A visual restoration aiding device for restoring vision of a patient comprises an electrode array having a plurality of electrodes placed on or under a retina of an eye of the patient for applying an electrical stimulation pulse signal to cells constituting the retina; a photographing unit which photographs an object to be recognized by the patient; a converting unit which converts photographic data transmitted from the photographing unit to data for electrical stimulation pulse signals; and a control unit which outputs an electrical stimulation pulse signal through each electrode based on the data for electrical stimulation pulse signals so that the control unit produces pulse output through one of a first electrode and a second electrode during a halt time of pulse output through the other electrode, the first and second electrodes being arranged within a distance such that electrical stimulation pulse signals outputted therethrough at substantially the same time are likely to interfere with each other.

A transdermal or transmucosal drug delivery device excellent in terms of drug permeability and skin irritability and capable of reducing power consumption, is disclosed. An output control circuit (4) of an energization pattern controller (1) supplies a combined energization of pulse depolarized type energization and at least one of direct current type energization and pulse energization between an anode-side device (5) and a cathode-side device (6) of iontophoresis. The details of combination of energization in the output control circuit (4) is determined based on external setting of the energization pattern controller (1) or internal storage information.

An iontophoresis system includes an iontophoretic drug delivery device for placement against the skin of a patient and having a pair of electrodes, and a circuit for delivering and controlling the current and voltage provided to the electrodes. The current and voltage controlling circuit includes a power supply for generating a voltage or current, an intermediary storage device and a first switching circuit interposed and coupled to the power supply and the intermediary storage device. The intermediary storage device is selectively coupled to the drug delivery device through a second switching circuit or device. Energy from the power supply is transferred and stored in the intermediary storage device for later delivery to the transdermal drug delivery device. In this way, should a component of the circuit fail, the energy or power delivered to the drug delivery device is interrupted or maintained at least equal to a predetermined safe level to avoid damage or injury to the patient's skin.

A medical electrical apparatus impresses a bipolar, low frequency voltage wave form through spaced-apart electrodes, across a damaged area of living animal tissue to cause a low, bipolar, current to flow through the damaged area to increase the metabolic activity of viable cells in that area and hence to accelerate healing. The current flow is monitored and used to control the magnitude of the voltage wave to cause the magnitude of current flow to be within the desired parameters. The frequency, wave form and voltage of the impressed voltage wave and the current flow are all below a level which can damage typical living cells.

An electrotransport delivery device (410) includes control circuitry for discontinuously delivering a beneficial agent (eg, a drug) through a body surface (eg, skin 400). For example, the device may be the type which is manually activated by the patient or other medical personnel to activate electrotransport drug delivery. Once electrotransport delivery has been activated, a timer (221) counts a transition interval, typically about one minute, during which the device is allowed to operate and the impedance of the body surface (400) is allowed to stabilize. Thereafter, the electrotransport current and voltage are then monitored and compared to predetermined limits. Allowing for the transition interval permits tighter tolerances in monitoring the applied current.