Abstract: An iontophoresis device may include: an electric power source; a first electrode assembly coupled to the electric power source; and a second electrode assembly as a counter electrode of the first electrode assembly. The first electrode assembly may include an adhesive portion that facilitates contact between a mucous membrane and the first electrode assembly. The adhesive portion may be placed on a portion of an end surface portion of an electrode assembly, and may be made from a material that exhibits adhesiveness after absorbing an aqueous medium.

Abstract: An electrode assembly for iontophoresis may enable the administration of a non-ionic active agent ionized, or an active agent that is substantially insoluble in water, by iontophoresis. An electrode assembly used for iontophoresis may hold an active agent enclosed in an ionic nanoparticle.

Abstract: An iontophoresis device may be capable of preventing the generation of gas or ions upon energization, and/or may be capable of preventing the alteration of active agent ions due to an electrode reaction. Energization from an electrode to an active agent reservoir may be performed through an ionic liquid. The ionic liquid may include an anion such as PF6-, BF4-, AlCl4-, ClO4-, a hydrogen sulfate ion, bis-trifluoro-alkyl-sulfonyl-imide, or trifluoro-methane-sulfonate, and a cation such as an imidazolium derivative, a pyridinium derivative, a piperidinium derivative, a pyrolidinium derivative, and a tetra-alkyl-ammonium derivative.

Abstract: Contamination between an active agent solution in an active agent reservoir and an electrolyte solution in an electrolyte solution reservoir may be reduced in an iontophoresis device, thus helping to suppress the generation of gas and helping to reduce changes in pH upon energization. A gel matrix that transforms into a liquid state upon thermal excitation and/or mechanical excitation may be used in one or more reservoirs in the iontophoresis device.

Abstract: Whether or not a prescribed active agent is properly used may be confirmed. Usage of an active agent to be administered by an active agent injecting device (such as an iontophoresis device) driven by a drive signal may managed through a server based on actual drive information from the active agent injecting device.

Abstract: A capsule-type drug-releasing device is capable of freely controlling the release and stoppage of a drug and causing neither the back flow of contents of a stomach, an intestine, or the like nor clogging with the contents. A capsule-type drug-releasing device may include: a capsule-shaped casing; a cation exchange membrane arranged on the surface of the casing; a drug solution holding portion arranged inside the casing and on the inner side of the cation exchange membrane; an anion exchange membrane arranged on the inner side of the drug solution holding portion; an electrolyte solution holding portion arranged on the inner side of the anion exchange membrane; an electrode arranged on the inner side of the electrolyte solution holding portion; an electric power source connected to the electrode; a control portion capable of controlling energization from the electric power source to the electrode; and a transceiver portion causing the control portion to receive a signal from the outside of an organism.

Abstract: An shaped iontophoresis device is capable of permeating an active agent (e.g., a drug solution) into an oral cavity, a skin cancer, or the like by iontophoresis in a pinpoint manner. A catheter-type iontophoresis device includes a small working electrode assembly and a small non-working electrode assembly at the tip of a holding portion. A first ion exchange membrane and a fourth ion exchange membrane at the tips of the assemblies are brought into close contact with a target area so that a drug solution is permeated by iontophoresis in a pinpoint manner. The working electrode assembly and the non-working electrode assembly 14 are attached to the tip of a rod-shaped member. The rod-shaped member is detachable from the tip of the holding portion, and is exchangeable integrally with the portion. The iontophoresis device may advantageously take the form of a rod or catheter.

Abstract: An iontophoresis device and method of producing the same may reduce material loss during the course of production of a conventional iontophoresis device, and may allow for easy automation of production processes and increases in production scale. The iontophoresis device may be used for administering drug ions of a first polarity generated by dissociation of a drug to a living body, and may comprise: a first conductive layer formed on a surface of a first substrate; a drug layer made of a drug coating containing the drug, the drug layer being laminated on the first conductive layer; and a first ion exchange layer made of an ion exchange coating containing an ion exchange resin having an exchange group introduced thereto, the ion exchange group having a counter ion to the first polarity ions, the first ion exchange layer being laminated on the drug layer.

Abstract: An iontophoresis device may be capable of preventing or reducing the generation of gas, or the production of undesirable ions, due to an electrode reaction occurring in an electrode assembly; or the alteration of an active agent due to a chemical reaction upon energization. A doping layer made of a substance such as a conductive polymer that effects an electrochemical reaction due to the doping or de-doping of an ion, may be formed in an electrode in an active electrode assembly or counter electrode assembly of an iontophoresis device.

Abstract: An iontophoresis device including an active electrode assembly or a counter electrode assembly with a polarizable electrode containing any one of a conductive material having a capacitance per unit weight of 1 F/g or greater, a conductive material having a specific surface area of 10 m2/g or greater, and activated carbon is disclosed. The generation of gas or ions due to an electrode reaction occurring in an electrode assembly may be reduced or prevented. In addition, the alteration of an active agent due to a chemical reaction upon energization may be reduced or prevented.

Abstract: One or more electrodes of an iontophoresis device may include a composite ion exchange membrane comprising a first ion exchange membrane of a first polarity and a second ion exchange membrane of a second polarity, or a first ion exchange membrane of the first polarity, a semi-permeable membrane, and a second ion exchange membrane of the second polarity. The respective membranes may be integrally coupled together. This may lead to simplified production processes, automated production, mass production, and reductions in production costs for the iontophoresis device.

Abstract: A single electrolyte solution composition may be used in an anode side and in a cathode side of an iontophoresis device. The electrolyte solution may include a compound having an oxidation-reduction potential lower than that of water, the compound including, in combination, both a component that is likely to be relatively reduced and a component that is likely to be relatively oxidized.

Abstract: An iontophoresis device includes an active electrode assembly which comprises an active electrode element and an outermost active electrode ion selective membrane that caches an active agent. The outermost active electrode ion selective membrane may be formed by one or more ion exchange membranes. The active electrode assembly may also comprise an electrolyte and/or one or more inner active electrode ion selective membranes. The inner active electrode ion selective membrane may be a “leaky” ion selective membrane. The inner active electrode ion exchange membrane may be spaced from the outermost active electrode ion selective membrane, for example, by one or more non-ion selective porous membranes or by a buffer material and/or buffer reservoir. An iontophoresis device may also include a counter electrode assembly and/or voltage source.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: An iontophoresis device, and a control method thereof, may be capable of increasing movement speed of a drug into a living body and/or may be capable of administering a drug having a high molecular weight. The iontophoresis device may include an active electrode assembly comprising: a first electrode; a drug holding part that receives a current from the first electrode; and a first ion exchange membrane that selectively passes ions of a first polarity, the first ion exchange membrane being placed on a front side of the drug holding part. Drug ions of the first polarity generated by the dissociation of a drug held in the drug holding part may be administered to a living body through the first ion exchange membrane in contact with skin of the living body. The iontophoresis device may include heating means to heat the skin in contact with the first ion exchange membrane.

Abstract: The administration efficiency of a drug may be improved by establishing compatibility between the suppression of the release of a biological counter ion from a living body's biological interface and the maintenance of a good state of contact between each of a working electrode structure and a nonworking electrode structure and the biological interface. Coating films each composed of an external preparation containing: a hydrophilic polymer matrix agent; and an ion-exchange resin dispersed in the hydrophilic polymer matrix agent, or coating films each composed of an external preparation containing a hydrophilic polymer having an ion-exchange function are formed on the biological interface, and iontophoresis is performed through the coating films.

Abstract: An iontophoresis device includes: a first electrode; a biological interface contact member including a substrate having a front surface and a rear surface, and a plurality of needles that protrude from the front surface of the substrate and can be inserted into a biological interface, the biological interface contact member allowing selective permeation of ions of a first polarity; and a drug holding part applied with an electrical potential or voltage through the first electrode and holding a drug solution containing drug ions charged in the first polarity, the drug holding part being interposed between the first electrode and the biological interface contact member.

Abstract: The present invention provides an iontophoresis device with high administration efficient of a drug. An iontophoresis device, including an active electrode structure including: an electrode to which a positive electrical potential is applied; a drug holding part for holding a drug solution containing positively charged drug ions, the drug holding part being placed on a front side of the electrode; a cellulose-based resin film placed on a front side of the drug holding part or a complex film composed of a cation exchange membrane and a cellulose-based resin film placed on a front side of the cation exchange membrane, the complex film being placed on a front side of the drug holding part, in which the drug ions are administered through the cellulose-based resin film.

Abstract: An iontophoresis device for administering drug ions via the first ion-exchange membrane, comprising a first semi-permeable film having a number of pores passing through the film from a front surface to a back surface, a first ion-exchange membrane formed of ion-exchange resin filling the pores of the first semi-permeable film and selective ions of a first polarity, and a working electrode structure having a drug holding part placed on a back surface of the first ion-exchange membrane and holding a drug solution containing drug ions charged in the first polarity, wherein a layer of a water-soluble polymer compound chemically bonded on the surface of the first semi-permeable film.

Abstract: An iontophoresis device is capable of suppressing the change in a composition of a drug solution and/or an electrolyte solution of a working electrode structure, thereby allowing the working electrode structure to be retained in a stable state for a long period of time. The iontophoresis device includes: an electrolyte solution holding part for holding an electrolyte solution in which an electrolyte to be dissociated, in a solution, to first electrolytic ions of a first polarity and second electrolytic ions of a second polarity is dissolved; and a drug solution holding part for holding a drug solution in which a drug to be dissociated, in a solution, to the drug ions of the first polarity and drug counter ions of the second polarity is dissolved.