Patent ID: 9392229
Filing Date: 2016-07-12
CPC Classification: A61F,A61K,A61M,A61N,H04N

Claim Text:
1. An iontophoresis system for anesthetizing a tympanic membrane of an ear of a patient, the system comprising: (a) an anesthetizing drug solution for applying to the tympanic membrane, the anesthetizing drug solution comprising an anesthetic and a buffer, wherein the buffer is configured to raise the pH of the drug solution to an increased pH in the range of 6.8 to 7.2, and wherein the anesthetizing drug solution further comprises: (b) a current source; (c) an electrode configured for placement within the ear of the patient in contact with the drug solution; and (d) a controller coupled with the current source, the controller programmed to increase an amount of current applied through the electrode to the drug solution at a rate of less than 0.5 milliamp per minute until a maximum current of less than 1.0 milliamp is achieved.