CPC A61M 37/0092 (2013.01) [A61B 2090/378 (2016.02); A61M 2037/0007 (2013.01); A61N 7/00 (2013.01); A61N 2007/0008 (2013.01)] | 11 Claims |
1. A method for ultrasound-assisted delivery of a medicant through a stratum corneum layer of a skin surface, the method comprising:
a) administering the medicant and an anesthetic to the skin surface;
b) coupling an ultrasound transducer to the medicant, the anesthetic, and the skin surface; and
c) generating inertial cavitation in the stratum corneum layer and driving the medicant through the stratum corneum layer by applying a first pulsed acoustic energy field from the ultrasound transducer to the skin surface, the first pulsed acoustic energy field having a frequency from 1 MHz to 30 MHz, a peak intensity from 100 W/cm2 to 100 kW/cm2 at the skin surface, and a pulse width from 33 nanoseconds to 5 seconds, wherein the inertial cavitation initiates damage in or beneath the skin surface, the anesthetic alleviating pain or swelling associated with the damage in or beneath the skin surface.
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