DRILL DEVICE AND METHOD FOR FORMING MICROCONDUITS

• US 20110040237A1
• Filed: 10/29/2010
• Published: 02/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Terry O. Herndon
• Original Assignee: Terry O. Herndon
• Inventors: Herndon, Terry O.
• Application Number:
  US12/915,251
• Publication Number:
  US 20110040237A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1695 Trepans or craniotomes, i.e. specially adapted for drilling thin bones such as the skull
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/205 Vaccinating by means of needles or other puncturing devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00026 Conductivity or impedance, e.g. of tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00747 Dermatology
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/053 Measuring electrical impedance or conductance of a portion of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/0076 Tattooing apparatus apparatus for marking animals A01K11/00; vaccine applicators having needles or other puncturing means A61B17/205
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/30 Apparatus for iontophoresis, i.e. transfer of media in ionic state by an electromotoric force into the body, or cataphoresis
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/327 for enhancing the absorption properties of tissue, e.g. by electroporation

Abstract

The present invention relates to methods and devices for formation of microconduits in tissue, particularly using an impedance sensing drill to form microconduits. One embodiment of the invention is an impedance sensing drill comprising a drilling assembly, a control module, mechanically connected to the drilling assembly for controlling the depth of drilling by the drilling assembly; and a sensor, electrically connected to the drilling assembly and control module for detecting a change in an electrical impedance of a material being drilled. Another embodiment is a method of forming a microconduit in a material, which comprises the steps of drilling into the material, monitoring an electrical impedance of the material, and stopping the drilling into the material when a change in the impedance is detected, thereby forming microconduit.

Claims

1. A method for drug delivery which comprises the steps of drilling into a target area, monitoring an electrical impedance of the target area, stopping the drilling into the target area when a change in the electrical impedance is detected, thereby forming a microconduit, and administering drug via the formed microconduit.

2. A method of producing microconduits in nails to treat onychomycosis and other infections of the nail and nail bed, which comprises the steps of drilling into a target area, monitoring an electrical impedance of the target area, stopping the drilling into the target area when a change in the electrical impedance is detected, thereby forming a microconduit, and treating the nail or nail bed infection with medication.

3. A method of removing the stratum corneum layer of the skin to permit rapid infusion of drugs into the body, which comprises the steps of drilling into a target area, monitoring an electrical impedance of the target area, stopping the drilling into the target area when a change in the electrical impedance is detected, thereby forming at least one microconduit, and infusing drugs into the body through the microconduit.

4. A method of producing a microconduit in a nail to treat subungual hematomas, which comprises the steps of singly or repeatedly drilling into a target area, monitoring an electrical impedance of the target area, stopping the drilling into the target area when a change in the electrical impedance is detected, thereby forming single or a plurality of microconduits to relieve pressure, and infuse drugs into the nail through the microconduit.

5. A method of removing the stratum corneum from the epidermis to permit iontophoretic infusion of drugs into the body over a lengthy time period, which comprises the steps of drilling into a target area, monitoring an electrical impedance of the target area, stopping the drilling into the target area when a change in the electrical impedance is detected, thereby forming a microconduit, and placing a iontophoretic device over the microconduit to permit iontophoretic infusion of drugs into the body.

6. A method of removing the stratum corneum from the epidermis to permit electroporation of the skin to deliver drugs into the body over a lengthy time period, which comprises the steps of drilling into a target area, monitoring an electrical impedance of the target area, stopping the drilling into the target area when a change in the electrical impedance is detected, thereby forming a microconduit, and treating the microconduit containing area with means to permit electroporation of the skin to deliver drugs into the body.

7. A method of removing the stratum corneum from the epidermis to permit pressurized delivery of drugs into the body, which comprises the steps of drilling into a target area, monitoring an electrical impedance of the target area, stopping the drilling into the target area when a change in the electrical impedance is detected, thereby forming a microconduit, and providing means for the pressurized delivery of drugs into the body through the microconduit.

8. A method of removing the stratum corneum from the epidermis to permit rapid infusion of an anesthetic agent into the body under no pressure, which comprises the steps of drilling into a target area, monitoring an electrical impedance of the target area, stopping the drilling into the target area when a change in the electrical impedance is detected, thereby forming a microconduit, and topically administering an anesthetic to the site of the microconduit.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the anesthetic is Lidocaine.

10. A method of removing the stratum corneum from the epidermis to permit long term diffusion of drugs into the body, comprising the steps of drilling into a target area, monitoring an electrical impedance of the target area, stopping the drilling into the target area when a change in the electrical impedance is detected, thereby forming a microconduit, and placing a drug containing patch over the microconduit to permit long term diffusion of drugs into the body.