Drill device and method for forming microconduits

• US 20060041241A1
• Filed: 08/17/2005
• Published: 02/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Galderma Pharma SA (Galderma Holding SA)
• Original Assignee: Galderma Pharma SA (Galderma Holding SA)
• Inventors: Herndon, Terry O.
• Granted Patent: US 7,848,799 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/500
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1695 Trepans or craniotomes, i.e. specially adapted for drilling thin bones such as the skull
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/205 Vaccinating by means of needles or other puncturing devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00026 Conductivity or impedance, e.g. of tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00747 Dermatology
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/053 Measuring electrical impedance or conductance of a portion of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/0076 Tattooing apparatus apparatus for marking animals A01K11/00; vaccine applicators having needles or other puncturing means A61B17/205
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/30 Apparatus for iontophoresis, i.e. transfer of media in ionic state by an electromotoric force into the body, or cataphoresis
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/327 for enhancing the absorption properties of tissue, e.g. by electroporation

Abstract

The present invention relates to methods and devices for formation of microconduits in tissue, particularly using an impedance sensing drill to form microconduits. One embodiment of the invention is an impedance sensing drill comprising a drilling assembly, a control module, mechanically connected to the drilling assembly for controlling the depth of drilling by the drilling assembly; and a sensor, electrically connected to the drilling assembly and control module for detecting a change in an electrical impedance of a material being drilled. Another embodiment is a method of forming a microconduit in a material, which comprises the steps of drilling into the material, monitoring an electrical impedance of the material, and stopping the drilling into the material when a change in the impedance is detected, thereby forming microconduit.

Claims

1. An impedance sensing drill comprising a drilling assembly, a control module mechanically connected to the drilling assembly for controlling the depth of drilling by drilling assembly;

and a sensor, electrically connected to the drilling assembly and control module for detecting a change in an electrical impedance of a material being drilled.

2. A method of forming a microconduit in a material, which comprises the steps of drilling into the material, monitoring an electrical impedance of the material, and stopping the drilling into the material when a change in the electrical impedance is detected, thereby forming a microconduit.

3. A method for drug delivery which comprises the steps of drilling into a target area, monitoring an electrical impedance of the target area, stopping the drilling into the target area when a change in the electrical impedance is detected, thereby forming a microconduit, and administering drug via the formed microconduit.

4. A method of removing an analyte, which comprises the steps of painlessly drilling into a target area, monitoring an electrical impedance of the target area, stopping the drilling into the target area when a change in the electrical impedance is detected, thereby forming a microconduit, and removing the analyte via the formed microconduit.

5. A method of producing microconduits in nails to treat onychomycosis and other infections of the nail and nail bed, which comprises the steps of drilling into a target area, monitoring an electrical impedance of the target area, stopping the drilling into the target area when a change in the electrical impedance is detected, thereby forming a microconduit, and treating the nail or nail bed infection with medication.

6. A method of removing the stratum corneum layer of the skin to permit rapid infusion of drugs into the body, which comprises the steps of drilling into a target area, monitoring an electrical impedance of the target area, stopping the drilling into the target area when a change in the electrical impedance is detected, thereby forming at least one microconduit, and infusing drugs into the body through the microconduit.

7. A method of entry into the brain cavity when drilling through the skull, which comprises the steps of drilling into a target area, monitoring an electrical impedance of the target area, stopping the drilling into the target area when a change in the electrical impedance is detected, thereby forming a microconduit or opening in the skull having the appropriate depth in the brain cavity.

8. A method of producing a microconduit in a nail to treat subungual hematomas, which comprises the steps of singly or repeatedly drilling into a target area, monitoring an electrical impedance of the target area, stopping the drilling into the target area when a change in the electrical impedance is detected, thereby forming single or a plurality of microconduits to relieve pressure, and infuse drugs into the nail through the microconduit.

9. A method of removing the stratum corneum from the epidermis to permit iontophoretic infusion of drugs into the body over a lengthy time period, which comprises the steps of drilling into a target area, monitoring an electrical impedance of the target area, stopping the drilling into the target area when a change in the electrical impedance is detected, thereby forming a microconduit, and placing a iontophoretic device over the microconduit to permit iontophoretic infusion of drugs into the body.

10. A method of removing the stratum corneum from the epidermis to permit electroporation of the skin to deliver drugs into the body over a lengthy time period, which comprises the steps of drilling into a target area, monitoring an electrical impedance of the target area, stopping the drilling into the target area when a change in the electrical impedance is detected, thereby forming a microconduit, and treating the microconduit containing area with means to permit electroporation of the skin to deliver drugs into the body.

11. A method to limit the penetration of the skin by any electrically controlled apparatus capable of penetrating the skin by detecting such penetration by monitoring the electrical impedance between the apparatus and an ECG electrode attached to the person and if the in vivo impedance falls below a predetermined level, sending an electrical signal that reverses the direction of the penetrating apparatus, or stops the motion of the penetrating apparatus, which comprises the steps of drilling into a target area, monitoring an electrical impedance of the target area, stopping the drilling into the target area when a change in the electrical impedance is detected, thereby forming a microconduit, and controlling the penetration of the apparatus.

12. A method of removing the stratum corneum from the epidermis in one or more locations to permit the reduction of the electrical impedance between two or more ECG or other electrodes attached to the skin over the sites having the stratum corneum removed, which comprises the steps of drilling into a target area, monitoring an electrical impedance of the target area, stopping the drilling into the target area when a change in the electrical impedance is detected, thereby forming a microconduit, and controlling the removal of the stratum corneum based upon a predetermined change in electrical impedance.

13. A method of removing the stratum corneum from the epidermis to permit pressurized delivery of drugs into the body, which comprises the steps of drilling into a target area, monitoring an electrical impedance of the target area, stopping the drilling into the target area when a change in the electrical impedance is detected, thereby forming a microconduit, and providing means for the pressurized delivery of drugs into the body through the microconduit.

14. A method of removing the stratum corneum from the epidermis to permit rapid infusion of an anesthetic agent into the body under no pressure, which comprises the steps of drilling into a target area, monitoring an electrical impedance of the target area, stopping the drilling into the target area when a change in the electrical impedance is detected, thereby forming a microconduit, and topically administering an anesthetic to the site of the microconduit.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the anesthetic is Lidocaine.

16. A method of removing the stratum corneum from the epidermis to permit extraction of analyte from the body, which comprises the steps of drilling into a target area, monitoring an electrical impedance of the target area, stopping the drilling into the target area when a change in the electrical impedance is detected, thereby forming a microconduit, and extracting analyte from the body through the microconduit.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the analyte is a blood sample.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the analyte is a tissue sample.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the analyte an interstitial fluid sample.

20. A method of removing the stratum corneum from the epidermis to permit blood collection from the body for analysis, which comprises the steps of drilling into a target area, monitoring an electrical impedance of the target area, stopping the drilling into the target area when a change in the electrical impedance is detected, thereby forming a microconduit, and removing blood from the body through the microconduit.

21. A method of marking nail tissue with at least one identifying mark, comprising the steps of drilling into the target area with a drill, monitoring an electrical impedance of the target area, and stopping the drilling into the target area when a change in the electrical impedance is detected, thereby forming a mark on the nail tissue.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising the step of placing a dye in the formed mark.

23. A method of tattooing skin tissue comprising the steps of drilling into the target area, monitoring an electrical impedance of the target area, stopping the drilling into the target area when a change in the electrical impedance is detected, thereby forming a microconduit, and inserting dye into the formed microconduit.

25. The impedance sensing drill of claim 23 wherein the mount further allows the impedance sensing drill to move in a direction perpendicular to the surface being drilled

26. The impedance sensing drill of claim 23 wherein the impedance sensing drill is computer controlled.

24. An impedance sensing drill comprising a drilling assembly, a control module mechanically connected to the drilling assembly for controlling the depth of drilling by drilling assembly;

a sensor, electrically connected to the drilling assembly and control module for detecting a change in an electrical impedance of a material being drilled; and

a mount allowing the impedance sensing drill to move in at least one direction parallel to a surface being drilled.

27. A method of removing the stratum corneum from the epidermis to permit long term diffusion of drugs into the body, comprising the steps of drilling into a target area, monitoring an electrical impedance of the target area, stopping the drilling into the target area when a change in the electrical impedance is detected, thereby forming a microconduit, and placing a drug containing patch over the microconduit to permit long term diffusion of drugs into the body.

28. A method of removing the stratum corneum from the epidermis in one or more locations to permit the reduction of the electrical impedance between an ECG or other electrode and the interior of the body for improved monitoring of body electrical signals, comprising the steps of drilling into a target area, monitoring an electrical impedance of the target area, stopping the drilling into the target area when a change in the impedance is detected, thereby forming a microconduit, controlling the removal of the stratum corneum based upon a predetermined change in impedance, and attaching an ECG or other electrode to the skin over the site having the stratum corneum removed.