Methods and systems for delivering toxin and toxin fragments to a patient's nasal cavity provide for both release of the toxin and delivery of energy which selectively porates target cells to enhance uptake of the toxin. The use of energy-mediated delivery is particularly advantageous with light chain fragment toxins which lack cell binding capacity.

The present invention provides a cancer treatment method in which side effects are inhibited. Specifically, in a combination therapy of a high intensity focused ultrasound therapy at an irradiation intensity of 320 to 700 W/cm.sup.2 and an anti-cancer agent therapy, an anti-cancer agent containing an anthracycline is used such that the anthracycline in a dose of 0.5 to 7.5 mg/kg body weight is administered to a cancer patient.

The inventive device is a mechanical wave inducing device being connectable to a needle. The device has a displacement source and a driving signal connection part in order to connect the displacement source to a signal source. The device has also two connections parts, which are connected to the displacement source, and which each wing part has a connection point to be attached with the needle. The wing parts are converters in order to convert longitudinal mechanical wave movement created by the displacement source into transversal mechanical wave movement for the needle, and at least one connection point is designed to match the transversal mechanical waves to the needle.

An ultrasound system for use in unbinding an active agent from a plasma protein in a target site in a subject includes a transducer configured to generate acoustic pressure waves and a controller coupled to the transducer. The controller is programmed to control the transducer to produce a plurality of pulsed acoustic pressure waves in the target site of the patient. The plurality of pulsed acoustic pressure waves disrupt a plasma protein binding between the active agent and the plasma protein within the target site. The disruption of the plasma protein binding causes an increase in an amount of unbound active agent in the target site.

An improved method for MRI-guided sonosensitized focused ultrasound treatment of malignant tissue is disclosed herein.

A method for performing spectral analysis and determining a safety marker includes an assembly via which: regularly, during shot Bb, at a series of times ta, the variation as a function of time in the spectral lines corresponding to the subharmonic and ultra-harmonic frequencies of a received acoustic-response signal of the microbubbles is measured, and the variation as a function of time, over the times ta, in a safety marker is determined and quantified, the safety marker being defined, at each time ta, by a number MDDa equal to the ratio of the sum of the areas of the spectral lines, measured at the time ta and corresponding to the subharmonic and/or ultra-harmonic frequencies of the received acoustic-response signal of the microbubbles, to the sum of the areas of the spectral lines, measured at the first time t1 and corresponding to the subharmonic and/or ultra-harmonic frequencies of the acoustic-response signal of the microbubbles. A system for performing spectral analysis and determining a safety marker implements said method.

The present invention provides rapid-acting insulin and insulin analogue formulations. The invention further provides delivery devices, particularly infusion sets, which allow for the rapid absorption of insulin and insulin analogues, as well as other active agents. Methods of using the insulin and insulin analogue formulations as well as the insulin delivery devices for treating subjects with diabetes mellitus are also provided.

An apparatus includes a conical body defining a chamber configured to contain a liquid and having a nozzle located a front end of the conical body and configured to discharge a stream of the liquid, a rear wall positioned at a rear of the conical body and at least partially defining the chamber, an inlet in communication with the chamber for introducing the liquid into the chamber, an acoustic transducer positioned at the rear wall, the acoustic transducer configured to generate acoustic energy and to introduce the acoustic energy into the liquid contained in the chamber, and an exhaust system including a vent in communication with the chamber to remove a mixture of liquid and gas bubbles from the chamber, an exhaust leading away from the vent, and an outlet in communication with the exhaust and configured to discharge the liquid and gas bubbles into or adjacent to the stream.

Antibiotics are administered in a surgical site subcutaneously via a small or stab incision in the surgical field. Transcutaneous ultrasonic vibrations are applied across the surgical field, which is then opened in the usual manner, to thereby provide a surgical field which contains a vastly higher and more effective level of antibiotic. At the same time the underlying tissue is hydrated.

A method for delivering drugs into cystic fluid, the method comprising injecting a drug delivery system (DDS) into a cystic fluid space at an injection site, the DDS comprising at least one therapeutic agent encapsulated in biodegradable polymers, applying ultrasonic energy proximal to the injection site, and controlling the at least one of buoyancy, delivery location, mixing, and dispersion of the DDS to a targeted area using the ultrasonic energy.