What does phonophoresis accomplish?

What does phonophoresis accomplish?

• A. Uses ultrasound to deliver medications into tissues by diffusion
• B. Imaging of tissues
• C. Destruction of tissue
• D. Cauterization of tissue

Answer: (A)

Phonophoresis uses ultrasound to push medications through the skin and into underlying tissues by diffusion. The ultrasound creates mechanical and microthermal effects that temporarily increase skin permeability, allowing topical drugs to diffuse more readily into deeper layers. This is different from imaging with ultrasound, which visualizes tissues, and from high-intensity ultrasound methods that destroy or cauterize tissue. Here, the energy level aims to enhance drug delivery without tissue destruction, making phonophoresis specifically a method for transdermal medication administration.

Phonophoresis uses ultrasound to push medications through the skin and into underlying tissues by diffusion. The ultrasound creates mechanical and microthermal effects that temporarily increase skin permeability, allowing topical drugs to diffuse more readily into deeper layers. This is different from imaging with ultrasound, which visualizes tissues, and from high-intensity ultrasound methods that destroy or cauterize tissue. Here, the energy level aims to enhance drug delivery without tissue destruction, making phonophoresis specifically a method for transdermal medication administration.