Composite transducer arrays for the treatment of diabetes

Abstract

A portable transdermal drug delivery system using a composite transducer array has been designed to promote insulin transmission through the skin using ultrasound. Previous investigators used large, heavy sonicators in this type of research. The aim of this study is to demonstrate ultrasound-mediated transdermal insulin delivery using small cymbal arrays. The cymbal transducer design was chosen because of its light, compact structure and low resonance frequency in water. To increase the spatial ultrasound field for drug delivery through the skin, 2 x 2 and 3 x 3 cymbal arrays were constructed. The performance of these arrays was tested under similar conditions. An ultrasound-enhanced noninvasive glucose measurement system is also under development, and a comparison with conventional glucose meters was performed. The goal is to develop a noninvasive sensor-actuator array for the treatment of disease.