Embodiments of the invention provide methods for the transdermal delivery of therapeutic agents for the treatment of addictive cravings e.g., nicotine compounds for the treatment of nicotine cravings from tobacco use. 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.

A device (100) for electrophoretic delivery of ions comprising a source electrode (200) in electric and ionic contact with a source electrolyte (202), and a target electrode (400) in electric and ionic contact target electrolyte (402), said source and target electrodes (200, 400) capable of conducting ions and electrons; an ion-conductive channel (302) connecting the source electrolyte (202) with the target electrolyte (402) to provide an ionic connection between said source and said target electrodes (200, 400), wherein said electrodes (200, 400) and said ion-conductive channel (302) are formed of solid or semi-solid materials, and a controller, operable to apply a drive voltage between said source and said target electrodes (200, 400), such that at least after a voltage is applied across said ion-conductive channel, a potential difference between said source and target electrodes (200, 400) is provided, further comprising a trapping electrode (300) comprising an effective amount of a Bronsted base, said trapping electrode (300) being arranged in ionic contact with the ion-conductive channel (302). Use of the device is also disclosed, as is a method of operating the device and a method electrophoretic delivery of ions.

A device for treating human keratinous material, in particular with the aid of an electric current. The device includes a reservoir containing a composition, in particular cosmetic or dermatological, to be applied to the keratinous material, and an end fitting for the application of the composition contained in the reservoir, the end fitting comprising a plurality of application members and a distributor. The distributor includes at least one storage cavity for the composition and supply orifices to conduct the composition from the storage cavity or cavities to the application members, and the distributor being configured so that the flow rate of the composition arriving at the application members is identical to within 20% for at least two application members, better for each application member.

Provided is a smart contact lens for non-invasive drug delivery including a platform configured to be worn on an eye, a reservoir installed within the platform, and having a receiving part in which a drug is received, to provide the eye with the drug, an electrode for iontophoresis installed in the reservoir to make iontophoresis work, to provide the eye with the drug from the reservoir, and an activation chip electrically connected to the electrode for iontophoresis to activate iontophoresis.

An iontophoretic patch for transdermal delivery of biologically active agents includes at least two electrodes in contact with at least two hydrogel reservoirs. At least one of the hydrogel reservoirs carries at least one active agent and, in use of the iontophoretic patch, is disposed on a user's skin and delivers at least one active agent into the skin. The patch includes a control unit to generate a stimulation pattern having stimulation parameters delivered to stimuli locations on the skin. A stimulation unit generates a time sequence of pulses from the stimulation parameters generated by the control unit. The patch further includes a demultiplexing unit configured to perform independent spatio-temporal distribution of the electrical pulses in the time sequence of pulses to at least one electrode; at least one optical sensing system, for continuously measuring an amount of the active agent in the hydrogel reservoir; and a feedback unit.

A hand-held device for electrically assisted skin treatment includes a skin electrode and a hand electrode. An absorbent carrier material is soaked with an active ingredient. The absorbent carrier material is fastened to a ring and the ring is clippable onto the hand-held device. The absorbent carrier material extends over the skin electrode when the ring is in a clipped-on state with respect to the hand-held device.

A method and apparatus to treat hyperhidrosis is provided in which a battery provides a milliampere electrical current to the inside of a waterproof glove containing water and sealed to the user's arm so that circulation is not unduly restricted while the user can raise the water-filled gloves and hands above the user's head without leaking. A tapered portion on the proximal end of each glove is folded inside the glove to seal against the user's arm to form a pocket between the tapered portion which seals against the user's arms, and part of a wrist portion of the glove located radially outward of the tapered portion. When the user's gloves and hands rotate upward, water collects in the pocket(s) while the tapered portion provides a leakproof seal, thus allowing manual manipulation while wearing the water-filled gloves.

Systems, apparatus, and methods are described for delivering a therapeutic substance, such as an anesthetic, to a tympanic membrane of a subject. Such systems can include an earset with a valve configured to control flow of a fluid, such as air, into and out of a reservoir. In some embodiments, systems, apparatus, and methods described herein can include additional valves and features for relieving negative pressure within the reservoir.

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.

Described are methods and devices (100) for measuring a sweat property of skin (12) in response to at least one test material or component (172, 174, 176, 178). Embodiments of the device include a plurality of different sweat stimulation sites. The Sweat stimulation sites may include one or more sweat stimulant reservoirs (142, 144, 146, 148) configured to deliver a sweat stimulant to the surface of the skin (12). Embodiments may also include at least one electrode (150, 152, 154, 156, 158) for measuring a sweat property or to iontophoretically deliver the sweat stimulant from the reservoir (142, 144, 146, 148). In embodiments, the sweat stimulant is selected from acetylcholine, carbachol, methacholine, bethanechol, muscarine, pilocarpine, oxotremorine, and combinations thereof.