Patent Publication Number: US-2021162209-A1

Title: Lightweight Iontophoresis Device

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This disclosure relates to an iontophoresis device, and more specifically to a lightweight iontophoresis device utilizing individually activated electrodes. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Various iontophoresis devices have been proposed to improve application of cosmetics or medical treatments with the use of electricity. For example, China Patent Application Number 200951261Y discloses a facial mask having a conductive net and an electrode patch. When a current of positive and negative ions is released, the positive and negative ions produced by the current are distributed on the conductive net layer of the ion facial mask and the effective components on the cosmetic facial mask are permeated and introduced into the skin by alternating running ions. 
     Another example is found in PCT Patent Application WO2016016015A1. Here, a support for a facial mask includes both an electrode and a counter separated from one another by an electrically insulating zone. 
     However, prior art iontophoresis devices are not able to be properly adjusted depending upon the specific skin areas to which they are being applied. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An iontophoresis device may comprise a flexible support layer, an electrode layer fixed to the support layer, the electrode layer comprising at least two electrically isolated electrodes, a return electrode separated from the electrode layer and the flexible support layer, and a control module detachably connected to the electrode layer and to the return electrode. The control module is configured to provide a variable current source or a variable voltage source only to a selected proper subset of the at least two electrically isolated electrodes while not providing the variable current source to other electrodes of the at least two electrically isolated electrodes. Each of the at least two electrically isolated electrodes terminates in at least one exposed electrically conductive application point. The flexible support layer may comprise a non-conductive material such as synthetic resin and/or a polymer and the electrode layer may be fixed to the support layer by glue or lamination. 
     These and other objectives of the present invention will no doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment that is illustrated in the various figures and drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a lightweight iontophoresis device, shown as a facial mask, according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates an example electrode layer in the iontophoresis device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  illustrates an embodiment of a control circuit that utilizes a variable current source. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates another embodiment of a control circuit that utilizes a variable current source. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates an embodiment of a control circuit that utilizes a variable voltage source. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates an embodiment of a control circuit that utilizes a form of multiplexor for electrode selection. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A lightweight iontophoresis device  10  for direct application of medical or cosmetic treatment to the skin is disclosed in  FIG. 1 . The iontophoresis device  10  is shown as a facial mask although it may be any shape and used on almost any part of the body requiring treatment. The iontophoresis device  10  may comprise a support layer  20 , an electrode layer  30 , a control module  15 , and return electrode  25 , along with connecting cables  26 ,  61  and interface  60 . The support layer  20  may comprise a flexible, non-conductive material such as synthetic resin or a polymer, but is not limited to these examples. The electrode layer  30  may be integrated into the support layer  20  or attached to the support layer  20 , perhaps by glue or lamination technics. The electrode layer  30  may be some conductive patterns directly made on the support layer  20  by printing, coating, sputtering or other patterning techniques. 
     An example electrode layer  30  is better shown in  FIG. 2 . The electrode layer  30  may comprise a plurality of electrically isolated electrodes  40 . Each of the electrodes  40  may comprise one or more branches having conductive application points  50 . Each of the electrodes  40  may comprise the same number of application points  50  or the number of branches and/or application points  50  may vary from electrode  40  to electrode  40 . The number and location of each application point  50  on each electrode  40  may be subject to design considerations but in some embodiments may depend upon the underlying skin, muscle group, acupuncture points, and/or other designated areas to which the application points  50  are applied. In some embodiments, the application points  50  can be omitted from one or some or all the electrodes  40 . The electrodes  40  can be used to directly provide iontophoresis treatment to more area of the face or the body according to the electrode pattern design. 
     Each of the electrodes  40  is individually connected, via connector  60  and cable  61 , to a control module  15 . The control module  15  is further electrically connected, via cable  26 , to a return electrode  25  attached to part of the body other than where the iontophoresis device  10  is placed. One purpose of the return electrode  25  is to complete an electrical circuit from the control module  15 , to the designated application points  50  through the electrodes  40 , then through the body to the return electrode  25 , and back to the control module  15 . 
     The control module  15  is configured to connect the electrodes  40  with a voltage or current source. Each electrode  40  may be individually connected or not connected to the electrical source to provide medical or cosmetic iontophoresis treatment only to selected portions of the face or body. For example, in  FIG. 2 , only the right-most electrode  40  (and the attached application points  50 ) may receive electricity when only that part of the forehead requires treatment. Any number of electrodes  40  may receive electricity at any particular time. However, research shows that even if all electrodes are to be used, turning on (receive electricity) only one or a subset of the electrodes  40  at a time is more effective at least because it allows more flexibility in the current or voltage used. 
     Regardless of where on the body the iontophoresis device  10  is placed, the total impedance of a circuit involving a single electrode  40  will be different from the impedance of a circuit involving a different single electrode  40 . For example, due to many factors including skin moisture levels and distances between the application point  50  and the return electrode  25 , the impedance of a circuit going through application point  50  marked in  FIG. 2  as “A” is different than the impedance of a circuit going through application point  50  marked as “B”. 
     If all electrodes  40  are turned on at the same time, the different impedances make it difficult to accurately control the electrical flow and some skin areas will receive more electricity than others resulting in an uneven treatment. Because the electrodes  40  in the iontophoresis device  10  are individually activated and controlled, the differences in impedances between electrodes  40  can be compensated, resulting in a more even treatment. Additionally, sometimes only a specific skin area requires treatment or a specific skin area requires treatment for a different length of time, which can be easily achieved by only turning on electrodes  40  affecting that specific skin area. In some embodiments, different levels of electricity can be applied to different areas as needed. 
       FIGS. 3-6  illustrate examples of a control unit  16  used to selectively activate the electrodes  40 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a first embodiment of a circuit  116  that utilizes a variable current source  1161  and/or  1165 . When the circuit  116  is connected to the iontophoresis device  10 , the variable current source  1161  is serially coupled between ground and a first terminal of a first switch  1162 . The second terminal of the first switch  1162  is coupled to a node  1164 , which connects to one or more electrode  40  via cable  61  and connectors  70 ,  60 . The second terminal of the first switch  1162  also connects to a first terminal of a second switch  1163 . The second terminal of the second switch  1163  couples to power. 
     The circuit  116  that can be connected to the return electrode  25  via cable  26  may comprise a second variable current source  1165  serially coupled between ground and a first terminal of a third switch  1166 . The second terminal of the third switch  1166  is connected to a node  1167 , which connects to cable  26 . The second terminal of the third switch  1166  also connects to a first terminal of a fourth switch  1168 . The second terminal of the fourth switch  1168  couples to power. 
     In some embodiments, there will be at least one circuit  116  in the control unit  16  for each of the electrically isolated electrodes  40  so that each electrode  40  can be individually activated. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates another embodiment of a circuit  117  that utilizes a third variable current source  1173  and/or  1175 . The variable current source  1171  is serially coupled between power and a first terminal of a fifth switch  1172 . The second terminal of the fifth switch  1172  is coupled to a node  1173 , which again connects to one or more electrode  40  via cable  61  and connectors  70 ,  60 . The second terminal of the fifth switch  1172  also connects to a first terminal of a sixth switch  1174 . The second terminal of the sixth switch  1174  couples to ground as shown. 
     The circuit  117  that can be connected to the return electrode  25  via cable  26  may comprise a fourth variable current source  1175  serially coupled between power and a first terminal of a seventh switch  1176 . The second terminal of the seventh switch  1176  is connected to a node  1177 , which connects to cable  26 . The second terminal of the seventh switch  1176  also connects to a first terminal of an eighth switch  1178 . The second terminal of the eighth switch  1178  couples to ground. 
     In some embodiments of  FIG. 4 , there will be at least one circuit  117  in the control unit  16  for each of the electrically isolated electrodes  40  so that each electrode  40  can be individually activated. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates an embodiment of a circuit  118  that utilizes a first variable voltage source  1181  and/or  1185 . The variable voltage source  1181  is serially coupled between ground and a first terminal of a ninth switch  1182 . The second terminal of the fifth switch  1182  is coupled to a node  1183 , which again connects to one or more electrode  40  of the iontophoresis device  10  via cable  61  and connectors  70 ,  60 . The second terminal of the ninth switch  1182  also connects to a first terminal of a tenth switch  1184 . The second terminal of the tenth switch  1184  couples to ground as shown. 
     The circuit  118  that can be connected to the return electrode  25  via cable  26  may comprise a second variable voltage source  1185  serially coupled between ground and a first terminal of an eleventh switch  1186 . The second terminal of the eleventh switch  1186  is connected to a node  1187 , which connects to cable  26 . The second terminal of the eleventh switch  1186  also connects to a first terminal of a twelfth switch  1188 . The second terminal of the twelfth switch  1878  couples to ground. 
     In some embodiments of  FIG. 5 , there will be at least one circuit  118  in the control unit  16  for each of the electrically isolated electrodes  40  so that each electrode  40  can be individually activated. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates an embodiment of a circuit  119  that utilizes a form of multiplexer  1192  or de-multiplexor  1191  as the switching device. De-multiplexor  1191  receives the appropriate current or voltage at the input and routes it to the appropriate electrode  40 . 
     Circuit  119  may also or alternatively include the multiplexor  1192 , which receives current or voltage from a selected electrode  40  and outputs the input to complete the circuit. 
     In all of the above embodiments, the control terminals of the switches and/or multiplexor device may be regulated manually or via a computer using the control module. 
     In summary, a lightweight iontophoresis device for direct application of medical or cosmetic treatment to the skin is proposed. The iontophoresis device may comprise an electrode layer having a plurality of individually selectable, electrically isolated conductive electrodes, each electrode comprising one or more branches having application points. A control module is configured to individually connect the electrodes with a voltage or current source to provide medical or cosmetic iontophoresis treatment only to selected portions of the face or body, providing a more effective iontophoresis treatment at least because it allows more flexibility in the current or voltage used when treating a specific area of skin. Additionally, because only selected areas of skin are treated at a particular time, a smaller current or voltage may be required resulting in a more pleasing experience for the recipient. 
     Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations of the device and method may be made while retaining the teachings of the invention. Accordingly, the above disclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes and bounds of the appended claims.