US Patent:
20020111600, Aug 15, 2002
Inventors:
Michel Cormier - Mountain View CA, US
Joseph Trautman - Sunnyvale CA, US
Hyunok Kim - Chino Hills CA, US
Ahmad Samiee - Sunnyvale CA, US
Armand Neukermans - Portola Valley CA, US
Bruce Edwards - Palo Alto CA, US
Wai-Loong Lim - Menlo Park CA, US
Andrew Poutiatine - Menlo Park CA, US
International Classification:
A61M031/00
US Classification:
604/506000, 604/115000, 606/186000
Abstract:
An expandable skin stretching device includes skin engaging opposite ends that contact the skin surface on opposite sides of an area of the skin surface having micropathways therein. When the skin stretching device is expanded the skin between the opposite ends is placed under tension, i.e., stretched. The skin is placed under a tension of about 0.01 to about 10 megapascals, preferably about 0.05 to about 2 megapascals. The skin stretching can be uni-directional or multi-directional. Alternative embodiments of skin stretching devices use suction or normal force to stretch the skin. Stretching the skin helps keep the micropathways open for enhanced agent (e.g., drug) delivery through the micropathways. The stretching also delays micropathway closure.