Patent ID: 7004933

Claim:
A method for enhancing the transport of an active agent through mammalian skin, wherein the skin comprises a stratum corneum, the method comprising: exposing the skin to ultrasound, applying an active agent to the skin, and modifying at least portion of the stratum corneum substantially prior to the step of exposing the skin to ultrasound, wherein the step of modifying at least a portion of the stratum corneum comprises at least one of the steps of: removing at least a follicular plug from the stratum corneum, removing at least skin debris from the stratum corneum, and removing at least a portion of the stratum corneum, wherein the stratum corneum is characterized by a structure, a function, a thickness and a permeability and wherein the step of modifying at least a portion of the stratum corneum comprises at least one of the steps of stripping, removing, thinning and diminishing at least one of the structure, function, thickness and permeability of the stratum corneum by at least one of a mechanical, abrasive, photo acoustic, ablative, thermal, chemical, abrasive and enzymatic method.