Devices and methods for promoting transcutaneous movement of substances

Abstract

A non-invasive method of enhancing the permeability of the skin to a biologically active permeant or compound is described utilizing a combination of sonophoresis and chemical enhancers. Synergism brought simultaneously applying iontophoresis, electroporation, mechanical vibrations and magnetophoresis is used to optimize the transcutaneous active permeation of compounds, considerably lowering the time of treatment.The method is intended also for, among others, the non-invasive painless treatment of cellulitis, localized fat stretch marks and flacid skin.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] This invention relates generally to the field of compound delivery for obtaining both local and systemic results. More particularly, it relates to a non-invasive method of compound delivery through the epidermis by means of increasing the permeability of skin through the use of chemical enhancers and sonophoresis and the synergetic simultaneous use of iontophoresis, electroporation, mechanical vibrations and magnetophoresis for optimizing transcutaneous compound delivery into the body. [0002] The human skin has barrier properties and stratum corneum is mostly responsible for them, thus it is exactly the statum corneum, the outer horny layer of the skin, that imposes the greatest barrier to transcutaneous flux of compounds into the body. [0003] The low permeability attributed to the stratum corneum, a complex structure comprised of multi-layered compact keratinized cells; low permeability is due to dead cells filled with keratin fibers (keratinocyte...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0033] An object of the present invention is to provide a method for fast active transcutaneous permeation of compounds through the human skin targeting obtaining either local or systemic results allowing,among others, the non-invasive painless treatment of cellulitis, localized fat, stretch marks and flacid skin.

[0034] Another object of the invention is to provide a method for the active transcutaneous permeation of compounds in a non invasive basis, allowing treatments with minimal occurrence of undesirable collateral effects.

[0035] A further object of the invention is to minimize the time of treatment through the synergetic simultaneous use of both chemical enhancers and several physical principles.

[0038] Ultrasound energy also may also open up diffusional pathways in the stratum corneum, causing an increase in the permeability of that layer and causing frictional heat to be generated in deeper tissues, increasing the activity of both lymph and blood circulation, as well as of metabolic processes.

[0039] Due to the complete synergism and complementarity of these physical principles their combined actions lead us to fast treatments when associated with ultrasound coupling products, chemical permeants allowing compounds to be efficiently permeated through the skin, since both ultrasound iontophoresis, electroporation, mechanical vibrations and magnetophoresis force chemical enhancers and compounds into the stratum corneum, thereby reducing the lag time associated with the non-enhanced (passive) diffusion process.

Problems solved by technology

One important issue to be remebered is that the diffusion coefficient is strongly dependent on the degree of hydration of the skin, significantly increasing with it.

Further, the choice of solvents and media containing the molecules also affects permeation of the molecules through the membranes.

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