Electrokinetic delivery of medicaments

Abstract

An electrokinetic delivery or diagnostic device for personal use and self-administration of a medicament to a treatment site is provided. The device includes a housing containing a power supply, a first active electrode and a ground tactile electrode. An applicator includes a pad for containing medicament for overlying the first electrode of the device. The medicament may be applied by the user to the pad, contained within the pad or contained in rupturable capsules within the pad, together with a hydrogel if necessary for imparting electrical conductivity whereby, upon application of the applicator to the treatment site, the medicament is electrokinetically transported into the treatment site. In another form, the applicator is self-contained, having a power supply, a first electrode overlying a pad and a ground electrode from the opposite side from the pad whereby the individual presses the pad against the treatment site to complete the electrical circuit and electrokinetically drive the medicament into the treatment site.

1 - 147 . (canceled)  
     
     
         148 . An electrokinetic delivery system for personal use in self-administration of a medicament to a fungal infestation site on a toe of an individual comprising: 
 an applicator including a first electrode shaped in part to overlie at least a portion of the individual's toe;    at least one of an electrically conductive medicament or a medicament with an electrically conductive carrier therefor;    a retainer for maintaining the applicator with the first electrode in part overlying the portion of the individual's toe;    a self-contained power source connected to said applicator, said first electrode being in electrical contact with said power source; and a second electrode carried by said applicator for electrical contact with the individual and said power source whereby, upon application of said first electrode to the fungal infestation site on the individual's toe with said at least one medicament or medicament with carrier interposed between the first electrode and the fungal infestation site and completion of an electrical circuit through the first electrode, at least one of the medicament or medicament with carrier, the fungal infestation site, the individual's body, said second electrode and said power source, said applicator causes an electrical current to flow for electrokinetically driving the at least one medicament or medicament with carrier into the fungal infestation site on the individual's toe.    
     
     
         149 . The system according to  claim 148  wherein delivery of the at least one medicament or medicament with carrier to the fungal infestation site at least aids in treatment of disease conditions of the toe or toenail.  
     
     
         150 . The system according to  claim 148  wherein said retainer is formed of a flexible material.  
     
     
         151 . The system according to  claim 148  including a pad underlying the first electrode for disposition between said first electrode and the fungal infestation site, said pad containing the one medicament or medicament with carrier.  
     
     
         152 . The system according to  claim 148  wherein the first electrode is shaped to extend between adjacent toes of the individual.  
     
     
         153 . The system according to  claim 152  including a pad underlying the first electrode for disposition between said first electrode and the adjacent toes, said pad containing the one medicament or medicament with carrier.  
     
     
         154 . The system according to  claim 153  wherein said first electrode is secured to said retainer.  
     
     
         155 . The system according to  claim 148  wherein the first electrode is shaped to overlie the individual's toenail.  
     
     
         156 . The system according to  claim 155  including a pad underlying the first electrode for disposition between said first electrode and the individual's toenail, said pad containing the one medicament or medicament with carrier.  
     
     
         157 . The system according to  claim 156  wherein said first electrode is secured to said retainer.  
     
     
         158 . The system according to  claim 148  wherein said retainer includes a flexible sock carrying said first electrode, an electronics package including said second electrode and a power supply being secured to the individual's body at a location remote from said first electrode.  
     
     
         159 . An electrokinetic delivery system for personal use in self-administration of a medicament to a fungal infestation site on a digit of an individual comprising: 
 an applicator including a first electrode for registering with at least a portion of the individual's digit;    at least one of an electrically conductive medicament or a medicament with an electrically conductive carrier therefor;    means about the first electrode for maintaining the first electrode and the individual's digit in registration with one another;    a self-contained power source connected to said applicator, said first electrode being in electrical contact with said power source; and a second electrode carried by said applicator for electrical contact with the individual and said power source whereby, upon application of said first electrode to the fungal infestation site on the individual's digit with said at least one medicament or medicament with carrier interposed between the first electrode and the fungal infestation site and completion of an electrical circuit through the first electrode, at least one of the medicament or medicament with carrier, the fungal infestation site, the individual's body, said second electrode and said power source, said applicator causes an electrical current to flow for electrokinetically driving the at least one medicament or medicament with carrier into the fungal infestation site on the individual's digit.    
     
     
         160 . The system according to  claim 159  wherein delivery of the at least one medicament or medicament with carrier to the fungal infestation site at least aids in treatment of disease conditions of a nail or the individual's digit.  
     
     
         161 . The system according to  claim 159  wherein said maintaining means is formed of a flexible material.  
     
     
         162 . The system according to  claim 159  including a pad for disposition between said first electrode and the fungal infestation site, said pad containing the one medicament or medicament with carrier.  
     
     
         163 . The system according to  claim 159  wherein said applicator includes an applicator body having a finger hole with said first electrode in registration with said finger hole, said maintaining means including a material for biasing the individual's finger toward the first electrode.  
     
     
         164 . The system according to  claim 159  wherein the first electrode is shaped to overlie the individual's toenail.  
     
     
         165 . The system according to  claim 164  including a pad underlying the first electrode for disposition between said first electrode and the individual's toenail, said pad containing the one medicament or medicament with carrier.  
     
     
         166 . A method of electrokinetically administering a medicament to a fungal infestation site on a toe of an individual comprising the steps of: 
 providing an applicator including a first electrode, a self-contained power source, a second electrode and at least one of an electrically conductive medicament or a medicament with an electrically conductive carrier therefor;    locating the applicator in overlying relation to at least a portion of the fungal infestation site of the individual's toe with the at least one of the medicament or the medicament with carrier therefor intermediate the first electrode and the individual's toe portion and the second electrode in contact with the individual;    maintaining the applicator with the first electrode in part overlying the portion of the individual's toe with at least one of the medicament or the medicament with carrier therefor intermediate the first electrode and the individual's toe portion and the second electrode in contact with the individual; and    completing an electrical circuit through the first electrode, at least one of the medicament or medicament with carrier, the portion of the fungal infestation site, the individual's body, said second electrode and said power source to cause an electrical current to flow for electrokinetically driving the at least one medicament or medicament with carrier into the fungal infestation site portion on the individual's toe.    
     
     
         167 . A method according to  claim 166  including providing the applicator with the first electrode shaped to extend between adjacent toes of the individual and providing a pad containing the one medicament or medicament with carrier underlying the first electrode for disposition between said first electrode and the adjacent toes.  
     
     
         168 . A method according to  claim 166  including providing the applicator with the first electrode shaped to overlie the individual's toenail and providing a pad containing the one medicament or medicament with carrier underlying the first electrode for disposition between said first electrode and the individual's toenail.  
     
     
         169 . A method according to  claim 166  including providing a sock carrying said first electrode, said second electrode and said power supply.  
     
     
         170 . A method of electrokinetically administering a medicament to a fungal infestation site on a digit of an individual comprising: 
 providing an applicator including a first electrode, a self-contained power source, a second electrode and at least one of an electrically conductive medicament or a medicament with an electrically conductive carrier therefor;    locating the applicator and a portion of the individual's digit in registration with one another;    maintaining the first electrode and the individual's digit in registration with one another with at least one of the medicament or the medicament with carrier therefor intermediate the first electrode and the individual's digit and the second electrode in contact with the individual; and    completing an electrical circuit through the first electrode, at least one of the medicament or medicament with carrier, the fungal infestation site, the individual's body, said second electrode and said power source to cause an electrical current to flow for electrokinetically driving the at least one medicament or medicament with carrier into the fungal infestation site on the individual's digit.    
     
     
         171 . A method according to  claim 170  including providing a pad for disposition between said first electrode and the fungal infestation site, the pad containing the one medicament or medicament with carrier.  
     
     
         172 . A method according to  claim 170  including providing an applicator having an applicator body with a finger hole with said first electrode in registration with said finger hole, and, upon insertion of the individual's finger into the finger hole, biasing the individual's finger toward the first electrode.