Abstract: Devices and methods for delivering a chemical compound to, through or into a membrane, tissue or layer are provided. The device may include an AC signal source and at least one electrode. In one application, an interdigitated electrode may be electrically connected to the AC signal source. In one application, the chemical compound such as a medicament containing a drug may be disposed on or within the electrode and logic may control the AC signal source to provide the signal, including setting or selecting characteristics such as voltage, frequency and the like to orient and/or motivate an amount of the chemical compound through the electrode and into the tissue.

Abstract: An apparatus for delivering at least one therapeutic agent to an ocular tissue of a subject includes at least one electrode, a medicament layer including the at least one therapeutic agent, an electrical signal source, and logic configured to control the electrical signal source. The at least one electrode has oppositely disposed, dome-shaped first and second major surfaces. The first major surface is curved such that the first major surface substantially conforms to a contour of the ocular tissue when placed in contact with the ocular tissue. The medicament layer is disposed on at least a portion of the second major surface. The electrical signal source provides a signal having certain characteristics and is electrically connected to the at least one electrode. The certain characteristics comprise at least one orienting frequency and at least one motivating frequency sufficient to motivate the at least one therapeutic agent into the ocular tissue.

Abstract: An apparatus for delivering at least one therapeutic agent to an ocular tissue of a subject includes at least one electrode, a medicament layer including the at least one therapeutic agent, an electrical signal source, and logic configured to control the electrical signal source. The at least one electrode has oppositely disposed, dome-shaped first and second major surfaces. The first major surface is curved such that the first major surface substantially conforms to the contour of the ocular tissue when placed in contact with the ocular tissue. The medicament layer is disposed on at least a portion of the second major surface. The electrical signal source provides a signal having certain characteristics and is electrically connected to the at least one electrode. The certain characteristics comprise at least one orienting frequency and at least one motivating frequency sufficient to motivate the at least one therapeutic agent into the ocular tissue.

Abstract: Devices and methods for delivering a chemical compound to, through or into a membrane, tissue or layer are provided. The device may include an AC signal source and at least one electrode. In one application, an interdigitated electrode may be electrically connected to the AC signal source. In one application, the chemical compound such as a medicament containing a drug may be disposed on or within the electrode and logic may control the AC signal source to provide the signal, including setting or selecting characteristics such as voltage, frequency and the like to orient and/or motivate an amount of the chemical compound through the electrode and into the tissue.

Abstract: A method for determining a condition of a highly resistive fluid in transportation and industrial equipment. The method is suitable for determining the condition of a non-aqueous fluid including applying a high-frequency voltage signal between electrodes immersed in the fluid, measuring the fluid's response to the applied signal and determining a fluid property, and comparing the magnitude of the determined property, relative to the magnitude of that property when the fluid is fresh.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the total base number of a used lubricant from an open, all loss, lubricating system. An AC voltage signal is applied between electrodes immersed in the used lubricant and a used-lubricant dependent response to the applied signal measured. The used lubricant base number is determined from the response. To allow for changes in the fresh lubricant inputted to the open lubricating system, the method and apparatus can have means for determining properties of the fresh lubricant needed to determine the total base number of used lubricant. To allow for possible contamination of the used lubricant, the method and apparatus can have means for determining the concentration of contamination and for determining properties of the contaminant needed to determine the total base number of used lubricant.

Abstract: A method for determining a fuel-dilution condition of a lubricant used in transportation and industrial equipment. The method uses apparatus that applies a high frequency and optionally a low frequency oscillating signal to electrodes immersed in the fluid and quantifies fluid response to the signals. Apparatus can further include means to control the lubricant temperature, or a temperature sensor to monitor the lubricant temperature at the electrodes. The method monitors response of the lubricant to the applied electrical signals and determines ratios of lubricant properties. The high-frequency lubricant property ratio or change of high frequency lubricant property as a function of a lubricant use-measure is compared to a predicted ratio based on lubricant use and an estimate of the lubricant's fuel dilution determined. The optional low-frequency lubricant property ratio is compared to thresholds to determine when the lubricant loses the ability to control fuel dilution.

Abstract: A method for determining quality and condition of a highly resistive fluid in transportation and industrial equipment. The method uses apparatus that applies a multitude of oscillating voltage signals at determined frequencies and offsets to electrodes immersed in the fluid and quantifies fluid response to the signals. The method monitors response of the fluid to a preferred three fixed electrical signals applied by the apparatus, a high and a medium frequency signal with zero offset voltage and a low frequency signal with an offset voltage. For apparatus or applications where the monitored fluid is not controlled to constant temperature, the method includes correcting the temperature sensitive fluid responses for temperature variations for the fluid quality and condition determination. The method can also include determining when essentially complete fluid exchanges are made to the equipment without need for additional input.

Abstract: A method for determining quality and condition of a highly resistive fluid in transportation and industrial equipment. The method uses apparatus that applies a multitude of oscillating voltage signals at determined frequencies and offsets to electrodes immersed in the fluid and quantifies fluid response to the signals. Apparatus can further include means to control the temperature of the fluid, or a temperature sensor to monitor the temperature of fluid at the electrodes. The method monitors response of the fluid to a preferred three fixed electrical signals applied by the apparatus, a high and a medium frequency signal with zero offset voltage and a low frequency signal with an offset voltage. For fluids in applications where change in the fluid's change in high-frequency response is substantially less than changes in medium- and low-frequency responses, the method can monitor response to only the medium-frequency, zero-offset-voltage signal and the low-frequency, non-zero-offset-voltage signal.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for monitoring a highly electrically-resistive fluid. The method includes applying across the fluid an AC signal that includes at least two different AC electrical potentials, with at least one AC electrical potential having a non-zero DC offset, measuring the fluid's electrical response at each applied potential, and analyzing the fluid quality and/or condition using the applied AC signal and the corresponding measured electrical responses. The invention finds application in conjunction with the on-line (i.e., while in use) monitoring a highly resistive fluids such as, e.g., lubricants, natural and/or synthetic motor oils optionally including standard additives and/or adjuncts, combustion engine fuels, other hydrocarbon-based fluids used in transportation and industrial applications, and the like.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for monitoring a highly electrically-resistive fluid is provided. The method includes applying across the fluid an AC signal that includes at least two different AC electrical potentials, with at least one AC electrical potential having a non-zero DC offset, measuring the fluid's electrical response at each applied potential, and analyzing the fluid quality and/or condition using the applied AC signal and the corresponding measured electrical responses. The invention finds application in conjunction with the on-line (i.e., while in use) monitoring of highly resistive fluids such as, e.g., lubricants, natural and/or synthetic motor oils optionally including standard additives and/or adjuncts, combustion engine fuels, other hydrocarbon-based fluids used in transportation and industrial applications, and the like.