Smart portable device to inhibit palmoplantar hyperhidrosis

Background and Aim : Hyperhidrosis is the severe sweating without any clear cause of the occurrence. Infections, medications or neurological diseases may be responsible for excessive sweating and this disorder can lead to various individual and social complications such as emotional problems and inability to use metallic or electronic devices. In this study, we have manufactured a smart portable DC iontophoresis device to transfer ions through the skin and as a result, blocking sweating glands. This smart device has distinct characteristics such as Bluetooth connection, USB port, PC and Android software and small size to treat hyperhidrosis more convenient for patients.Methods : This device consists of a smart power supply unit, aluminum electrodes, water reservoirs, connecting wires and a carrying case. The smart power supply has the major role to provide sufficient output current with accurate resolution (1mA) and voltage range from 5 to 55 volts for the treatment. With its smart menu, which include restricting output values, programmable treatment sessions and color display, the device can provide more safety and convenience for patients. PC and Android software of the device can monitor whole treatment process and effective factors such as output voltage, output current and power. Furthermore, we are able to schedule treatment in this program with different time intervals to increase the tolerance of patients through treatment and save data for 10 patients. There are two Aluminum electrodes to transfer ions from power supply unit into skin through water in the reservoirsResults : With respect to various skin electrical resistance, this device can regulate voltage range from 5 to 55 volts to treat hyperhidrosis patients with various skin electrical resistance. In addition, with increasing the output voltage, the resistance of skin declines and it may lead to more efficient treatment. Electrical current is the most important factor of treatment and efficient current for treatment ranges from 10 to 20 mA. The software of the device may facilitate study healing process and also determine the role of different electric current types on the treatment. The Bluetooth connection and full color screen of this device can facilitate using of this device and light weight and user friendly menu of this device may make treatment accessible in any place and without presence of medical staffs.Conclusion : This is a noninvasive drug delivery system and can eliminate use of invasive hyperhidrosis treatment methods such as Botulinum toxin injection and surgery. In the future studies we can apply different ionized drugs to water reservoirs to evaluate the role of ionized drugs on the efficiency of this device. We are also able to use of this device to deliver drugs to treat other disease which need noninvasive drug delivery methods.

کلیدواژه ها:

Hyperhidrosis ، Direct current ، Iontophoresis