Non-reusable, medicament-dispensing applicator electrodes adapted for
use with an iontophoresis device for facilitating delivery of medication across
the cutaneous membrane into adjacent underlying tissues and blood vessels. The
embodiments of the iontophoresis electrode include an open mesh having cells in
the medicament dispensing portions of the electrode which retain a medicament in
the form of liquid, gel or ointment. The cells are adapted to contain and iontophoretically
dispense and deliver medicament formulations, which have been previously approved
for therapeutic use by cognizant regulatory authorities obviating the need for
reformulation. The medicament-dispensing electrodes are composite or unitary in
construction and may be useful in the treatment of acne and also genital herpes
simplex infection which produces cutaneous lesions, including lesions above and
below the waist. The delivery electrode, when used in accordance with the medicated
electrode and method described herein, demonstrated 90% treatment efficacy
in clinical trials for the treatment of genital herpes. In a particularly preferred
embodiment, the dispensing electrode is adapted to be worn similarly to a glove
thereby enabling the user to tactily position the medicament delivery electrode
to make contact with the area to be treated; receiving current for iontophoretic
transdermal delivery of medicament from a wrist-worn current driver. The electrode
may also comprise a portion of one or more fingers of a glove or a whole palm to
cover a larger area for self treatment. A glove having a large electrode area can
be driven by a single current or a multichannel source such as described in prior
patents by the present inventor.
