Patent US6173202B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6173202B1
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US
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Method and apparatus for enhancing flux rates of a fluid in a microporated biological tissue
Assignee: MIDCAP FUNDING III AS SUCCESSOR IN INTEREST TO MIDCAP FINANCIAL LLC LLC
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Filing: 1998-03-06
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Granted: 2001-01-09
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Expires: 2018-03-06
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for enhancing the flux rate of a fluid through a biological membrane. The method includes the steps of porating a section of the tissue to form one or more micropores in the tissue, and applying a flux enhancer to the tissue through the one or more micropores. The resulting enhancement of fluid flux in the tissue enables more effective harvesting from the body of fluids, as well as more effective delivery of a drug.
Inventors
- 👤 Jonathan A. Eppstein
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 09:36
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61K; A61K41/00; A61K41/0047; A61B; A61B10/00; A61B10/0045; A61B18/00; A61B18/18; A61B18/20; A61B2010/008; A61B17/00; A61B2017/00743; A61B2017/00747; A61B2017/00765; A61M; A61M37/00; A61M37/0092
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 44
Claim 1
Independent Claim
132 words
A method for enhancing the flux rate of a substance through a porated tissue, comprising the step of delivering an effective amount of a flux enhancer into the tissue through at least one micropore made into an outer layer of the tissue so that the flux enhancer acts on tissue structures in or beneath the outer layer thereby increasing the flux rate of a substance through the tissue, wherein the step of delivering the flux enhancer comprises step of positioning a quantity of flux enhancer adjacent the porated tissue and applying sufficient energy to the quantity of flux enhancer to vaporize at least a portion of the quantity of flux enhancer, thereby releasing at least a portion of the quantity of flux enhancer into the tissue through the at least one micropore.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
132 words
A method for enhancing the flux rate of a substance through a porated tissue, comprising the step of delivering an effective amount of a flux enhancer into the tissue through at least one micropore made into an outer layer of the tissue so that the flux enhancer acts on tissue structures in or beneath the outer layer thereby increasing the flux rate of a substance through the tissue, wherein the step of delivering the flux enhancer comprises step of positioning a quantity of flux enhancer adjacent the porated tissue and applying sufficient energy to the quantity of flux enhancer to vaporize at least a portion of the quantity of flux enhancer, thereby releasing at least a portion of the quantity of flux enhancer into the tissue through the at least one micropore.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of delivering the flux enhancer comprises inserting a probe carrying the effective amount of flux enhancer into the tissue.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of applying sufficient energy to the quantity of flux enhancer comprises introducing a heated element into the quantity of flux enhancer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
65 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of positioning a quantity of the flux enhancer at the site comprises placing a carrier device having a reservoir containing the quantity of flux enhancer adjacent the porated tissue, and wherein the step of applying sufficient energy comprises applying energy to the carrier device to vaporize at least a portion of the quantity of flux enhancer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 4 , and further comprising delivering a drug contained in the reservoir through the at least one micropore.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 , and further comprising delivering a quantity of a drug through the at least one micropore.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 , and further comprising collecting a sample of an analyte through the at least one micropore.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
74 words
A method for enhancing the flux rate of a substance through a porated tissue, comprising the step of delivering an effective amount of a flux enhancer into the tissue through at least one micropore made into an outer layer of the tissue so that the flux enhancer acts on tissue structures in or beneath the outer layer thereby increasing the flux rate of a substance through the tissue, wherein the flux enhancer contains ammonia.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
74 words
A method for enhancing the flux rate of a substance through a porated tissue, comprising the step of delivering an effective amount of a flux enhancer into the tissue through at least one micropore made into an outer layer of the tissue so that the flux enhancer acts on tissue structures in or beneath the outer layer thereby increasing the flux rate of a substance through the tissue, wherein the flux enhancer contains ammonia.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 8 , wherein the step of delivering the flux enhancer comprises inserting a probe carrying the effective amount of flux enhancer into the tissue.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 8 , wherein the step of delivering the flux enhancer comprises positioning a quantity of flux enhancer adjacent the porated tissue and releasing at least a portion of the quantity of flux enhancer into the tissue through the at least on micropore.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 10 , and further comprising the step of applying sufficient energy to the quantity of flux enhancer to vaporize at least a portion of the quantity of flux enhancer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 10 , wherein the step of applying energy to the quantity of flux enhancer comprises introducing a heated element into the quantity of flux enhancer.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
82 words
The method of claim 10 , wherein the step of positioning a quantity of the flux enhancer at the site comprises placing a carrier device having a reservoir containing the quantity of flux enhancer adjacent the porated tissue, and wherein the step of releasing at least a portion of the quantity of flux enhancer into the tissue through the at least one micropore comprises applying energy onto the carrier device to vaporize at least a portion of the quantity of flux enhancer.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 13 , and further comprising the step of delivering a drug contained in the reservoir through the at least one micropore.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 8 , and further comprising delivering a drug into the tissue through the at least one micropore.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 8 , and further comprising collecting a sample of an analyte through the at least one micropore.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
56 words
A method of enhancing the flux rate of a substance through a biological membrane, comprising steps of: (a) porating the biological membrane to form at least one micropore in the biological membrane; and (b) delivering an effective amount of a flux enhancer to through the micropore in the biological membrane, wherein the flux enhancer contains ammonia.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
56 words
A method of enhancing the flux rate of a substance through a biological membrane, comprising steps of: (a) porating the biological membrane to form at least one micropore in the biological membrane; and (b) delivering an effective amount of a flux enhancer to through the micropore in the biological membrane, wherein the flux enhancer contains ammonia.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 17 , and further comprising the step of introducing a drug through the at least one micropore.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method of claim 17 , wherein the steps of porating and delivering comprise applying a sufficient amount of electromagnetic energy onto an energy absorbing layer placed adjacent the surface of the biological membrane, wherein the energy absorbing layer is treated with said effective amount of flux enhancer such that said reservoir is incorporated in said energy absorbing layer.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 17 , wherein the micropore extends to a selected depth into or through the biological membrane.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 17 , wherein the steps of porating and delivering comprise inserting a probe carrying a quantity of flux enhancer into the biological membrane.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 21 , wherein the step of inserting a probe comprises inserting a heated probe into the biological membrane.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method of claim 17 , wherein the step of delivering an effective amount of a flux enhancer comprises the steps of positioning a reservoir containing a quantity of flux enhancer adjacent the surface of the biological membrane, and releasing at least a portion of the quantity of flux enhancer from the reservoir into the at least one micropore.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 23 , and further comprising the step of applying sufficient energy to the reservoir of flux enhancer to vaporize at least a portion of the quantity of flux enhancer.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
73 words
The method of claim 24 , wherein the steps of porating the biological membrane and releasing at least a portion of the flux enhancer comprise the step of applying a sufficient amount of eletromagnetic energy onto an energy absorbing portion adjacent the reservoir to heat the energy absorbing portion to a temperature sufficient to form the at least one micropore and to vaporize at least a portion of the reservoir of flux enhancer.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 25 , wherein the step of measuring an impedance comprises measuring a complex impedance between the electrically heated probe and the electrode.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 24 , wherein the steps of porating the membrane and releasing at least a portion of the flux enhancer comprise the step of introducing a heated element through the reservoir and into the membrane.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 23 , and further comprising delivering a drug contained in the reservoir through the at least one micropore.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 17 , and further comprising the step of applying ultrasonic energy to the tissue to draw an interstitial fluid containing the analyte outwardly through the at least one micropore.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 17 , and further comprising the step of applying suction to the tissue to draw interstitial fluid comprising the analyte outwardly through the at least one micropore.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 17 , wherein the step of porating comprises measuring an impedance between an electrically heated probe that creates the micropore and an electrode spaced therefrom to control a depth of the micropore based on the impedance.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 17 , and further comprising collecting a sample of an analyte through the at least one micropore.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
150 words
A method of enhancing the flux rate of a substance through a biological membrane, comprising steps of: (a) porating the biological membrane to form at least one micropore in the biological membrane; (b) delivering an effective amount of a flux enhancer to through the micropore in the biological membrane, wherein the step of delivering an effective amount of a flux enhancer comprises steps of positioning a reservoir containing a quantity of flux enhancer adjacent the surface of the biological membrane, and applying sufficient energy to the reservoir of flux enhancer to vaporize at least a portion of the quantity of flux enhancer thereby releasing at least a portion of the quantity of flux enhancer from the reservoir into the at least one micropore; wherein the steps of porating the membrane and applying sufficient energy comprise the step of introducing a heated element through the reservoir and into the biological membrane.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
150 words
A method of enhancing the flux rate of a substance through a biological membrane, comprising steps of: (a) porating the biological membrane to form at least one micropore in the biological membrane; (b) delivering an effective amount of a flux enhancer to through the micropore in the biological membrane, wherein the step of delivering an effective amount of a flux enhancer comprises steps of positioning a reservoir containing a quantity of flux enhancer adjacent the surface of the biological membrane, and applying sufficient energy to the reservoir of flux enhancer to vaporize at least a portion of the quantity of flux enhancer thereby releasing at least a portion of the quantity of flux enhancer from the reservoir into the at least one micropore; wherein the steps of porating the membrane and applying sufficient energy comprise the step of introducing a heated element through the reservoir and into the biological membrane.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 33 , wherein the micropore extends to a selected depth into or through the biological membrane.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 33 , and further comprising the step of applying ultrasonic energy to the tissue to draw an interstitial fluid containing the analyte outwardly through the at least one micropore.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 33 , and further comprising the step of applying suction to the tissue to draw interstitial fluid comprising the analyte outwardly through the at least one micropore.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 33 , wherein the step of porating comprises measuring an impedance between an electrically heated probe that creates the micropore and an electrode spaced therefrom to control a depth of the micropore based on the impedance.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 37 , wherein the step of measuring an impedance comprises measuring a complex impedance between the electrically heated probe and the electrode.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 33 , and further comprising the step of introducing a drug through the at least one micropore.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 33 , and further comprising collecting a sample of an analyte through the at least one micropore.
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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) | 2004-01-09 | 2004-07-10 | 2005-01-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-01-09 | 2008-07-10 | 2009-01-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-01-09 | 2012-07-10 | 2013-01-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |