Method and apparatus for enhanced drug permeation of skin

• US 5,003,987 A
• Filed: 09/08/1988
• Issued: 04/02/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Paul M. Grinwald
• Original Assignee: Paul M. Grinwald
• Inventors: Grinwald, Paul M.
• Primary Examiner(s): HINDENBURG, MAX F
• Application Number:
  US07/241,354
• Time in Patent Office: 936 Days
• Field of Search: 128/639-641, 128/644, 128/636, 128/734, 604/20, 604/22, 604/289-290, 604/304, 324/57 R
• US Class Current: 600/547
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0531 Measuring skin impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/325 Preparing electrode sites, e.g. by abrasion

Abstract

A method and apparatus for preparation of a selected area of skin to facilitate drug absorption comprises removal of the outermost layers of the skin by gentle abrasion or other means, measuring the change in electrical resistance or impedance of the skin as the outermost layers of the skin are removed, and stopping skin removal when a predetermined optimum skin resistance or impedance is achieved to facilitate drug absorption. The preferred electrical resistance or impedance meter is in contact with the skin under consideration by two separate but adjacent conductive poles and is purpose calibrated to signal when the skin resistance or impedance level is such that rapid absorption of a drug will occur.

Claims

1. A method of skin preparation to facilitate absorption of drugs comprising the following steps:

(a) removing the outermost layers of the skin;

(b) measuring the change in electrical resistance or impedance of the skin as said outermost layers of the skin are removed; and

,

(c) stopping said skin removal when a predetermined optimum skin resistance or impedance is achieved to facilitate the absorption of drugs.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the electrical resistance or impedance is measured before and after removal of the outermost layers of the skin.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the electrical resistance or impedance is measured intermittently as the outermost layers of the skin are removed.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein the measurement of electrical resistance or impedance is alternated with small steps of skin removal.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the electrical resistance or impedance is measured continuously as the outermost layers of the skin are removed.

6. A method according to any of claims 3, 4 or 5, wherein the measurement of electrical resistance or impedance is by resistance or impedance meter having two poles in contact with the portion of skin under consideration.

7. A method according to any of claims 3, 4 or 5, wherein the measurement of electrical resistance or impedance is by resistance or impedance meter having one pole in contact with the portion of skin under consideration and one pole in contact with another part of the body.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein skin removal is by wet or dry abrasion.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein removal of skin is by an electrically powered moving pad having fine abrasive materials at its surface.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein skin removal is by shaving, cutting or other known means.

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein the skin is prepared for spot anaesthesia and the drug for absorption is a local anaesthetic.

12. A method according to claim 1 wherein the drug preparation contains a dye to signal by way of a colour change when the drug has penetrated the skin.

13. A method according to claim 1 wherein the drug preparation contains an oily vehicle and a dye to signal by way of a colour change corresponding to transition of the said dye from nonionic form within the oily vehicle to ionic form within the aqueous environment of the skin and indicting thereby when the drug preparation has penetrated the skin.

14. Apparatus for skin preparation to facilitate drug absorption comprising a skin removal means consisting of an abrasive material in the form of a pad incorporating two electrically conductive areas positioned in different parts of the pad for connection to an electrical resistance of impedance meter.

15. An apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the abrasive material is attached to a curved surface 3 cm in diameter.

16. A method of skin preparation to facilitate absorption of drugs comprising the following steps:

(a) Removing the outermost layers of the skin by wet or dry abrasion, wherein skin removal is delimited by application to the skin of a single use target masking tape consisting of a disk of adhesive backed tape with a central aperture;

(b) Measuring the change in electrical resistance or impedance of the skin as said outermost layers of the skin are removed; and

,

(c) Stopping said skin removal when a pre-determined optimum skin resistance or impedance is achieved to facilitate the absorption of drugs.

17. A method of skin preparation to facilitate absorption of drugs comprising the following steps:

(a) Removing the outermost layers of the skin by an electrically powered moving pad having fine abrasive materials at its surface and wherein skin removal is delimited by application to the skin of single use target masking tape consisting of a disc of adhesive backed tape with a central aperture;

(b) Measuring the change in electrical resistance or impedance of the skin as said outermost layers of the skin are removed; and

,

(c) Stopping said skin removal when a pre-determined optimum skin resistance or impedance is achieved to facilitate the absorption of drugs.

18. A method of skin preparation to facilitate absorption of drugs comprising the following steps:

(a) Removing the outermost layers of the skin wherein skin removal is by Laser;

(b) Measuring the change in electrical resistance or impedance of the skin as said outermost layers of the skin are removed; and

,

(c) Stopping said skin removal when a pre-determined optimum skin resistance or impedance is achieved to facilitate the absorption of drugs.

19. A method according to claim 18 wherein electrical resistance or impedance is measured by way of Laser transparent conductivity poles in contact with skin.

20. An electrical resistance or impedance meter with electrically conductive leads connected to a pair of electrically conductive poles so that the meter measures the electrical resistance or impedance when the said electrically conductive poles are applied in contact with the skin of a patient, wherein the said meter is calibrated to show the range of electrical resistance or impedance at which satisfactory drug effect will occur following application to the skin of a drug preparation of defined composition for a defined time.

21. An electrical resistance of impedance meter wherein the meter is calibrated according to claim 20, where the defined time of application is 2-3 and the drug preparation is a local anesthetic and the drug effect intended is local anesthesia of the skin to which the drug is applied.

22. An electrical resistance or impedance meter with electrically conductive leads connected to a pair of electrically conductive poles so that the meter measures the electrical resistance or impedance when the said electrically conductive poles are applied in contact with the skin of a patient, wherein the said meter is calibrated to show the range of electrical resistance or impedance at which satisfactory drug effect will occur following application to the skin of a local anaesthetic preparation of defined composition for less than three minutes.

23. Apparatus for skin preparation to facilitate absorption of drugs, said apparatus comprising in combination:

(a) an electrical resistance or impedance meter with electrically conductive leads connected to a pair of electrically conductive poles,

(b) said electrically conductive poles for application to the skin of a patient permitting measurement of electrical resistance or impedance, and

(c) means of abrasion for abrasion of the said region of skin of a patient until a pre-determined skin resistance or impedance measurement is achieved to facilitate the absorption of drugs.

24. Apparatus for skin preparation to facilitate absorption of drugs, said apparatus comprising in combination:

(a) an electrical resistance or impedance meter with electrically conductive leads connected to a pair of electrically conductive poles,

(b) said electrically conductive poles for application to the skin of a patient permitting measurement of electrical resistance or impedance,

(c) means of abrasion for abrasion of the said region of skin of a patient until a pre-determined skin resistance or impedance measurement is achieved to facilitate the absorption of drugs, and

(d) a single use target masking tape consisting of a portion of adhesive backed tape with a central aperture for de-limiting the region of skin abrasion.

25. A method of skin preparation to facilitate absorption of drugs comprising the following steps:

(a) removing the outermost layers of the skin by abrasion,

(b) measuring the change in electrical resistance or impedance of the skin as said outermost layers of the skin are removed, and

(c) stopping said skin removal when a pre-determined skin resistance or impedance is achieved to facilitate the absorption of drugs.