abstract |
A low cost, accurate, single use, disposable, iontophoretic fluid delivery device having cationic and anionic chambers separated by container structure and arranged to promote a flow of treatment ions into a body. The device desirably uses rugged mini batteries safely to provide increased electromotive force to the ion transfer process compared to galvanic cells having electrolyte matched to a human body's electrolyte. Mini batteries may be located in one or both cationic and anionic chambers, and/or attached to structure of a container outside the chambers. One or more electric circuit components may be arranged in a parallel circuit to the body to provide enhanced efficacy of the device. For example, a shunt resistance may be provided to control delivery of a beneficial agent in an amount over a time interval corresponding to any portion of a battery capacity, typically between 1 mAmp-min to 500 mAmp-min, or more. Substrates, located in the chambers and adapted to hold electrolyte or treatment drugs, may be electrically conductive to resist polarization of the chemicals near a conducting terminal. Cationic and anionic chambers may be made having different sizes and/or shapes to facilitate placement of treatment drugs into the correct chamber. |