Iontophoresis device controlling administration amount and administration period of plurality of drugs
An iontophoresis device capable of administering a plurality of drugs to a living body while controlling the administration amounts and the administration periods thereof is described. The iontophoresis device may comprise: a power source device; a drug administration unit connected to the power source device and including at least two electrode structures that hold an ionic drug; and a current control unit that individually controls currents flowing to the electrode structures. A predetermined amount of the ionic drug may be released from each of the electrode structures to be administered transdermally to a living body in a predetermined period of time according to a current flowing from the current control unit.
1 . An iontophoresis device comprising:
a power source device;
a drug administration unit coupled to the power source device and comprising at least a first electrode structure and a second electrode structure that each hold an ionic drug; and
a current control unit that individually controls currents flowing to the first and the second electrode structures,
wherein a predetermined amount of the ionic drug is released from each of the first and the second electrode structures to be administered transdermally to a living body in a predetermined period of time according to a current flowing from the current control unit.
2 . An iontophoresis device according to claim 1 , wherein the drug administration unit further comprises at least a third electrode structure that does not hold an ionic drug as a counter electrode to the first and the second electrode structures.
3 . An iontophoresis device according to claim 2 , wherein:
the first electrode structure comprises:
an electrode having the same polarity as that of a drug component of the ionic drug in the electrode structure, the electrode being connected to the power source device;
an electrolyte solution holding portion impregnated with an electrolyte solution, the electrolyte solution holding portion being placed adjacent to the electrode;
an ion exchange membrane that selectively passes ions having a polarity opposite to that of a charged ion of the ionic drug, the ion exchange membrane being placed adjacent to the electrolyte solution holding portion;
a drug holding portion impregnated with the ionic drug, the drug holding portion being placed adjacent to the ion exchange membrane; and
an ion exchange membrane that selectively passes ions having the same polarity as that of a charged ion of the ionic drug, the ion exchange membrane being placed adjacent to the drug holding portion; and
the third electrode structure comprises:
an electrode having a polarity opposite to that of the electrode of the first electrode structure;
an electrolyte solution holding portion impregnated with an electrolyte solution, the electrolyte solution holding portion being placed adjacent to the electrode; and
an ion exchange membrane that selectively passes ions having a polarity opposite to that of a charged ion of the ionic drug in the first electrode structure, the ion exchange membrane being placed adjacent to the electrolyte solution holding portion.
4 . An iontophoresis device according to claim 2 , wherein:
the first electrode structure comprises:
an electrode having the same polarity as that of a drug component of the ionic drug in the electrode structure, the electrode being connected to the power source device;
an electrolyte solution holding portion impregnated with an electrolyte solution, the electrolyte solution holding portion being placed adjacent to the electrode;
an ion exchange membrane that selectively passes ions having a polarity opposite to that of a charged ion of the ionic drug, the ion exchange membrane being placed adjacent to the electrolyte solution holding portion;
a drug holding portion impregnated with the ionic drug, the drug holding portion being placed adjacent to the ion exchange membrane; and
an ion exchange membrane that selectively passes ions having the same polarity as that of a charged ion of the ionic drug, the ion exchange membrane being placed adjacent to the drug holding portion; and wherein
the third electrode structure comprises:
an electrode having a polarity opposite to that of the electrode in the first electrode structure;
an electrolyte solution holding portion impregnated with an electrolyte solution, the electrolyte solution holding portion being placed adjacent to the electrode;
an ion exchange membrane that selectively passes ions having the same polarity as that of a charged ion of the ionic drug in the first electrode structure, the ion exchange membrane being placed adjacent to the electrolyte solution holding portion;
an electrolyte solution holding portion impregnated with an electrolyte solution, the electrolyte solution holding portion being placed adjacent to the ion exchange membrane; and
an ion exchange membrane that selectively passes ions having a polarity opposite to that of a charged ion of the ionic drug in the first electrode structure, the ion exchange membrane being placed adjacent to the electrolyte solution holding portion.
5 . An iontophoresis device according to claim 2 , wherein:
the first electrode structure comprises:
an electrode having the same polarity as that of a drug component of the ionic drug in the electrode structure, the electrode being connected to the power source device;
an electrolyte solution holding portion impregnated with an electrolyte solution, the electrolyte solution holding portion being placed adjacent to the electrode;
an ion exchange membrane that selectively passes ions having a polarity opposite to that of a charged ion of the ionic drug in the first electrode structure, the ion exchange membrane being placed adjacent to the electrolyte solution holding portion;
a drug holding portion impregnated with the ionic drug, the drug holding portion being placed adjacent to the ion exchange membrane; and
an ion exchange membrane that selectively passes ions having the same polarity as that of a charged ion of the ionic drug in the first electrode structure, the ion exchange membrane being placed adjacent to the drug holding portion; and
the third electrode structure comprises:
an electrode having a polarity opposite to that of the electrode of the first electrode structure;
an electrolyte solution holding portion impregnated with an electrolyte solution, the electrolyte solution holding portion being placed adjacent to the electrode;
an ion exchange membrane that selectively passes ions having a polarity opposite to that of a charged ion of the ionic drug in the second electrode structure, the ion exchange membrane being placed adjacent to the electrolyte solution holding portion;
a drug holding portion impregnated with an ionic drug, the drug holding portion being placed adjacent to the ion exchange membrane; and
an ion exchange membrane that selectively passes ions having the same polarity as that of a charged ion of the ionic drug in the second electrode structure, the ion exchange membrane being placed adjacent to the drug holding portion.
6 . An iontophoresis device according to claim 1 , wherein the drug administration unit is configured integrally.
7 . An iontophoresis device according to claim 1 , wherein the current control unit comprises a load resistor provided between the electrode structure and the power source device, a current detecting portion that detects a current flowing to the load resistor, and a feedback control portion that allows a controlled current to flow to the electrode structure.
8 . A method of operating the iontophoresis comprising a power source device, a drug administration unit coupled to the power source device and comprising at least a first and a second electrode structure that each hold an ionic drug, and a control unit that individually controls a current flow to each of the electrode structures, the method comprising:
placing the drug administration unit on a skin surface of a living body;
passing a current through the drug administration unit from the power source device;
individually controlling currents flowing to the electrode structures with the current control unit; and
releasing a predetermined amount of the ionic drug from each of the electrode structures in a predetermined period of time.