A cutting guard for use with a wound retractor includes a body having a lumen including a flexible inner surface with a ground contact extending therethrough. A ground guard is included having proximal and distal openings that define a guard lumen therethrough, the ground guard encapsulating the flexible inner surface of the body lumen. A biasing element is disposed within the guard lumen and encircles the flexible inner surface and biases the flexible inner surface inwardly. A cutting electrode is disposed proximate the distal opening of the ground guard and connects to a first electrical potential and the ground guard connects to a second electrical potential. Upon externalizing of tissue through the distal opening, oversized tissue forces the flexible inner surface of the body lumen and the ground contact outwardly to engage the ground guard to complete an electrical circuit and energize the cutting electrode to excise oversized tissue.

Disclosed is an energy self-sufficient real time bio-signal monitoring and nutrient and/or drug delivery system based on salinity gradient power generation. The energy self-sufficient real time bio-signal monitoring and/or nutrient delivery system based on salinity gradient power generation includes: an electricity generation and nutrient and/or drug delivery module including a reverse electrodialysis device which generates electricity by using a nutrient and/or drug solution and discharge a diluted nutrient solution; and a bio-signal measuring unit inserted into the electricity generation and nutrient and/or drug delivery module and configured to receive electricity from the electricity generation and nutrient and/or drug delivery module and measure a bio-signal.

Various embodiments provide methods and systems for the biphasic iontophoretic transdermal delivery of therapeutic agents. An embodiment of a method for such delivery comprises positioning at least one electrode assembly in electrical communication with a patient's skin. The assembly includes a solution comprising a therapeutic agent which passively diffuses into the skin. A dose of agent is delivered from the assembly into the skin during a first period using a first current having a characteristic e.g., polarity and magnitude, to repel the agent out of the assembly. During a second period, a second current having a characteristic to attract the agent is used to retain the agent in the assembly such that delivery of agent into skin is minimized. A dose of agent may be delivered on demand by an input from the patient. Embodiments may be used for delivery of agents which cause adverse effects from unwanted passive diffusion.

Described is a low voltage, pulsed electrical stimulation device for controlling expression of klotho, a useful protein, by tissues. Also described are methods of enhancing expression of klotho in cells.

The invention provides a variety of novel devices, systems, and methods of utilizing mixed-ionic-electronic conductor (MIEC) materials adapted to function with an applied current or potential. The materials, as part of a circuit, are placed in contact with a part of a human or nonhuman animal body. A sodium selective membrane system utilizing the MIEC is also described.

A medical drug devices for transdermal drug delivery systems (TDDS) comprising a novel iontophoretic polymeric microneedle device and its use in administration of drugs.

A modular stimulus applicator system and method are disclosed. The system includes a plurality of wirelessly controlled stimulus pods, anchored to a patient's body, and configured to deliver stimulus to the patient's body. The stimulus can be heat, vibration, or electrical stimulus, or any combination thereof. The stimulus pods are controlled by a control station that can include a user-interface through which the patient can control application of the stimulus.

The invention provides a variety of novel devices, systems, and methods of utilizing mixed-ionic-electronic conductor (MIEC) materials adapted to function with an applied current or potential. The materials, as part of a circuit, are placed in contact with a part of a human or nonhuman animal body. A sodium selective membrane system utilizing the MIEC is also described.

Provided is a skincare device for providing skincare treatments to a user's skin. The skincare device has a body that includes a body having a skin-contacting surface, an ultrasound probe configured to generate ultrasound waves, radio frequency electrodes configured to generate radio frequency waves, electrical stimulation electrodes configured to generate electrical impulses and negative ions, light emitting diodes configured to emit light, and circuitry housed in the body and comprising at least one processor and at least one memory. These elements of the skincare device are arranged such that all of the electrodes are configured to contact the user's skin simultaneously and to improve contact with the user's skin. The skincare device has a plurality of treatment modes in which different combinations of elements are activated.

Tumors in portions of a subject's body that have a longitudinal axis (e.g., the torso, head, and arm) can be treated with TTFields by affixing first and second sets of electrodes at respective positions that are longitudinally prior to and subsequent to a target region. An AC voltage with a frequency of 100-500 kHz is applied between these sets of electrodes. This imposes an AC electric field with field lines that run through the target region longitudinally. The field strength is at least 1 V/cm in at least a portion of the target region. In some embodiments, this approach is combined with the application of AC electric fields through the target region in a lateral direction (e.g., front to back and/or side to side) in order to apply AC electric fields with different orientations to the target region.