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US5445611A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Enhancement of transdermal delivery with ultrasound and chemical enhancers

Assignee: Nitto Denko Corp
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Filing: 1993-12-08
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Granted: 1995-08-29
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Expires: 2013-12-08
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Abstract

Abstract A method of enhancing the permeability of the skin or mucosa to a biologically active permeant or drug is described utilizing ultrasound or ultrasound plus a chemical enhancer. If desired the ultrasound may be modulated by means of frequency modulation, amplitude modulation, phase modulation and/or combinations thereof. A frequency modulation from high to low develops a local pressure gradient directed into the body, thus permitting permeant to traverse the skin or mucosa. The enhanced delivery is preferably accomplished using a chemical enhancer, applying ultrasound optionally at a modulated frequency, amplitude, phase, or combinations thereof that further induces a local pressure gradient into the body. The method is also useful as a means for application of a tattoo by noninvasively delivering a pigment through the skin surface.

Inventors

  • 👤 Jonathan A. Eppstein
  • 👤 Deborah A. Eppstein

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-23 03:45
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/145; A61B5/14507; A61B5/1451; A61B5/14514; A61M; A61M37/00; A61M37/0092; A61B18/00; A61B18/18; A61B18/20; A61B18/203; A61B17/00; A61B2017/00017; A61B2017/00137; A61B2017/00154; A61B2017/00172; A61B2017/00743; A61B2017/00747; A61B2017/00765; A61B2018/00315; A61B2018/00452; A61B2018/0047

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim 109 words
In a method for enhancing the transdermal flux rate of an active permeant into a selected area of an individual's body surface comprising the steps of (a) contacting the selected area with a composition comprising an effective amount of said permeant; and (b) enhancing the permeability of the selected area to the permeant by means of applying ultrasound to said selected area for a time and at an intensity and a frequency effective to enhance the transdermal flux rate into the body; the improvement comprising; modulating said applied ultrasound by means of a member selected from the group consisting of frequency modulation, amplitude modulation, phase modulation and combinations thereof.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 109 words
In a method for enhancing the transdermal flux rate of an active permeant into a selected area of an individual's body surface comprising the steps of (a) contacting the selected area with a composition comprising an effective amount of said permeant; and (b) enhancing the permeability of the selected area to the permeant by means of applying ultrasound to said selected area for a time and at an intensity and a frequency effective to enhance the transdermal flux rate into the body; the improvement comprising; modulating said applied ultrasound by means of a member selected from the group consisting of frequency modulation, amplitude modulation, phase modulation and combinations thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 31 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the ultrasound is modulated by means of a member selected from the group consisting of frequency modulation and a combination of frequency and amplitude modulation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 11 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the ultrasound is frequency modulated.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 11 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the ultrasound is amplitude modulated.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 20 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the ultrasound has a frequency in the range of about 0.1 to 100 MHz.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 20 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the ultrasound has a frequency in the range of about 3 to 30 MHz.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 18 words
The method of claim 1 which further comprises using a plurality of transducers for applying said modulated ultrasound.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said time is in the range of about 1 to 30 minutes.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 35 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the frequency is applied in a sweeping modulation from a higher frequency to a lower frequency for a time sufficient to enable the permeant to penetrate the body surface.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein a chemical permeation enhancer is also applied to the selected surface area.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 31 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the ultrasound is modulated by means of a member selected from the group consisting of frequency modulation and a combination of frequency and amplitude modulation.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 11 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the ultrasound is frequency modulated.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 11 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the ultrasound is amplitude modulated.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 20 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the ultrasound has a frequency in the range of about 0.1 to 100 MHz.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 20 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the ultrasound has a frequency in the range of about 3 to 30 MHz.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 20 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the ultrasound has a frequency in the range of about 0.1 to 100 MHz.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 17 words
The method of claim 10 further comprises using a plurality of transducers for applying said modulated ultrasound.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 18 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said time is in the range of about 1 to 30 minutes.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 35 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the frequency is applied in a sweeping modulation from a higher frequency to a lower frequency for a time sufficient to enable the permeant to penetrate the body surface.
Claim 21
Independent Claim 90 words
A method for applying a tattoo to a selected area of skin on an individual's body surface comprising the steps of: (a) contacting the selected area of skin with a pigment; and (b) enhancing the permeability of the selected area to said pigment for a time sufficient to enable the pigment to penetrate through an outer layer of the body surface, wherein said enhancement is accomplished by application to the selected area of a means selected from the group consisting of ultrasound, chemical permeation enhancement, iontophoresis, electroporation, and combinations thereof.
Claim 22
Independent Claim 90 words
A method for applying a tattoo to a selected area of skin on an individual's body surface comprising the steps of: (a) contacting the selected area of skin with a pigment; and (b) enhancing the permeability of the selected area to said pigment for a time sufficient to enable the pigment to penetrate through an outer layer of the body surface, wherein said enhancement is accomplished by application to the selected area of a means selected from the group consisting of ultrasound, chemical permeation enhancement, iontophoresis, electroporation, and combinations thereof.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 20 words
The method of claim 20 wherein said enhancement is accomplished by means of the application of a chemical permeation enhancer.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 17 words
The method of claim 20 wherein said enhancement is accomplished by means of the application of ultrasound.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 17 words
The method of claim 20 wherein said enhancement is accomplished by means of the application of iontophoresis.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 17 words
The method of claim 20 wherein said enhancement is accomplished by means of the application of electroporation.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 10 words
The method of claim 21 wherein ultrasound is also applied.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 30 words
The method of claim 25 wherein said ultrasound is modulated by means of a member selected from the group consisting of frequency modulation, amplitude modulation, phase modulation and combinations thereof.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim 31 words
The method of claim 26 wherein the ultrasound is modulated by means of a member selected from the group consisting of frequency modulation and a combination of frequency and amplitude modulation.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim 11 words
The method of claim 25 wherein the ultrasound is frequency modulated.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim 11 words
The method of claim 26 wherein the ultrasound is amplitude modulated.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim 16 words
The method of claim 26 which further comprises using a plurality of transducers for applying ultrasound.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim 35 words
The method of claim 27 wherein the frequency is applied in a sweeping modulation from a higher frequency to a lower frequency for a time sufficient to enable the permeant to penetrate the body surface.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim 12 words
The method of claim 20 wherein the dye is a permanent dye.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim 12 words
The method of claim 20 wherein the dye is a removable dye.

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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1998-08-28 1999-02-27 1999-08-29 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2002-08-28 2003-02-27 2003-08-29 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2006-08-28 2007-02-27 2007-08-29 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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