Abstract:
Provided is a packaged iontophoresis system  15  including: an iontophoresis system  10  including an apparatus body  50  for transdermally delivering an ionized drug by iontophoresis, and a connection part  70  extended from the apparatus body  50  and connected to the apparatus body  50  and a power source  60 , the power source  60  supplying power to the apparatus body  50 ; a package material  80  hermetically packaging the apparatus body  50  and a portion of the connection part  70 , by at least a part thereof being welded to the connection part  70 ; and a cutting guide  400  guiding a cutting line of the package material  80  so that the part of the package material  80  welded to the connection part  70  remains at the connection part  70  when the package material  80  is opened.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This is a continuation application of PCT/JP2006/324182 filed on Dec. 4, 2006 which claims priority from a Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-356431 filed on Dec. 9, 2005, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Technical Field 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to a packaged iontophoresis system. In particular, the present invention relates to a packaged iontophoresis system hermetically packaging an iontophoresis system for transdermally delivering drug ions by iontophoresis. 
         [0004]    2. Related Art 
         [0005]    Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2000-229128 discloses an iontophoresis system for transdermally delivering drug ions to biologic surfaces, such as skin or mucous membranes, of a predetermined part of a human or animal body by iontophoresis. Hereinafter, such skin and mucous membranes are collectively referred to as “skin”. 
         [0006]    The iontophoresis system disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2000-229128 attempts to solve such problems as a decrease amount of ionic drug or drug-dissolving solvent from a container of the iontophoresis system due to volatilization, and corrosion of a power source such as a battery attributable to the vaporized drug solutions due to the volatilization, during storage prior to application of the drug ions to a patient. A possible solution thereof is to fix the power source of the apparatus body of the iontophoresis system to the package material to hermetically sealing them. In this case, however, the package material will be welded to a connection part between the power source and the apparatus body. This has caused a problem that the surface of the connection part is peeled off with the package material when opening the package material. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    In view of this, it is an object of one aspect of the present invention to provide a packaged iontophoresis system capable of addressing the foregoing problems. This object may be achieved by combinations of features described in the independent claims. The dependent claims define further advantageous and concrete embodiments of the present invention. 
         [0008]    According to one exemplary packaged iontophoresis system based on an aspect of the innovation herein, a packaged iontophoresis system includes an apparatus body for transdermally delivering an ionized drug by iontophoresis, and an iontophoresis device having a connection part extended from the apparatus body which is connected to a power source supplying power to the apparatus body; a package material hermetically packaging the apparatus body and a portion of the connection part by at least a portion thereof being fixed to the connection part; and a cutting guide for guiding a cutting line of the package material so that the part of the package material fixed to the connection part remains with the connection part when the package material is opened and removed. Accordingly, the package material can be opened to be removed without damaging the wiring of the connection part or the like. 
         [0009]    In the above described packaged iontophoresis system, the cutting guide part may also include a groove in a thickness direction and provided between the portion thereof that is fixed to the connection part and the other portion thereof. Accordingly, when opening and removing the package material, the cutting guide is able to more assuredly guide the cutting line so that the part fixed to the connection part will remain at the connection part. 
         [0010]    In the above described packaged iontophoresis system, the cutting guide part may also include a notch provided in the vicinity of the fixed part to the connection part. Accordingly, when opening and removing the package material the cutting guide is able to more assuredly guide the cutting line so that the part fixed to the connection part will remain at the connection part. 
         [0011]    In the above described package material, preferably, the strength of the part fixed to the connection part is stronger than any other part of the package material. Accordingly, the package material can be opened to be removed, without damaging wiring in the connection part or the like. 
         [0012]    The above described iontophoresis system may also have an apparatus body that includes: an operation electrode structure including a first electrode member and a drug solution retainer, the first electrode member being electrically connected to a first conductivity type terminal of the power source, the first conductivity type being the same as a conductivity type of the ionized drug, the drug solution retainer retaining a drug solution containing the drug and being provided in an electric field created by the first electrode member; and a non-operation electrode structure electrically connected to a second conductivity type terminal of the power source, the second conductivity type being opposite to the first conductivity type. Accordingly, iontophoresis can be applied to any drug solution containing a drug, without special preparations. 
         [0013]    It is further possible to arrange the iontophoresis system so that the operation electrode structure includes: a first electrolyte retainer electrically connected to the first electrode member and retaining an electrolyte; an ion exchange membrane of the second conductivity type sandwiching the first electrolyte retainer with the first electrode member, and selectively transmitting ions of the second conductivity type; and an ion exchange membrane of the first conductivity type sandwiching the drug solution retainer with the ion exchange membrane of the second conductivity type, and selectively transmitting ions of the first conductivity type. Accordingly, not only can the skin to be in contact with the operation electrode structure be prevented from burns and inflammation, but also the drug ions can be applied while stably supplying electricity to the skin. This enables the drug ions to be applied to the living organism securely and efficiently. 
         [0014]    It is further possible to arrange the iontophoretic system so that the non-operation electrode structure includes: a second electrode member electrically connected to the terminal of the second conductivity type of the power source; a second electrolyte retainer electrically connected to the second electrode member and retaining an electrolyte; an ion exchange membrane of the first conductivity type sandwiching the second electrolyte retainer with the second electrode member, and selectively transmitting ions having an electric polarity different from an electric polarity of the second electrode member; a third electrolyte retainer provided in an opposite side of the second electrolyte retainer in the ion exchange membrane of the first conductivity type, and retaining an electrolyte; and an ion exchange membrane of the second conductivity type sandwiching the third electrolyte retainer with the ion exchange membrane of the first conductivity type, and selectively transmitting ions having an electric polarity that is the same as the electric polarity of the second electrode member. Accordingly, not only can the skin to be in contact with the non-operation electrode structure be prevented from burns and inflammation, but also the drug ions can be applied while stably supplying electricity to the skin. This enables the drug ions to be applied to the living organism securely and efficiently. 
         [0015]    The summary does not necessarily describe all necessary features of certain embodiments of the present invention. The present invention may also be a sub-combination of the features described above. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]      FIG. 1  shows a top view of a packaged iontophoresis system  15 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a sectional view of the cross section of a-a′ line of  FIG. 1 , viewed from the right-hand side in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a sectional view of the cross section of line b-b′ of  FIG. 1 , viewed from the bottom side in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is a sectional view of the cross section of line b-b′ of  FIG. 1 , after the opening and removal of a package material  80 , viewed from the bottom side in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is a bottom view after the opening and removal of the package material  80 , viewed from the rear side in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  is a top view of a packaged iontophoresis system  25 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  is a top view of a packaged iontophoresis system  35 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 8  is a schematic side view of an iontophoresis system  10 . 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
       [0024]    Some aspects of the invention will now be described based on the embodiments, which do not intend to limit the scope of the present invention, but rather, exemplify the invention. All of the features and the combinations thereof described in the embodiment are not necessarily essential to the invention. 
         [0025]      FIG. 1  shows a top view of a packaged iontophoresis system  15 .  FIG. 2  is a sectional view of the cross section of a-a′ line of  FIG. 1 , viewed from the right-hand side in  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 3  is a sectional view of the cross section of line b-b′ of  FIG. 1 , viewed from the bottom side in  FIG. 1 . As in  FIG. 1 , the packaged iontophoresis system  15  includes an iontophoresis system  10  and a package material  80 , where the iontophoresis system  10  includes an apparatus body  50 , a power source  60 , and a connection part  70  for connecting the apparatus body  50  to the power source  60 , and the package material  80  is formed substantially as a bag shape by welding of an upper package material  82  and a lower package material  84  at a welded surface  90  and a connection-part welded surface  94 . 
         [0026]    It is preferable that the upper package material  82  and the lower package material  84  are water-impermeable and further substantially impermeable to gases body such as water vapor. The material may accordingly be an aluminum foil, a polyester film, a polypropylene film, a polyethylene film, or the like. When being welded by means of heat sealing, the upper package material  82  and the lower package material  84  may be a lamination of a plurality of the above-described films, or may be the above-described films with a polymer resin coating for facilitating peeling at the time of opening. 
         [0027]    As in  FIG. 2 , the connection part  70  includes a substrate  72  forming an active conductive wire  205  and a counter conductive wire  305  thereon, and a coating material  74  which is provided in the circumference of the cross section of the substrate  72 . The substrate  72  is preferably a material having electrical insulation properties and flexibility, such as a polyimide film. An exemplary method of forming the active conductive wire  205  and the counter conductive wire  305  on the surface of the substrate  72  is to deposit or to photo-etch a conductive material such as copper on the surface of the substrate  72 . It is preferable that the coating material  74  is made of the same material as the upper package material  82  and the lower package material  84 , or is made of a material which is easily welded to the upper package material  82  and the lower package material  84 . 
         [0028]    As shown in  FIG. 1  through  FIG. 3 , the upper package material  82  and the lower package material  84  are welded to the connection part  70  without any gap therebetween, to sandwich the connection part  70  from above and below, at the connection part welded surface  94 . As a result, the apparatus body  50  of the iontophoresis system  10 , and the portion of the connection part  70  positioned nearer to the apparatus body  50  than to the connection-part welded surface  94 , is hermetically sealed inside the package material  80 . 
         [0029]    The method of fixing the upper package material  82  and the lower package material  84  is not limited to welding by heat sealing described above. Other alternative methods include attachment by means of a variety of adhesives, mechanical pressure bonding by means of clips and the like, or a combination thereof. Since the packaged iontophoresis system  15  is packed by the package material  80 , the positioned nearer to the apparatus body  50  is more hermetically sealed than the apparatus body  50  of the iontophoresis system  10  and the connection-part welded surface  94  of the connection part  70 . Decreases in the amount of ionic drugs or drug-dissolving solvent due to volatilization, and the corrosion of the power source  60  attributable to the vaporized drug due to the volatilization, are thus prevented. 
         [0030]    Also as shown in  FIGS. 1 through 3 , the package material  80  includes a cutting guide  400  comprising a groove  410  and a notch  420 . The groove  410  is for example formed up to half of the thickness from the respective surfaces of the upper package material  82  and the lower package material  84  in the position between the welded surface  90  and the connection-part welded surface  94 . Also shown in  FIG. 1 , the groove  410  is formed to surround the connection-part welded surface  94  on the respective surfaces of the upper package material  82  and the lower package material  84 . At the end thereof, the notch  420  is provided to protrude from the upper package material  82  and the lower package material  84  in the thickness direction. Further as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the package material  80  includes a non-welded surface  92  adjacent to the welded surface  90 . 
         [0031]    In the packaged iontophoresis system  15  of  FIG. 1 , when applying iontophoresis, first, the upper package material  82  is pulled from the non-welded surface  92  towards the upper direction in  FIG. 2 . During this operation, the upper package material  82  is cut at the cutting guide  400 , and the portion of the upper package material  82  surrounded by the cutting guide  400  in  FIG. 1  remains welded with the connection part  70 . Next, the lower package material  84  is cut from the notch  420  along the groove  410 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 4  is a sectional view of the cross section of line b-b′ of  FIG. 1 , after the opening and removal of a package material  80 , viewed from the bottom side in  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 5  is a bottom view after the opening and removal of the package material  80 , viewed from the rear side in  FIG. 1 . As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the package material  80  is cut along the groove  410  of the cutting guide  400 , and the iontophoresis system  10  is cut off therefrom with the mentioned opening operation. Consequently, the connection-part welded surface  94  of the respective parts of the upper package material  82  and of the lower package material  84  and a part surrounded by the cutting guide  400  are cut off from the package material  80  to remain welded with the connection part  70 . 
         [0033]    In this way, the cutting guide  400  guides the cutting line so that the part welded to the connection part  70  remains at the connection part  70 . Therefore, the package material  80  can be opened and removed without peeling off the connection-part welded surface  94 . As a result, the package material  80  is opened and removed without damaging the active conductive wire  205  and the counter conductive wire  305  of the connection part  70 . The welding strength for the connection-part welded surface  94  may be stronger than the welding strength for the welded surface  90 . In this case, the connection-part welded surface  94  will be more difficult to peel off when opening and removing the package material  80 , to further facilitate opening and removal of the package material  80  without damaging the active conductive wire  205  and the counter conductive wire  305  of the connection part  70 . 
         [0034]    As shown in  FIG. 5 , after the opening and removal of the package material  80 , a first conductive type ion exchange membrane  250 , serving as a contacting surface with skin in the operation electrode structure  200  of the iontophoresis system  10 , and an adhesive surface  262  of active side having adherence property are exposed. Likewise, a second conductive type ion exchange membrane  350 , serving as a contacting surface with skin in the non-operation electrode structure  300  of the iontophoresis system  10 , and an adhesive surface  362  of counter side having adherence property are exposed. In application of iontophoresis, the first conductive type ion exchange membrane  250  and the active adhesive surface  262  are maintained by adherence to be in contact with the skin of the living body at the dosing target part, while maintaining the second conductive type ion exchange membrane  350  and the counter side adhesive surface  362  to be in contact with the part surrounding the dosing target part or being adjacent to the dosing target part. Herein, the first conductive type represents one electric polarity of positive or negative, and the second conductive type represents the other electric polarity. 
         [0035]      FIG. 6  is a top view of a packaged iontophoresis system  25 , another embodiment of an iontophoresis system. The parts of the packaged iontophoresis system  25  in  FIG. 6  assigned the same reference numerals have the same configurations as those of the packaged iontophoresis system  15  in  FIG. 1 , and so the explanation thereof is omitted below. As shown in  FIG. 6 , the package material  80  of the packaged iontophoresis system  25  includes a cutting guide  401  comprising a groove  430 , a notch  435 , a groove  440 , and a notch  445 . That is, the upper package material  82  and the lower package material  84  respectively include a cutting guide  401  in symmetric positions with each other, and the notch  435  and the notch  445  are provided to protrude the upper package material  82  and the lower package material  84  in the thickness direction respectively. 
         [0036]    To use the packaged iontophoresis system  25  of  FIG. 6  for iontophoresis, first, the package material  80  is cut from the notch  435  along the groove  430 , thereby cutting off the package material  80  positioned at the left-hand side of the groove  430  in  FIG. 6  from the iontophoresis system  10 . During this operation, the package material  80  positioned at the right-hand side of the groove  430  in  FIG. 6  remains welded with the connection part  70 . Next, the remaining part is cut off from two notches  445  respectively along the groove  440  shown in  FIG. 6 . According to the above-described operation, the packaged iontophoresis system  25  is opened, while the parts respectively of the upper package material  82  and the lower package material  84  surrounded by the groove  430  and the groove  440  remain welded with the connection part  70 . 
         [0037]      FIG. 7  is a top view of a packaged iontophoresis system  35 , being further different embodiment. The parts of the packaged iontophoresis system  35  in  FIG. 7  assigned the same reference numerals have the same configurations as those of the packaged iontophoresis system  15  in  FIG. 1 , and so the explanation thereof is omitted in the following. As shown in  FIG. 7 , the package material  80  of the packaged iontophoresis system  35  includes a cutting guide  402  comprising a tape  450 , a notch  455 , a tape  460 , and a notch  465 . The upper package material  82  and the lower package material  84  respectively include a cutting guide  402  in symmetric positions with each other, and the notch  455  and the notch  465  are provided to protrude the upper package material  82  and the lower package material  84  in the thickness direction respectively. 
         [0038]    To use the packaged iontophoresis system  35   FIG. 7  for iontophoresis, first, the package material  80  is cut from the notch  455  along the tape  450 , thereby cutting off the package material  80  positioned at the left-hand side of the tape  450  in  FIG. 7  from the iontophoresis system  10 . During this operation, the package material  80  positioned at the right-hand side of the tape  450  in  FIG. 7  remains welded with the connection part  70 . Next, the remaining part is cut off from the notch  465  shown in  FIG. 7 , respectively along the tape  460 . According to the above-described operation, while the packaged iontophoresis system  35  is opened, the parts in the upper package material  82  and the lower package material  84  surrounded by the tape  460  remain welded with the connection part  70 . 
         [0039]    The tape  450  ( 460 ) of the packaged iontophoresis system  35  in  FIG. 7  is not limited as long as it can guide the cutting line when cutting the package material  80  along the tape  450  ( 460 ) from the notch  455  ( 465 ), but a stretch film tape attached to the package material  80  may be included. It is desirable that each tape  450  ( 460 ) use a reel of tape wound around the upper package material  82  and the lower package material  84  of the package material  80  starting from the notch  455  ( 465 ) respectively. 
         [0040]      FIG. 8  is a schematic side view of an iontophoresis system  10 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , the operation electrode structure  200  includes a first electrode member  210 , a first electrolyte retainer  220 , an ion exchange membrane  230  of a second conductive type, a drug solution retainer  240 , and an ion exchange membrane  250  of a first conductive type in the stated order in the direction from the apparatus body  50  to the skin to be contacted to the iontophoresis system  10 . The upper and side surfaces thereof are covered by a container  260 . The first electrode member  210  is electrically connected to a terminal of the first conductivity type of the power source  60 , by means of the active conductor  205 . 
         [0041]    The first electrolyte retainer  220  is electrically connected to the first electrode member  210 , and retains an electrolyte. A compound having an oxidation reduction potential lower than that of water when compared to electrolysis reaction of water (i.e. oxidation and reduction of water) and that is easily oxidized and reduced is dissolved in the electrolyte. The ion exchange membrane  230  of the second conductivity type sandwiches the first electrolyte retainer  220  with the first electrode member  210 , and selectively permeates ions of the second conductivity type. The drug solution retainer  240  retains drug solutions containing drug ions. Drug ions are either anions or cations resulting from ionic dissociation of drugs, and are ions of the first conductivity type having drug efficacy. The ion exchange membrane  250  of the first conductivity type sandwiches the drug solution retainer  240  with the ion exchange membrane  230  of the second conductivity type, and selectively permeates ions of the first conductivity type. 
         [0042]    As shown in  FIG. 8 , the non-operation electrode structure  300  includes a second electrode member  310 , a second electrolyte retainer  320 , an ion exchange membrane  330  of a first conductive type, a third electrolyte retainer  340 , and an ion exchange membrane  350  of a second conductive type in the stated order in the direction from the apparatus body  50  to the skin to be contacted to the iontophoresis system  10 . The second electrode member  310  is electrically connected to a terminal of the second conductivity type of the power source  60 , by means of the counter conductor  305 . 
         [0043]    The second electrolyte retainer  320  is electrically connected to the second electrode member  310 , and retains an electrolyte. The ion exchange membrane  330  of the first conductivity type sandwiches the second electrolyte retainer  320  with the second electrode member  310 , and selectively permeates ions of the first conductivity type. The third electrolyte retainer  340  is arranged in the opposite side of the second electrolyte retainer  320  against the ion exchange membrane  330  of the first conductivity type, and retains an electrolyte. The ion exchange membrane  350  of the second conductivity type sandwiches the third electrolyte retainer  340  with the ion exchange membrane  330  of the first conductivity type, and selectively permeates ions of the second conductivity type. Note that a compound having an oxidation reduction potential lower than the oxidation reduction potential of water when compared to an electrolysis reaction of water (i.e. oxidation and reduction of water) and that is easily oxidized and reduced is dissolved in the electrolyte retained by the second electrolyte retainer  320  and in the third electrolyte retainer  340 , similar to the electrolyte retained by the first electrolyte retainer  220  of the operation electrode structure  200 . 
         [0044]    The container  260  of the operation electrode structure  200  and the container  360  of the non-operation electrode structure  300  include, at the contact surface thereof, an active adhesive surface  262  and a counter adhesive surface  362  having adherence property respectively. The active adhesive surface  262  and the counter adhesive surface  362  are shown in  FIG. 5 , and are maintained to be in contact with the skin, to adhere to and retain the operation electrode structure  200  and the non-operation electrode structure  300 . 
         [0045]    When power is supplied, i.e. when voltage is applied, to the first electrode member  210  and the second electrode member  310  from the power source  60  while the operation electrode structure  200  and the non-operation electrode structure  300  of the iontophoresis system  10  are in contact with the skin, electric current runs between the first electrode member  210  and the second electrode member  310  with the skin therebetween, effecting iontophoresis. 
         [0046]    Here, the concrete configuration of the iontophoresis system  10  is detailed by taking an example where the drug ions are anions. In this example, the first conductivity type is negative, and the second conductivity type is positive. Therefore, the first electrode member  210  of the operation electrode structure  200  is a cathode, and the second electrode member  310  of the non-operation electrode structure  300  is an anode. In addition, in the operation electrode structure  200 , the ion exchange membrane  230  of the second conductivity type is a cation exchange membrane, and the ion exchange membrane  250  of the first conductivity type is an anion exchange membrane. Further, in the operation electrode structure  200 , the ion exchange membrane  330  of the first conductivity type is an anion exchange membrane, and the ion exchange membrane  350  of the second conductivity type is a cation exchange membrane. 
         [0047]    The iontophoresis system  10 , during usage, has the following advantages. In the operation electrode structure  200 , the drug ions included in the drug solution retained by the drug solution retainer  240  moves to the opposite side (to the side of the skin) of the first electrode member  210  being the cathode, by means of the electrophoresis. Then the drug ions are permeated to the skin from the drug solution retainer  240  through the ion exchange membrane  250  of the first conductivity type contacting the skin. On the other hand, cations in the living body are not permeated through the ion exchange membrane  250  of the first conductivity type, and do not move toward the drug solution retainer  240 . Therefore, the drug ions are able to be introduced to a living body by iontophoresis in a stable use state. Cations in the drug solution retainer  240  pairing with the drug ions (anion) move toward the first electrode member  210 , are permeated through the ion exchange membrane  230  of the second conductivity type being a cation exchange membrane, and move towards the first electrolyte retainer  220 . Consequently, ionic balance is maintained in the drug solution retainer  240  in the use state, and so the pH change hardly occurs. As a result, the energizing resistance does not substantially increase, restraining reductions in transportation efficiency of the drug ions. 
         [0048]    On the other hand, in the non-operation electrode structure  300 , a compound dissolved in the electrolyte retained by the third electrolyte retainer  340  has an oxidation reduction potential lower than that of water. Therefore, electrolysis of water in the second electrode member  310  acting as an anode does not occur. Consequently, an increase of energizing resistance is prevented because of prevention of the contact between the second electrode member  310  and the electrolyte retained in the third electrolyte retainer  340  by air bubbles (oxygen gas) generated due to electrolysis. 
         [0049]    Note that when the drug ions are cations, the first conductivity type is positive, and the second conductivity type is negative. Therefore, the electric polarity of the first electrode member  210  and the second electrode member  310  are reversed in the iontophoresis system  10  shown in  FIG. 8 , and the types (ion selective characteristic) of the ion exchange membrane  230  of the second conductivity type, the ion exchange membrane  250  of the first conductivity type, the ion exchange membrane  330  of the first conductivity type, and the ion exchange membrane  350  of the second conductivity type are also reversed. 
         [0050]    In the present embodiment, an exemplary drug ions provided for use with application of iontophoresis is as follows. An exemplary positively charged drug ions includes anesthetic (e.g. procaine hydrochloride and lidocaine hydrochloride), a therapeutic agent for gastrointestinal disease (e.g. carnitine chloride), a muscle relaxant suxametonium (e.g. pancronium bromide), and antibiotics (e.g. tetracyclines drug product, kanamycins drug product, and gentamicins drug product). An exemplary negatively charged drug ions includes a vitamin (hereinafter abbreviated as “V”) preparation (e.g. VB 2 , VB 12 , VC, VE, and folate), adrenal cortex hormone (e.g. water-soluble hydrocortisone drug product, water-soluble dexamethasone drug product, and water-soluble prednisolone drug product), and antibiotics (e.g. water-soluble penicillin drug product, and water-soluble chloramphenicol drug product). 
         [0051]    Exemplary voltage used in application of iontophoresis is a pulse voltage for use as a low-frequency therapy equipment. The voltage may be gradually raised or lowered. The electric current running in a body is increased or decreased as necessary depending on the area of the first electrode member  210  and the second electrode member  310 , the part of the body being the dosing target, or the individual difference of a person being the dosing target, so that the person would not suffer from pain or heat. 
         [0052]    The power source  60  may constantly apply the voltage for applying the iontophoresis, to the first electrode member  210  and the second electrode member  310 . However, there may be further provided means for detecting contact between the apparatus body  50  and the skin, to apply a voltage for applying the iontophoresis only when the apparatus body  50  is brought in contact with the skin. The power source  60  may be desorbable with respect to the connection part  70 , or be integrally formed with the connection part  70 . Concrete appropriate examples of the power source  60  include a battery, a constant-voltage device, a constant-current device, a constant-voltage/constant-current device (Galvanic device). It is desirable that the power source  60  has a favorable portability. 
         [0053]    The electrode material of the first electrode member  210  and of the second electrode member  310  may be selected as necessary depending on the characteristics of the drug ions, and may be a conductive material such as carbon and platinum. 
         [0054]    The first electrolyte retainer  220  of the operation electrode structure  200  and the second electrolyte retainer  320  and the third electrolyte retainer  340  of the non-operation electrode structure  300  preferably retain an electrolyte that is a solution in which a compound having an oxidation reduction potential lower than that of water compared to an electrolysis reaction of water (i.e. oxidation and reduction of water), and that is easily oxidized and reduced, is dissolved. For example, a mixed aqueous solution of first copperas (FeSO 4 ) and second copperas (Fe 2 (SO 4 ) 3 ), an aqueous solution of sodium ascorbate, and a mixture aqueous solution of lactic acid and sodium fumarate. Furthermore, the retaining form of these electrolytes may be a gel, a desirable medium (gauze or water-absorbing polymer material) into which the electrolyte is impregnated, or a solution that retains the electrolyte as is. 
         [0055]    For example, the anion exchange membrane may be a polymer having a quaternized ammonium group at the side chain thereof, and the cation exchange membrane may be a polymer having a sulfonate group at the side chain thereof. They may be selected desirable, and also be combined as appropriated depending on the type of the drug ions used. 
         [0056]    It is preferable that the container  260  and the container  360  are made of a material that is an electric insulator and resistant to ionic conductivity, and has plasticity, bendability, or flexibility, and has a form-maintaining nature. Exemplary materials include acrylic, polyvinyl chloride, polyacrylic, polyamide, polysulphone, polystyrene, polyoxymethylene, polycarbonate, polyester, and copolymers thereof. 
         [0057]    As stated above, with the present embodiment the package material  80  may be opened without peeling off the connection-part welded surface  94 . Therefore, opening and removal of the package material  80  does not damage the active conductor  205  or the counter conductor  305  of the connection part  70 . 
         [0058]    Although some aspects of the present invention have been described by way of exemplary embodiments, the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto, and it should be understood that those skilled in the art might make many changes and substitutions without departing from the spirit and the scope of the present invention which is defined only by the appended claims. 
         [0059]    As clear from the foregoing, according to one embodiment of the present invention, the decrease in ionic drugs or drug-dissolving solvent due to volatilization, and the corrosion of the power source attributable to the vaporized drug due to the volatilization are thus prevented.