a non-metal material and attached to the terminal member, the conductive sheet having a specific resistance lower than a specific resistance of the terminal member.
14 . An iontophoresis device, comprising a power source, a working electrode structure, and a nonworking electrode structure, wherein:
the working electrode structure comprises:
a first electrode connected to a terminal of a first polarity of the power source;
a first conductive medium layer placed on a front side of the first electrode;
a first ion-exchange membrane for selecting ions of a second polarity that is opposite to the first polarity, the first ion-exchange membrane being placed on a front side of the first conductive medium layer;
a drug layer for holding a drug solution containing a drug that is dissocitatable from ions of the first conductivity, the drug layer being placed on a front side of the first ion-exchange membrane; and
a second ion-exchange membrane for selecting ions of the first polarity, the second ion-exchange membrane being placed on a front side of the drug layer;
the nonworking electrode structure comprises:
a second electrode connected to a terminal of the second polarity of the power source; and
a second conductive medium layer placed on a front side of the second electrode; and
at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode comprises:
a conductive terminal member formed of a non-metal material; and
a conductive sheet formed of a non-metal material and attached to the terminal member, the conductive sheet having a specific resistance lower than a specific resistance of the terminal member.
15 . The iontophoresis device according to claim 14 , wherein the nonworking electrode structure further includes a third ion-exchange membrane for selecting ions of the second polarity, the third ion-exchange membrane being placed on a front side of the second conductive medium layer.
16 . The iontophoresis device according to claim 14 , wherein the nonworking electrode structure further includes:
a fourth ion-exchange membrane for selecting ions of the first polarity, the fourth ion-exchange membrane being placed on a front side of the second conductive medium layer;
a third conductive medium layer placed on a front side of the fourth ion-exchange membrane; and
a fifth ion-exchange membrane for selecting ions of the second polarity, the fifth ion-exchange membrane being placed on a front side of the third conductive medium layer.