Tissue electroperforation for enhanced drug delivery and diagnostic sampling
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for transporting a molecule through a mammalian barrier membrane of at least one layer of cells comprising the steps of:
- creating a gap between an array of treatment electrode and said membrane;
ablating said membrane with an electric current from the array of treatment electrodes; and
utilizing a driving force to move said molecule through said perforated membrane.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to a method and a device for transporting a molecule through a mammalian barrier membrane of at least one layer of cells comprising the steps of: ablating said membrane with an electric current from an array of treatment electrodes; and utilizing a driving force to move said molecule through said perforated membrane.
491 Citations
30 Claims
-
1. A method for transporting a molecule through a mammalian barrier membrane of at least one layer of cells comprising the steps of:
-
creating a gap between an array of treatment electrode and said membrane;
ablating said membrane with an electric current from the array of treatment electrodes; and
utilizing a driving force to move said molecule through said perforated membrane. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. A device for transporting a molecule through a barrier membrane of a mammal comprising:
-
a housing having a barrier membrane contacting surface;
a reservoir having a orifice in communication with said skin contacting surface;
a plurality of electrodes wherein each electrode defines an air gap between the barrier membrane and a distal tip of each electrode;
a power supply for providing RF energy to an electronic control circuit, the control circuit comprising;
a modulating circuit for selectively providing RF energy to one or more of the plurality of electrodes wherein upon contacting said skin contacting surface with said membrane, said device is capable of both ablating said membrane with said electric current and transporting said molecule either from said reservoir, through said membrane, and into said mammal or from said mammal, through said membrane, and into said reservoir. - View Dependent Claims (21, 23, 24, 25, 26)
-
-
22. A device of claim 22, wherein said delivered current has a frequency of between about 60 kHz to about 5,000 kHz.
- 27. A device of claim 27, wherein said reservoir comprises a delivery electrode and a semipermeable membrane, wherein said semipermeable membrane separates said delivery electrode and said orifice.
-
29. A method for transporting a molecule through a mammalian barrier membrane of at least one layer of cells comprising the steps of:
-
creating a gap between an array of treatment electrodes and said membrane;
selectively energizing at least one electrode of the array of treatment electrodes with an electric current to ablate the membrane;
sensing the depth of ablation penetration of the membrane;
comparing the sensed depth of ablation penetration with a predetermined threshold; and
utilizing a driving force to move said molecule through said perforated membrane.
-
-
30. The method of claim 30 wherein sensing the depth of penetration comprises measuring the impedance of the membrane.
Specification