Patent ID: 7972286

Claim:
A method for altering permeability of tissues or cells comprising (a) administering acoustic energy at a driving frequency by applying a transducer to a first site on a human or other animal, wherein the first site is selected from the group consisting of skin, cornea, conjunctiva, sclera, mucosa of the nose, mucosa of the mouth, mucosa of the rectum and mucosa of the vagina, wherein the acoustic energy is effective to increase permeability of tissues or cells at a second site distant from the first site, wherein the second site is not skin, cornea, conjunctiva, sclera, mucosa of the nose, mucosa of the mouth, mucosa of the rectum or mucosa of the vagina, and wherein the acoustic energy does not alter permeability, cell viability or structural integrity at the first site, (b) measuring the effect on the second site of the acoustic energy or a property of the acoustic energy at the time of or subsequent to the initial application of the acoustic energy, wherein the effect on the second site or the property of the acoustic energy is measured at (i) one or more frequencies other than the driving frequency at which the acoustic energy is applied, wherein the one or more frequencies correspond to integer multiples of one-half or one-fourth of the driving frequency, or (ii) one or more frequencies taken from a broadband signal at a frequency greater than the driving frequency, and (c) using the measurement obtained in step (b) to modify continued or subsequent application of acoustic energy from the transducer at the first site.