Method for rapid temporal control of molecular transport across tissue

• US 5,547,467 A
• Filed: 07/23/1993
• Issued: 08/20/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Original Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Inventors: Weaver, James C., Langer, Robert S., Prausnitz, Mark R., Pliquett, Uwe
• Primary Examiner(s): Buiz, Michael Powell
• Assistant Examiner(s): MULCARE, NANCY C
• Application Number:
  US08/096,512
• Time in Patent Office: 1,124 Days
• Field of Search: 128/632-633, 128/636-637, 128/760, 128/771, 604/20, 604/22, 604/289, 604/290, 601/2
• US Class Current: 604/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14514 using means for aiding extraction of interstitial fluid, e.g. microneedles or suction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/418 lymph vessels, ducts or nodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/00 Medicinal preparations containing organic active ingredients
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 41/0047 Sonopheresis, i.e. ultrasonically-enhanced transdermal delivery, electroporation of a pharmacologically active agent
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 48/00 Medicinal preparations containing genetic material which is inserted into cells of the living body to treat genetic diseases; Gene therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0412 Specially adapted for transcutaneous electroporation, e.g. including drug reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0452 Specially adapted for transcutaneous muscle stimulation [TMS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/325 for iontophoresis, i.e. transfer of media in ionic state by an electromotoric force into the body electrodes for external use A61N1/0428
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/327 for enhancing the absorption properties of tissue, e.g. by electroporation
• CPC Class Codes: C07K 14/82 Translation products from oncogenes
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 15/87 Introduction of foreign genetic material using processes not otherwise provided for, e.g. co-transformation
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/50 Chemical analysis of biological material, e.g. blood, urine; Testing involving biospecific ligand binding methods; Immunological testing measuring or testing processes involving enzymes or microorganisms, compositions or test papers therefor; processes for forming such compositions, condition responsive control in microbiological or enzymological processes C12Q
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/66 involving blood sugars, e.g. galactose
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/84 involving inorganic compounds or pH

Abstract

A method is disclosed for treating tissue in response to a stimulus generated by the tissue. In one embodiment, the method transdermally treats an organism in response to a stimulus. In this embodiment, the medication is applied to epidermis of the organism, and the epidermis is electroporated in response to a stimulus, whereby the medication passes through the epidermis at a rate sufficient to alter the stimulus, thereby transdermally treating the organism. In another embodiment, the method measures a blood component content of blood. A portion of epidermis is electroporated to cause an aqueous fluid to be directed through an electroporated epidermis to a surface of the epidermis. Thereafter, the blood component content of the aqueous fluid is measured for correlation with a known aqueous fluid blood component content associated with a known concentration of blood component in the blood. The blood component concentration of the blood can thereby be measured. In still another embodiment, the method includes directing a medication to the tissue which can alter the stimulus when the tissue is electroporated, and electroporating the tissue in response to a stimulus, whereby the medication passes through the tissue in an amount sufficient to alter the stimulus, thereby treating the organism.

Claims

1. A method for measuring a blood component content of blood, comprising the steps of:

a) electroporating a portion of epidermis to cause an aqueous fluid to be directed through the electroporated epidermis to a surface of the epidermis; and

b) measuring the blood component content of the aqueous fluid for correlation with a known aqueous fluid blood component content associated with a known concentration of blood component in the blood, thereby measuring the blood component concentration of the blood.

2. A method of claim 1 wherein the blood component is glucose.

3. A method of claim 1 wherein the blood component concentration is hydrogen ion concentration.

4. A method of claim 1 wherein the electroporation is sufficient to cause at least one milliliter of aqueous fluid to be directed through the electroporated epidermis in a period of less than about ten minutes.

5. A method of claim 4 wherein the electroporation is sufficient to cause at least one milliliter of aqueous fluid to be directed through the electroporated epidermis in a period of less than about one minute.