Various systems and methods provide iontophoretic delivery of anesthesia at a patient's tympanic membrane. Some implementations provide channel switching enabling a single current sink to pull current through two electrodes in an alternating fashion based on clock pulses. The iontophoretic delivery of anesthesia may be driven by an AC modulated current. Some implementations provide for continuous flow of fresh iontophoresis fluid to the ear canal during iontophoresis. The fluid flows from a source reservoir into the cavity between the tympanic membrane and a plug, and then drains out of the cavity to a reservoir. An iontophoresis system may also detect capacitance between an anode electrode and an auxiliary electrode in a patient's ear canal, watching for reduced capacitance to indicate presence of a bubble in the iontophoresis fluid.

An apparatus includes a rigid body, a flexible sealing element, a nozzle assembly, and an electrode. The rigid body defines a channel, a reservoir, and a vent path. The reservoir is in fluid communication with the channel. The vent path is in fluid communication with the reservoir. The reservoir is configured to provide spacing between the channel and the vent path. The sealing element is positioned distal to the rigid body. The nozzle assembly includes a nozzle head and a post. The post extends distally through the channel of the rigid body. The nozzle head projects distally from a distal end of the post. The electrode is disposed within the channel of the rigid body. The reservoir extends laterally from a longitudinal axis defined by the electrode.

Systems and methods for treating target tissues within the ears are disclosed. Systems include a device including a cutting edge configured to form an incision in a tympanic membrane, a pressure equalization tube positionable within an interior space of the device in a compressed configuration and configured to expand into an expanded configuration when released from the interior space, and an elongate positioning element configured to release the pressure equalization tube from the interior space such that the pressure equalization tube is deployed in the incision formed in the tympanic membrane.

An intratumoral modulation therapy (IMT) method for the treatment of nervous system and systemic tumor in a patient which includes: (a) chronically implanting an electrode adjacent to or in the tumor of the patient or in a residual tumor bed, the electrode having electrical leads connected thereto; and (b) generating electric stimulation and applying the electric stimulation through the electrical leads to the electrode adjacent to or within the tumor. A method of transferring genetic material to a tumor cell which includes: (a) positioning an electrode adjacent to the tumor cell, the electrode having electrical leads connected thereto; (b) generating electric stimulation and applying the electric stimulation through the electrical leads to the electrode adjacent the cancer cell; and (c) delivering the genetic material to the tumor cell treated with the continuous alternating electric stimulation.

Methods and related systems for modulating neural activity by repetitively blocking conduction in peripheral neural structures with chemical blocking agents are disclosed. Methods and systems for reversing effects of chemical blocking agents and/or for producing substantially permanent conduction block are also disclosed.

Disclosed herein are systems and methods for nerve conduction block. The systems and methods can utilize at least one renewable electrode. The methods can include delivering a first direct current with a first polarity to an electrode proximate nervous tissue sufficient to block conduction in the nervous tissue. Delivering the first direct current can place the nervous tissue in a hypersuppressed state at least partially preventing conduction of the nervous tissue after cessation of delivering of the first direct current. The nervous tissue can be maintained in the hypersuppressed state for a desired period, such as at least about 1 minute.

The present invention is directed to devices and methods that efficiently and safely kill pathogens in blood functions by the generation of metal ions in situ. Such metal ions include silver ions, copper ions, and gold ions; however, additional metals can be employed for generation of ions in situ, including platinum, iridium, and zinc. The activity of the devices and methods of the present invention is extremely broad, and can kill pathogenic bacteria, viruses, and fungi. The activity of the devices and methods of the present invention does not depend on specific interactions between the device and the surface of the pathogen being killed. Additionally, the activity of the devices and methods is not subject to the development of resistance by the pathogen, such as can occur subsequent to the administration of conventional antibacterial, antifungal, or antiviral agents.

A device for killing blood-borne pathogens, and a method of using the device to effectively remove the blood-borne pathogens from a body of a human or an animal is claimed. The device comprises a wire that is inserted into a bloodstream of a patient, which releases metallic ions which effectively kill the pathogens. There are several embodiments, each of which has a combination of covered and uncovered portions of the wire. The wire is electrically connected to both a source of power and a power supply with printed circuit board or controller/software, which controls the intensity and duration of the treatment.

An electrical discharge irrigation device and method is described. The device includes a power source to produce a first voltage, a circuit coupled to the power source to convert the first voltage to a second voltage, a discharge capacitor to receive the second voltage from the circuit, a transistor or controlled rectifier coupled to the discharge capacitor to receive the second voltage, and an output tip. This output tip is coupled to the transistor or controlled rectifier and includes an electrode located in an interior space of the output tip configured to receive a charge from the transistor or controlled rectifier and to release an electric discharge, and a ground return. The ground return is an outside surface of the output tip and a space between the electrode and the ground return holds a conductive medium.

An apparatus for mineralizing a biological material includes an ultrasonic source, operable to generate an ultrasonic signal, an ultrasonic probe and one or more mineralizing probes, operable to receive a mineralizing agent. The mineralizing agent is transferred from at least one mineralizing probe to the biological material using the ultrasonic signal. Also disclosed are a mineralization agent and a method of mineralizing a biological material that includes the steps of: providing an ultrasound source, providing a mineralizing agent, generating an ultrasonic signal from the ultrasound source, and applying the ultrasonic signal and the mineralizing agent to the biological material separately, sequentially or simultaneously.