Aberdeen University

Other

David J Watmough

Farouk A Assaf

Leslie Robertson

Kwok K Chan

A method of phonophoretic transfer of an active agent into or across a porous surface, which method comprises contacting the active agent with the porous surface and applying thereto ultrasound at a frequency of between 20 kHz and 3 MHz; characterised in that the active agent is ideally cationic and is disposed in a low viscosity carrier and wherein the active agent is in direct contact with the porous surface. An apparatus for phonophoretic transfer of an active agent to or through a porous surface, said apparatus comprising an ultrasonic generator, a housing provided with an ultrasound transducer mounted in or on housing, and a treatment chamber disposed in or on said housing, said transducer being directed towards said treatment chamber, wherein the treatment chamber is provided with a liquid-tight membrane to retain the active agent against a porous surface located in the treatment chamber during sonication.

Ultrasound driven devices for accelerated transfer of substances across porous boundaries

The invention provides a thermocouple device comprising a base wire 1 and a plurality of junctions 3 spaced along said wire, each of said junctions being connected to a monitoring means which provides a visual indication of the temperature at each junction 3. A heating coil 2 or energy absorbative material may be disposed along the length of the base wire 1 to assist in detection of liquid flow, ultrasonic flux or bubble presence.

Multi point sensor

An ultrasound hyperthermia unit for the treatment of a target tissue, includes an ultrasound transducer array (1) angled to direct sonic energy toward a target (8), wherein the array (1) comprises a plurality of divergent transducers (2) arranged radially of a central axis to provide a coherent treatment field about a central axis. Temperature sensing means (10) may be operatively associated with the array and adapted to provide an output signal indicative of temperature values adjacent a target tumour, said signal being utilized to control the output of the transducers. A liquid bath (5) may be provided for being located between the array (1) and the skin (14) of a patient, said liquid bath being adapted to warm or induce local hyperthermia in the skin surface. The divergent array, when associated with a water bath, allows a particularly effective treatment of physiotherapeutic conditions or neoplastic tissues without causing collateral damage.

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Foresterhill, United Kingdom

David J Watmough