Enhancement of transdermal monitoring applications with ultrasound and chemical enhancers

Abstract

A method of enhancing the permeability of the skin or mucosa to an analyte for diagnostic purposed 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 low to high develops a local pressure gradient directed out of the body, thus permitting analytes in the body to traverse the skin and be collected and measured outside the body. The concentration of an analyte in the body is preferably determined by enhancing the permeability of the skin or other biological membrane optionally with a chemical enhancer, applying ultrasound optionally at a modulated frequency, amplitude, phase, or combinations thereof that further induces a local pressure gradient out of the body, collecting the analyte, and utilizing the analyte collection data calculating the concentration of the analyte in the body.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.