Patent ID: 8287483

Claim:
A method for enhancing a permeability of an area of skin for drug delivery or analyte extraction comprising: increasing the permeability of the area of skin with a skin permeabilizing device, wherein the skin permeabilizing device comprises a permeability monitoring circuit for monitoring at least one electrical parameter of the area of skin indicative of skin permeability and wherein the skin permeabilizing device permeabilizes the skin using mechanical force; applying electricity in the form of an alternating current to the area of skin; monitoring the at least one electrical parameter of the area of skin using the permeability monitoring circuit of the skin permeabilizing device; and controlling the mechanical force applied to the area of skin by the skin permeabilizing device based on the at least one electrical parameter, wherein after the permeability of the skin is increased, the analyte or drug is able to passively diffuse through the skin.