Ultrasound-mediated drug delivery
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus are disclosed for treating physiological problems, and for providing rapid, efficacious transdermal treatment, for example, of muscle sprains, erectile dysfunction, or baldness, without requiring the use of needles or other invasive interventions. A topical therapeutic agent and ultrasound energy are applied to a tissue surface, e.g., the skin, such that the ultrasound enhances transdermal penetration of the agent. The invention is especially useful in localized delivery of a controlled dosage of a therapeutic agent to the small blood vessels and capillaries beneath the skin'"'"'s surface.
74 Citations
58 Claims
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1-50. -50. (canceled)
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51. A device for administration of topical therapeutic agents, comprising an applicator for applying an effective amount of a therapeutic agent to a tissue surface of a subject;
- an ultrasound transducer, operatively coupled to the applicator, for providing ultrasound energy to the tissue surface at least one predetermined frequency to promote absorption of the agent through the tissue of the subject, and a pressure-sensitive switch to determine an erectile state of a penis, wherein the ultrasound energy has a duty cycle greater than about 10%, and wherein the ultrasound transducer further comprises at least one oscillating element capable of generating ultrasound energy at a frequency of greater than about 500 kHz and less than or equal to about 3 MHz, whereby the frequency promotes the therapeutic effect of the therapeutic agent.
- View Dependent Claims (52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58)
Specification