METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR MODULATING MEDICANTS USING ACOUSTIC ENERGY
First Claim
1. A method for enhancing medicant delivery and/or effectiveness comprising the steps of:
- providing a source of acoustic energy;
presenting a medicant to a cell membrane or tissue; and
focusing said acoustic energy from said source to a plurality of depths within said cell membrane or tissue, wherein said acoustic energy is in the range of about 100 kHz to about 500 MHz, wherein said plurality of depths are each in the range of about 0 mm to about 100 mm;
wherein the delivery and/or effectiveness of said medicant is enhanced.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
This invention provides methods and systems uniquely capable of enhancing medicant delivery and/or effectiveness through the use of energy to predictably disrupt membranes and mechanically and thermally modulate cells and tissues. In exemplary embodiments, the methods and systems disclosed herein are capable of modulating multiple layers of tissue. In an exemplary embodiment, the energy is acoustic energy (e.g., ultrasound). In other exemplary embodiments, the energy is photon based energy (e.g., IPL, LED, laser, white light, etc.), or other energy forms, such radio frequency electric currents, or various combinations of acoustic energy, electromagnetic energy and other energy forms or energy absorbers such as cooling. Medicants can be first introduced to the region of interest by diffusion, circulation, and/or injection. An exemplary system for enhancing medicant delivery and/or effectiveness comprises a control system, a probe, and a display or indicator system. Imaging and/or monitoring may alternatively be coupled and/or co-housed with an ultrasound system contemplated by the present invention.
-
Citations
16 Claims
-
1. A method for enhancing medicant delivery and/or effectiveness comprising the steps of:
-
providing a source of acoustic energy; presenting a medicant to a cell membrane or tissue; and focusing said acoustic energy from said source to a plurality of depths within said cell membrane or tissue, wherein said acoustic energy is in the range of about 100 kHz to about 500 MHz, wherein said plurality of depths are each in the range of about 0 mm to about 100 mm; wherein the delivery and/or effectiveness of said medicant is enhanced. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A method for delivering a medicant to a region of interest within a cell membrane or tissue comprising the steps of:
-
providing a source of acoustic energy; presenting a medicant to said cell membrane or tissue; and focusing said acoustic energy from said source to a first depth within said cell membrane or tissue, wherein said acoustic energy has a first spatial and temporal energy profile; wherein delivery of said medicant to said region of interest is enhanced. - View Dependent Claims (12, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
13. A system for enhancing medicant delivery and/or effectiveness comprising:
-
a control system configured for control of said system; a probe configured to output acoustic energy and thereby predictably disrupt a plurality of cell membranes or tissues, wherein said plurality of cell membranes or tissues are at a plurality of depths below a skin surface; and a display system; wherein said probe is coupled to said skin surface with a gel or cream, and wherein said gel or cream comprises said medicant.
-
Specification