Patent ID: 7164942

Claim:
A device for ablating stratum corneum epidermidis of skin on the body of a subject, comprising: a plurality of electrodes, which are adapted to be applied to the skin of the subject at respective points; and a power source, which is adapted to apply electrical energy between two or more of the plurality of electrodes, to cause ablation of an area of the stratum corneum during a first time period, so as to facilitate passage of a substance through the ablated area into the body during a second time period, subsequent to the first time period, wherein the power source is adapted to apply the electrical energy as alternating current, wherein the plurality of electrodes comprise a common electrode and a plurality of positive electrodes, and wherein the power source is configured such that, during a phase of the alternating current, the alternating current from the power source flows from each positive electrode, through the skin, to the common electrode.