Abstract: The invention is a device for transmitting acoustical energy through the surface of the skin of a patient, coupled with the administration of a compound, for example an acne medication, for the purpose of temporarily expanding the patient's pore size and enhancing the delivery of the compound to the patient's pores. The ultrasonic transducer emits a sonic transmission of variable intensity and frequency for the purpose of enhancing the absorption of compounds that have first been deposited onto the surface of the skin and into skin pores that have been expanded by the ultrasound transmission.

Abstract: The invention is a sensor device attached to a transdermal patch or other form of transdermal delivery device (TDD) which is (1) capable of determining the quantity of drug remaining within the TDD and (2) determining the quantity or dose delivered from the TDD to a patient in real time. The preferred embodiment is a sensor capable of transmitting acoustical energy between an ultrasonic generator, through a medicine-containing TDD, providing a density measurement of the solution within the TDD and thereby calculating the dose remaining within the patch, and leading to a calculation of the dose delivered to the patient.

Abstract: The invention consists of a sonication and imbedding process for the uptake of water and/or other beneficial substances into a seed for the purposes of reducing the time needed for germination of a plant and the time needed for full maturity growth of the resultant plant. This invention teaches that ultrasound applied to the shell of a seed will develop micro-punctures which enable the faster absorption of water and other liquid nutrients into the seed structure. The sonic energy may be at frequencies between 15 kHz and 30 kHz for periods between about 1 and 20 minutes, and can utilize either a sinusoidal waveform or an alternating ultrasonic transmission consisting of a saw tooth wave form lasting 50 milliseconds, followed by a square wave form lasting 50 milliseconds, or such similar combination of ultrasonic transmissions. The treated seed tends to grow into a mature plant at a substantially accelerated rate.

Abstract: The invention consists of a sonication and imbedding process for the uptake of water and/or other beneficial substances into a seed for the purposes of reducing the time needed for germination of a plant and the time needed for full maturity growth of the resultant plant. This invention teaches that ultrasound applied to the shell of a seed will develop micro-punctures which enable the faster absorption of water and other liquid nutrients into the seed structure. The sonic energy may be at frequencies between 15 kHz and 30 kHz for periods between about 1 and 20 minutes, and can utilize either a sinusoidal waveform or an alternating ultrasonic transmission consisting of a saw tooth wave form lasting 50 milliseconds, followed by a square wave form lasting 50 milliseconds, or such similar combination of ultrasonic transmissions. The treated seed tends to grow into a mature plant at a substantially accelerated rate.

Abstract: The invention is a device for transmitting acoustical energy through the surface of the skin of a patient, coupled with the administration of a compound, for example an acne medication, for the purpose of temporarily expanding the patient's pore size and enhancing the delivery of the compound to the patient's pores. The ultrasonic transducer emits a sonic transmission of variable intensity and frequency for the purpose of enhancing the absorption of compounds that have first been deposited onto the surface of the skin and into skin pores that have been expanded by the ultrasound transmission.

Abstract: A system being suitable for being secured substantially adjacent to a surface of a subject so as to effect delivery of at least one substance through the surface and into the subject. The system includes at least one aperture for receiving at least one ultrasonic transmission. The at least one substance is releasably secured substantially adjacent to the at least one aperture. A sonic member is disposed with respect to the at least one aperture so as to communicate the at least one transmission to the at least one substance so as to effect the delivery of the at least one substance through the surface of the subject.

Abstract: A system being suitable for being secured substantially adjacent to a surface of a subject so as to effect delivery of at least one substance through the surface and into the subject. The system includes at least one aperture for receiving at least one ultrasonic transmission. The at least one substance is releasably secured substantially adjacent to the at least one aperture. A sonic member is disposed with respect to the at least one aperture so as to communicate the at least one transmission to the at least one substance so as to effect the delivery of the at least one substance through the surface of the subject.

Abstract: A ready-to-use food product, and method for preparing the same. The product includes: a batter; at least one leavening agent; and, at least one oil. The oil separates the batter and leavening agent while in storage in a container, and agitation of the container causes the batter, leavening agent and oil to at least partially mix.

Abstract: A process for increasing the percentage of active ingredient relative to non-active excipient in a compressible formulation, and also for reducing tablet size, by excluding an amount of the excipient and including in its place a reduced amount of a polysaccharide material.

Abstract: Microcapsules comprising a core surrounded by a shell having seeding agents disposed therein for the purpose of imparting enhanced or unique structural and/or functional characteristics to the microcapsules is disclosed. The seeding agents may be completely imbedded within the shell material or may protrude through the shell's surface to afford the microcapsule with diverse strength, thermal stability, weight, balance, buoyancy and dissolution characteristics as well as enhanced fluid dynamic properties. In another embodiment of the invention both imbedded and protruding seeding agents are employed. An example of a seeding microcapsule of the present invention is disclosed comprising an encapsulated salt composition having ascorbic acid seeds dispersed within an inert, thermoplastic shell for use in baking bromate-free bakery products such as bread.

Abstract: A microcapsule having a core, a shell and seeds fully or partially embedded in said shell. The core and seeds are active substances which preferably function as a leavening agent. The shell is composed of either a water soluble or meltable natural polymer, including vegetable waxes. When the shell is ruptured, the active substances will react with each other and the dough mixture thereby producing a leavening effect and/or dough conditioning effect in baked goods.

Abstract: The method and apparatus of this invention entraps liquids within wax and transforms naturally occurring or synthetic waxes into a state characterized by the fact that when the waxes solidify, they do so in forms different from those forms into which they would solidify except for the transformation. The entrapment and transformation is achieved by subjecting the waxes to force. As examples of apparatuses which can supply the force to effect the transformation, a piston apparatus and an ultrasonic apparatus are disclosed. The triglyceride waxes are one type of wax which may be transformed by the method and apparatus of this invention. Transformed triglyceride waxes are superior hosts for liquids entrapped within their matrix. The subject method is particularly effective for minimizing loss of liquids due to volatilization the entrapment process.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the modification of the physical properties of polymers through pressure processing techniques. The apparatus is comprised of a piston device which acts on the polymer substrate charged within the confines of a compression chamber. The piston delivers an abrupt pressure change to the substrate for the purpose of effecting the desired modification of physical properties including altered thermal, viscosity, solubility, turbidity and hardness profiles. Predictable characteristics may be imparted to the substrate through variation of pressure duration and intensity as well as the number of piston strokes applied. Modification of the physical properties of starch and gum arabic, in particular, is disclosed.

Abstract: An abrupt pressure change applied to a dispersion of core and shell material in a liquid carrier medium encapsulates the core material within the shell material. The method and apparatus of this invention permit a wider range of core and shell materials to be utilized than was possible with prior art methods including materials which previously have not been usable as shell materials. Materials in solid, liquid, gas or multiphase form may be encapsulated. Additionally, capsules are produced in a small fraction of the time required by prior art methods. The total time to perform the encapsulation may range from a few seconds to only a few minutes. The abrupt pressure change may be applied to the dispersion by either a piston or ultrasonic apparatus in both batch, semi-continuous, and continuous processes. Recycling of the capsules through the apparatuses permits adjustment of the capsules' characteristics as well as formation of multiple core capsules.

Abstract: The method and apparatus of this invention transforms naturally occurring or synthetic waxes into a state characterized by the fact that when the waxes solidify, they do so in forms different from those forms into which they would solidify except for the transformation. The transformation is achieved by subjecting the waxes to force. As examples of apparatuses which can supply the force to effect the transformation, a piston apparatus and an ultrasonic apparatus are disclosed. The triglyceride waxes are one type of wax which may be transformed by the method and apparatus of this invention. Transformed triglyceride waxes form superior shells when the waxes are used in an encapsulation process.

Abstract: The invention is a process and apparatus for the manufacture of microcapsules. The microcapsules have a core which contains a liquid, gaseous, solid or multiple-phase material which is coated with an impermeable film. The microcapsules are formed by applying high pressure, for a short period of time, to a mixture of the core and shell material, and by gradually reducing the pressure, such as by passing the capsules through a baffled chamber. The invention also includes a method for adjusting the size of the microcapsules, and for adjusting the thickness of their shells. The microcapsules can be made with several shell layers, to increase their strength. They can also be made as multiple capsules, having two or more cores. The invention also includes a method and apparatus for making microcapsules in a continuous process. The present invention produces microcapsules in a small fraction of the time required by methods of the prior art.