Patent ID: 6059736
Filing Date: 2000-05-09
Classification: A61N

Abstract:
In an electronic control system for electro-osmotic withdrawal of fluid samples from a biological subject, the combination comprising:means for delivering a sample withdrawing electrical current to the skin of a biological subject;means for varying the time period over which said electrical current is supplied to the biological subject in accordance with the desired sample size to be withdrawn from the biological subject;means for terminating said electrical current applied to the biological subject when said electrical current-time product equals the desired total withdrawal sample size;means for analyzing said withdrawal sample;means for automatically iontophoretically delivering a therapeutic agent to said biological subject in response to analysis of the sample;means for accomplishing said iontophoretic delivery of said therapeutic agent by conducting an electrical current through a surface of said subject in a first direction from a first electrode to a second electrode on said subject; andintermittently reversing, at a relatively low frequency which prevents skin damage, between approximately 20 times per second and approximately once every three minutes, the polarity of said electrodes to cause said electrical current to flow in a second direction opposite to said first direction, whereby iontophoretic delivery may be continuous for extended periods of time.