Ultrasound driven devices for accelerated transfer of substances across porous boundaries

• US 6,650,935 B1
• Filed: 04/04/2001
• Issued: 11/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: David J. Watmough
• Original Assignee: David J. Watmough
• Inventors: Watmough, David J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hayes, Michael J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lam, Ann Y
• Application Number:
  US09/806,900
• Time in Patent Office: 958 Days
• Field of Search: 604/20, 604/22, 604/28, 604/500-501, 604/522, 604/19
• US Class Current: 604/20
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 45/007 Injecting or otherwise treating hatching eggs
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2037/0007 having means for enhancing the permeation of substances through the epidermis, e.g. using suction or depression, electric or magnetic fields, sound waves or chemical agents
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 31/002 Devices for releasing a drug at a continuous and controlled rate for a prolonged period of time artificial gland structures or devices A61F2/022; intra-uterine contraceptive devices A61F6/14; tampons for introducing into the vagina A61F13/20, A61L15/00; suppositories or bougies for intra-vaginal or intra-uterine application A61K9/02; physical forms of medicinal preparations for sustained or differential drug release A61K9/20, A61K9/50
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/0092 using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic vibrations, e.g. phonophoresis

Abstract

A method of phonophoretic transfer of an active agent into or across a porous surface, which method comprises contacting the active agent with the porous surface and applying thereto ultrasound at a frequency of between 20 kHz and 3 MHz; characterised in that the active agent is ideally cationic and is disposed in a low viscosity carrier and wherein the active agent is in direct contact with the porous surface. An apparatus for phonophoretic transfer of an active agent to or through a porous surface, said apparatus comprising an ultrasonic generator, a housing provided with an ultrasound transducer mounted in or on housing, and a treatment chamber disposed in or on said housing, said transducer being directed towards said treatment chamber, wherein the treatment chamber is provided with a liquid-tight membrane to retain the active agent against a porous surface located in the treatment chamber during sonication.

Claims

1. An apparatus for phonophoretic transfer of an active agent to or through a porous surface, said apparatus comprising an ultrasonic generator, a housing provided with an ultrasound transducer mounted in or on the housing, and a treatment chamber disposed in or on said housing, said transducer being directed towards said treatment chamber, wherein the treatment chamber is separated into a first chamber portion and a second chamber portion by an acoustically transparent liquid-tight membrane, the transducer being disposed in the first chamber portion and the first chamber portion being arranged in use to retain a carrier medium, and the second chamber portion being arranged to retain therein the active agent against a porous surface located against the second chamber portion during sonication.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the housing is provided with an ultrasound carrier liquid disposed between the transducer and membrane.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the transducer is selected from the group consisting of a transducer focused directly upon the porous surface within the treatment chamber, and a transducer focused by means of a deflector within the carrier liquid which deflector is adapted to focus the sound upon the porous surface.

4. An apparatus according to any one of claim 1, 2, or 3 wherein the porous surface is selected from the group consisting of an egg shell, human skin, animal skin and a printable surface.

5. An apparatus according to any one of claim 1, 2, or 3 wherein the first chamber portion is provided with a replenisher conduit.

6. An apparatus according to any one of claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein the treatment chamber is constructed and arranged to interengage with the porous surface and to seal thereupon prior to charging of the treatment chamber with a biologically active agent for subsequent sonication.