Method and apparatus for intradermal incorporation of microparticles containing encapsulated drugs using low frequency ultrasound

A method for sonoporation for intradermal delivery of a microparticles suspension containing microencapsulated drugs comprising:

• (1) providing a container containing a predetermined amount of said microparticles suspension containing microencapsulated drugs and having a first end and a second end, said second end being covered with a porous membrane;
• (2) submerging a tip of an ultrasound horn in said microparticles suspension containing microencapsulated drugs through said first end of the container;
• (3) placing said porous membrane in contact with said skin area;
• and (4) applying ultrasound radiation to said microparticles suspension containing microencapsulated drugs wherein said ultrasound radiation is applied at a frequency, an intensity, for a period of time, and at a distance from the skin, effective to generate cavitation bubbles, wherein said cavitation bubbles collapse and transfer their energy into the skin area thus causing the formation of pores in the skin area;
• and wherein said ultrasound radiation intensity and distance from the skin area are also effective in generating ultrasonic jets, said ultrasonic jets driving said microparticles suspension containing microencapsulated drugs through a porous membrane and said formed pores into the skin area, wherein said tip is removably connected to said ultrasound horn.

A method for sonoporation for intradermal delivery of a microparticles suspension containing microencapsulated drugs comprising:

• (1) providing a container containing a predetermined amount of said microparticles suspension containing microencapsulated drugs and having a first end and a second end, said second end being covered with a porous membrane;
• (2) submerging a tip of an ultrasound horn in said microparticles suspension containing microencapsulated drugs through said first end of the container;
• (3) placing said porous membrane in contact with said skin area;
• and (4) applying ultrasound radiation to said microparticles suspension containing microencapsulated drugs wherein said ultrasound radiation is applied at a frequency, an intensity, for a period of time, and at a distance from the skin, effective to generate cavitation bubbles, wherein said cavitation bubbles collapse and transfer their energy into the skin area thus causing the formation of pores in the skin area;
• and wherein said ultrasound radiation intensity and distance from the skin area are also effective in generating ultrasonic jets, said ultrasonic jets driving said microparticles suspension containing microencapsulated drugs through a porous membrane and said formed pores into the skin area, wherein said tip comprises a flat distal end surface having a plurality of depressions.

A method for sonoporation for intradermal delivery of a microparticles suspension containing microencapsulated drugs comprising:

• (1) providing a container containing a predetermined amount of said microparticles suspension containing microencapsulated drugs and having a first end and a second end, said second end being covered with a porous membrane;
• (2) submerging a tip of an ultrasound horn in said microparticles suspension containing microencapsulated drugs through said first end of the container;
• (3) placing said porous membrane in contact with said skin area;
• and (4) applying ultrasound radiation to said microparticles suspension containing microencapsulated drugs wherein said ultrasound radiation is applied at a frequency, an intensity, for a period of time, and at a distance from the skin, effective to generate cavitation bubbles, wherein said cavitation bubbles collapse and transfer their energy into the skin area thus causing the formation of pores in the skin area;
• and wherein said ultrasound radiation intensity and distance from the skin area are also effective in generating ultrasonic jets, said ultrasonic jets driving said microparticles suspension containing microencapsulated drugs through a porous membrane and said formed pores into the skin area, wherein said tip comprises a body having markings indicating the amount of the microparticles suspension containing microencapsulated drugs contained in the container.

A method for sonoporation for intradermal delivery of a microparticles suspension containing microencapsulated drugs comprising:

• (1) providing a container containing a predetermined amount of said microparticles suspension containing microencapsulated drugs and having a first end and a second end, said second end being covered with a porous membrane;
• (2) submerging a tip of an ultrasound horn in said microparticles suspension containing microencapsulated drugs through said first end of the container;
• (3) placing said porous membrane in contact with said skin area;
• and (4) applying ultrasound radiation to said microparticles suspension containing microencapsulated drugs wherein said ultrasound radiation is applied at a frequency, an intensity, for a period of time, and at a distance from the skin, effective to generate cavitation bubbles, wherein said cavitation bubbles collapse and transfer their energy into the skin area thus causing the formation of pores in the skin area;
• and wherein said ultrasound radiation intensity and distance from the skin area are also effective in generating ultrasonic jets, said ultrasonic jets driving said microparticles suspension containing microencapsulated drugs through a porous membrane and said formed pores into the skin area, wherein said container comprises:
• (1) an outer wall;
• (2) an inner wall;
• and (3) an absorbent wick placed between said inner and outer wall, said wick absorbing any excess microparticles suspension containing microencapsulated drugs that is not driven into the skin area through the formed pores.