摘要 |
<p>An iontophoretic electrode (10) has a plurality of ion transmitters (11) for establishing electric field lines (12) in an area (A) and a plurality of receivers (15) for accepting ions flowing along the field lines (12). A plurality of shields (18) are located to resist ion flow between adjacent transmitters (11) and receivers (15), The transmitters (11), shields (18) and receivers (15) are in at least a sequence of transmitter (11), shield (18), receiver (15), shield (18). The electric field lines (12) emanate substantially in one direction and return in substantially the opposite direction. The transmitters (11) and receivers (15) have matrix structures with space to contain ionic medication and electrolyte, respectively. A support (19) for holding a plurality of sequences has current carrying contacts (20) exposed to connect the transmitters (11) and receivers (15) in circuit with a source (21) of electrical power The preferred method includes establishing an electric field with lines of energy between a plurality of first and second conductors of ions and then passing ions along the energy lines between the conductors. Thereafter the method includes restricting the flow of ions to paths between adjacent first and second conductors and then positioning the first conductors relative to the second conductors so that the energy lines emanate from the first substantially in one direction return to adjacent second conductors in the opposite direction.</p> |