Sonophoresis method and apparatus
First Claim
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1. A method of enhancing diffusion of a substance through a liquid by sonophoresis, comprising the steps of:
- placing a flexure mode transducer in fluid communication with a liquid medium containing a substance to be diffused through the liquid;
applying an alternating electrical voltage signal to the flexure mode transducer so as to cause the flexure mode transducer to vibrate and produce acoustic waves that enhance diffusion of the substance through the liquid.
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Abstract
An ultrasonic transducer that operates in flexure mode provides a highly efficient and compact sonophoresis device. Such a device is particularly useful for efficiently enhancing permeation of a substance through a membrane, such as dermal and mucosal membranes for purposes of transdermal/transmucosal drug delivery and/or body fluid monitoring.
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Citations
44 Claims
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1. A method of enhancing diffusion of a substance through a liquid by sonophoresis, comprising the steps of:
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placing a flexure mode transducer in fluid communication with a liquid medium containing a substance to be diffused through the liquid;
applying an alternating electrical voltage signal to the flexure mode transducer so as to cause the flexure mode transducer to vibrate and produce acoustic waves that enhance diffusion of the substance through the liquid. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of enhancing the permeation of a substance through a membrane, comprising the steps of:
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placing a flexure mode transducer in fluid communication with the membrane and the substance to be permeated through the membrane;
applying an alternating electrical voltage signal to the flexure mode transducer so as to generate acoustic wave vibrations at a frequency and intensity that enhance permeation of the substance at least partially through the membrane. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A flexure mode sonophoresis apparatus that enhances permeation of a substance across a membrane, comprising:
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a flexure mode transducer in electrical communication with an alternating electrical voltage signal source that causes the flexure mode transducer to vibrate;
a membrane in fluid communication with the flexure mode transducer so as to receive acoustic compression waves generated by the flexure mode transducer vibrations; and
a substance in contact with the membrane that permeates at least partially through the membrane at an enhanced rate due to the acoustic waves generated by the flexure mode transducer. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. A transdermal/transmucosal drug delivery device, comprising:
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a flexure mode transducer adapted to be placed adjacent to a dermal or mucosal membrane, said flexure mode transducer being responsive to an alternating electrical voltage signal source applied to the flexure mode transducer so as to cause the flexure mode transducer to vibrate and produce acoustic waves; and
a therapeutically effective amount of a drug substance disposed in fluid communication with the flexure mode transducer such that vibration of the flexure mode transducer enhances permeation of the drug substance into the skin or mucosa.
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Specification