Ultrasonic enhancement of drug injection

• US 20030009153A1
• Filed: 08/26/2002
• Published: 01/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/1998
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: PharmaSonics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: PharmaSonics, Inc.
• Inventors: Brisken, Axel F., Zuk, Robert
• Application Number:
  US10/228,904
• Publication Number:
  US 20030009153A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/890.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/0092 using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic vibrations, e.g. phonophoresis

Abstract

A method of enhancing cellular absorption of a substance delivered into a target region of a patient'"'"'s body, comprising: (a) delivering the substance to the target region; and (b) directing vibrational energy to the target region, wherein the vibrational energy is of a type and in an amount sufficient to enhance absorption into cells of the target region.

Claims

1. A device for enhancing cellular absorption of a substance delivered into a target region of a patient'"'"'s body, said device comprising:

a housing having an internal cavity with a flexible window at its distal end;

an ultrasound transducer suspended within the internal cavity and spaced proximally of the window; and

an acoustic couplant material substantially filling the cavity between the transducer and the openings

wherein the flexible window is positionable adjacent to a patient'"'"'s skin to conduct ultrasound energy into the patient.

2. A device as in claim 1, wherein the transducer is planar.

3. A device as in claim 2, wherein the transducer has an area greater than 1 in².

4. A device as in claim 3, wherein the transducer is generally parallel to the window.

5. A device as in claim 1, wherein the housing internal cavity is cylindrical.

6. A device as in claim 5, wherein the internal cavity is tapered in the distal direction to focus ultrasound energy from the transducer through the window.

7. A device as in claim 6, wherein the internal cavity is configured to focus the ultrasonic energy at a depth of from 2 cm to 5 cm beneath the skin surface.

8. A device as in claim 7, wherein the device is configured to focus the ultrasonic energy of a depth of from 3 cm to 4 cm beneath the skin surface.

9. A device as in claim 1, wherein the acoustic couplant material is water.

10. A device as in claim 1, wherein the transducer is backed by air on it'"'"'s proximal side.

11. A device as in claim 1, wherein the transducer operates at a frequency in the range from 20 kHz to 3 MHz, a mechanical index (MI) in the range from 0.5 to 2, and a duty cycle in the range from 1.5% to 25%.