Endermic method and apparatus
First Claim
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1. A device for promoting the transfer of a substance through a membranous layer at a treatment site, said device comprising:
- a body having wall structure defining first and second, directly adjacent lateral chambers, said chambers having open outer ends disposed on a substantially common plane and being otherwise isolated from one another;
means operatively connected to said body for producing ultrasonic vibrational energy within an outer zone at said outer end of said first chamber;
means communicating with said first chamber for positively pressurizing said outer zone of said first chamber; and
means communicating with said second chamber for effecting evacuation of said second chamber;
whereby the combined effects of the pressure applied, the ultrasonic energy and the maintained vacuum serve to promote the transfer of said substance through the membranous layer at the treatment site
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Abstract
Transfer of substances through the skin at a treatment site is promoted by the combined effects of ultrasonic energy and positive and negative pressure. A device having a cup-shaped body is pressed against the skin; the treating substance is supplied to an interior chamber of the body, and is subjected to pressure and ultrasonic vibrational energy therewithin, while a vacuum is drawn thereabout through a surrounding annular chamber.
132 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A device for promoting the transfer of a substance through a membranous layer at a treatment site, said device comprising:
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a body having wall structure defining first and second, directly adjacent lateral chambers, said chambers having open outer ends disposed on a substantially common plane and being otherwise isolated from one another; means operatively connected to said body for producing ultrasonic vibrational energy within an outer zone at said outer end of said first chamber; means communicating with said first chamber for positively pressurizing said outer zone of said first chamber; and means communicating with said second chamber for effecting evacuation of said second chamber; whereby the combined effects of the pressure applied, the ultrasonic energy and the maintained vacuum serve to promote the transfer of said substance through the membranous layer at the treatment site - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A system for promoting transfer of a substance through a membranous layer at a treatment site, said system comprising:
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(a) a device comprising a body having wall structure defining first and second, directly adjacent lateral chambers, said chambers having open outer ends disposed on a substantially common plane and being otherwise isolated from one another;
electrically powered means, operatively connected to said body, for producing, within an outer zone defined at said outer end of said first chamber, ultrasonic vibrational energy;
means communicating with said first chamber for positively pressurizing said outer zone of said first chamber; and
means communicating with said second chamber for effecting evacuation of said second chamber;(b) electric power supply means operatively connected to said means for producing, for generating said energy; (c) fluid source means for supplying fluid under positive pressure, operatively connected to said means for pressurizing; and (d) vacuum-creating means operatively connected to said means for effecting evacuation. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. A method for promoting the transfer of a substance through a membranous layer at a treatment site, said method comprising:
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(a) providing a device having wall structure by which is defined first and second, directly adjacent lateral chambers, said chambers having open outer ends disposed on a substantially common plane, and being otherwise isolated from one another; (b) pressing said device against the membranous layer at the treatment site so as to cause the membranous layer to overlie and close said outer ends of said chambers; (c) applying a treating substance to the treatment site, said steps (b) and (c) being so effected as to dispose said substance within a zone at said outer end of said first chamber of said device; (d) subjecting said site and said substance thereon to ultrasonic vibrational energy; (e) pressurizing said first chamber so as to subject said site and said substance thereon to positive pressure, during at least a portion of the time that said subjecting step (d) is carried out; and (f) evacuating said second chamber so as to subject said site to negative pressure during at least part of said portion of time. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification