Skin surface laser patent granted to Norwood

Drug delivery group Norwood Abbey (ASX: NAL) has added another patent to its portfolio, the latest covering laser technology to alter the skin's surface.

The Melbourne-based company announced this week that a United States patent had been issued for Irradiation Enhanced Permeation and Delivery of Pharmaceutical Substances.

The patent covers technology that employs a laser to perforate or alter one or more layers of the skin.

This enables the removal of biomolecules, fluids or gases or the administration of pharmaceutical substances.

The latest patent follows several others issued this year including one covering transdermal laser delivery of anaesthesia, a similar technology specifically for internal drug delivery and a laser probe for the collection of intracellular fluid.