Drill device and method for forming microconduits

• US 8,636,748 B2
• Filed: 10/29/2010
• Issued: 01/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Path Scientific, LLC
• Original Assignee: Path Scientific, LLC
• Inventors: Herndon, Terry O.
• Primary Examiner(s): SZMAL, BRIAN SCOTT
• Application Number:
  US12/915,322
• Publication Number:
  US 20110046626A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,187 Days
• Field of Search: 600/547, 125/1, 294/070.5, 295/93, 29/1.R, 29/12, 29/15, 29/7, 408/146, 408/103, 408/108, 408/109, 408/136, 408/180, 175/20, 175/50, 175/55, 175/58, 175/87, 175/122, 175/170, 175/203, 175/316
• US Class Current: 606/131
• 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 of removing the stratum corneum from the epidermis in one or more locations to permit the reduction of the electrical impedance between two or more ECG or other electrodes attached to the skin over the sites having the stratum corneum removed, which comprises the steps of drilling into a target area with a cutter, monitoring an electrical impedance of the target area, and automatically stopping the drilling into the target area and withdrawing the cutter from the skin when a change in the electrical impedance is detected, thereby forming a microconduit, and controlling the removal of the stratum corneum based upon a predetermined change in electrical impedance.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the drilling is provided by an impedance sensing drill comprising a drilling assembly including the cutter;

a control module mechanically connected to the drilling assembly for controlling the depth of drilling by automatically withdrawing the cutter;

a sensor, electrically connected to the drilling assembly and control module for detecting a change in an electrical impedance of the tissue being drilled.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the cutter is a drill bit.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the cutter is an end mill.

5. A method of removing the stratum corneum from the epidermis in one or more locations to permit the reduction of the electrical impedance between an ECG or other electrode and the interior of the body for improved monitoring of body electrical signals, comprising the steps of drilling into a target area with a cutter, monitoring an electrical impedance of the target area, and automatically stopping the drilling into the target area and withdrawing the cutter from the target area when a change in the impedance is detected, thereby forming a microconduit, controlling the removal of the stratum corneum based upon a predetermined change in impedance, and attaching an ECG or other electrode to the skin over the site having the stratum corneum removed.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the drilling is provided by an impedance sensing drill comprising a drilling assembly including a cutter;

a control module mechanically connected to the drilling assembly for controlling the depth of drilling by automatically withdrawing the cutter;

a sensor, electrically connected to the drilling assembly and control module for detecting a change in an electrical impedance of the tissue being drilled.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the cutter is a drill bit.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the cutter is an end mill.