METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SKIN ABSORPTION ENHANCEMENT AND TRANSDERMAL DRUG DELIVERY OF LIDOCAINE AND/OR OTHER DRUGS

摘要

A treatment method for delivery of lidocaine or other type of skin treatment drug to a patient's skin, includes applying electrical bursts of pulses onto the patient's skin by way of electrodes provided on a head of a probe that is placed against the patient's skin. The treatment method also includes applying mechanical vibrations of a same frequency and phase as the bursts of pulses onto the patient's skin by way of a vibrating element provided on the head of the probe. At the same time as the above two steps are being performed, the treatment method includes providing, between the electrodes and the patient's skin, at least two solution-absorbing pads electrically insulated from each other and each one of the two solution-absorbing pads being in electrical contact with one or more of the electrodes on the head of the probe. At least one of the two solution-absorbing pads is soaked with lidocaine or other type of skin treatment drug and the other of the two solution-absorbing pads is soaked with a conductive fisiological solution. The pads may be gauze pads or hydrogel pads.