Microporation of human skin for drug delivery and monitoring applications

• Main Authors: YANG, DIFEI, EPPSTEIN, JONATHAN A, HATCH, MICHAEL R
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French; German
• Published: 23.09.2015
• Subjects: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROMTHE BODY; DIAGNOSIS; HUMAN NECESSITIES; HYGIENE; IDENTIFICATION; MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL, OR TOILET PURPOSES; SURGERY

A method of enhancing the permeability of the skin to an analytic for diagnostic purposes or to a drug for therapeutic purposes is described utilizing micro-pore and optionally sonic energy and a chemical enhancer. If selected, the sonic energy may be modulated by means of frequency modulation, amplitude modulation, phase modulation, and/or combinations thereof. Micro-pore is accomplished by (a) ablating the stratum corneum by localized rapid heating of water; (b) puncturing the stratum corneum which a microlancet; (c) ablating the stratum corneum by focusing a tightly focused beam of sonic energy onto the stratum corneum; (d) hydraulically puncturing the stratum corneum with a high-pressure jet of fluid; or (e) puncturing the stratum corneum with short pulses of electricity to form a micro-pore of up to about 1000 µm in diameter.