Current Concentration System and Method for Electrokinetic Delivery of Medicaments
An electrokinetic apparatus to apply medicament to a treatment site of a mammalian user, the apparatus including: a flux concentrator including an active electrode and a counter electrode adapted to be applied to the surface of a toenail or fingernail of the user, and a medicament matrix adjacent the active electrode and arranged to be sandwiched between the active electrode and nail.
1 - 41 . (canceled)
42 . A method of electrokinetically delivering a medicament to a treatment site of a subject, comprising:
soaking the treatment site in salt water;
applying to the surface of the treatment site a flux concentrator including an active electrode and a counter electrode in a sheet;
applying a medicament matrix between the active electrode of the flux concentrator and the treatment site, wherein the medicament matrix holds a medicament; and
applying an electrical current through the active electrode, matrix, treatment site, and counter electrode to deliver the medicament to the treatment site.
43 . The method of claim 42 , wherein soaking the treatment site in salt water infuses a conductive solution into the treatment site.
44 . The method of claim 42 , wherein soaking the treatment site in salt water reduces the electrical resistance of at least a portion of the treatment site.
45 . The method of claim 42 , wherein the treatment site comprises at least a portion of the subject's nail.
46 . The method of claim 42 , wherein the salt water comprises NaCl.
47 . The method of claim 42 , wherein the salt water comprises MgCl 2 .
48 . The method of claim 42 , wherein the treatment site is soaked in salt water between about 10-30 minutes.
49 . A method of electrokinetically delivering a medicament to the nail of a subject, comprising:
reducing the electrical resistance of at least a portion of the nail surface;
applying to the surface of the nail an active electrode;
applying a medicament matrix between the active electrode and the nail, wherein the . medicament matrix holds a medicament;
applying a counter electrode to a surface of the subject; and
applying an electrical current through the active electrode, matrix, nail, and counter electrode to deliver the medicament to the nail.
50 . The method of claim 49 , wherein reducing the electrical current comprises infusing a conductive composition into the nail.
51 . The method of claim 50 , wherein infusing a conductive composition comprises soaking the nail in a saline solution.
52 . The method of claim 51 , wherein the saline solution comprises NaCl.
53 . The method of claim 51 , wherein the saline solution comprises MgCl 2 .
54 . The method of claim 51 , wherein the nail is soaked in saline solution between about 10-30 minutes.
55 . The method of claim 50 , wherein the conductive composition is applied to the nail via a saturated wipe.
56 . The method of claim 50 , wherein the conductive composition is applied to the nail as a film or cream.
57 . A method of electrokinetically delivering a medicament to the nail of a subject, comprising:
infusing a conductive composition into at least a portion of the nail to reduce the electrical resistance of at least a portion of the nail surface;
applying to the surface of the nail an active electrode and a counter electrode in a sheet;
applying a medicament matrix between the active electrode and the nail, wherein the medicament matrix holds a medicament; and
applying a reduced electrical current through the active electrode, matrix, treatment site, and counter electrode to deliver the medicament to the nail.
58 . The method of claim 57 , wherein the reduced electrical current is less than 100 μA.
59 . The method of claim 58 , wherein the conductive composition is a saline solution.
60 . The method of claim 59 , wherein the saline solution comprises NaCl.
61 . The method of claim 59 , wherein the saline solution comprises MgCl 2 .