Patent ID: 7593770

Claim:
Apparatus for enhanced and controlled delivery of a biologically active agent into the spinal structures and/or the brain of a mammal that circumvents the blood brain barrier, comprising: an agent drug delivery device implanted via catheter to the epidural space of the mammal in use, a donor iontophoresis electrode also implanted to the epidural space of the mammal in use, the donor electrode further comprising a drug reservoir or drug transfer part for storage of the biologically active agent, a receptor iontophoresis electrode that is constructed and arranged to be positioned at a determined internal or external position of the mammal's body but in complementary energy gradient positioning to the donor electrode, a power source to deliver a potential gradient so that delivery of the biologically active agent is accomplished in a direction from said donor electrode directly into the spinal structures and/or the brain thereby essentially bypassing the blood brain barrier of the mammal, and thereby delivering said biologically active agent to the spinal structures and/or to the brain of said mammal, and wherein the donor electrode is movable in a substantially radial direction in accordance with movement of an expandable balloon, thereby allowing the drug reservoir or transfer part to make intimate contact with the dura mater.