US5983131A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus and method for electroporation of tissue
Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
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Filing: 1996-08-09
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Granted: 1999-11-09
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Expires: 2016-08-09
Abstract
Abstract The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for localized electroporation of tissue. An apparatus includes a perforate electrically insulating layer, a first electrode at a first side of the perforate electrically insulating layer and a second electrode at a second side of the perforate electrically insulating layer. An electric field extending between the first and second electrodes will preferentially extend through perforations of the electrically insulating layer. The electric field thereby causes electroporation of tissue that is proximate to the first electrode and is partitioned from the electrically insulating layer and the second electrode by the first electrode. The apparatus controllably limits the depth of the electric field within a tissue, such as skin, thereby electroporating a surface layer, such as a stratum corneum layer of the skin, without stimulating submerged nerve endings within the skin. Sensation of the applied voltage and especially pain sensation can thereby be controlled by the invention.
Inventors
- 👤 James C. Weaver
- 👤 Uwe Pliquett
- 👤 Timothy Vaughan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 09:32
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/02; A61N1/04; A61N1/0404; A61N1/0408; A61N1/0412; A61N1/0416; A61N1/0424; A61N1/18; A61N1/32; A61N1/327; A61N1/0428; A61N1/0432; A61N1/044
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
134 words
An apparatus for electroporating a tissue, comprising: a) a perforate electrically insulating layer; b) at least one first external electrode contacting a first side of said perforate electrically insulating layer; c) a second electrode having a first surface and an opposite second surface, said second surface being located at a second side of said perforate electrically insulating layer, whereby an electric field extending between said first and second electrodes will preferentially extend through perforations of said electrically insulating layer, said electric field thereby causing electroporation of a tissue that is proximate to said first electrode and is partitioned from said electrically insulating layer and said second electrode by the first electrode; and d) means for conducting a fluid from the first surface of the second electrode to the second surface of said second electrode.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
134 words
An apparatus for electroporating a tissue, comprising: a) a perforate electrically insulating layer; b) at least one first external electrode contacting a first side of said perforate electrically insulating layer; c) a second electrode having a first surface and an opposite second surface, said second surface being located at a second side of said perforate electrically insulating layer, whereby an electric field extending between said first and second electrodes will preferentially extend through perforations of said electrically insulating layer, said electric field thereby causing electroporation of a tissue that is proximate to said first electrode and is partitioned from said electrically insulating layer and said second electrode by the first electrode; and d) means for conducting a fluid from the first surface of the second electrode to the second surface of said second electrode.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first electrode is a plurality of first electrodes, whereby said first electrodes are electrically insulated from each other.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
11 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first electrode is perforate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 3, wherein at least a portion of perforations in said first electrode are substantially aligned with at least a portion of perforations of said electrically insulating layer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said first electrode and said perforated electrically insulating layer are in contact with each other at said aligned perforations, whereby said aligned perforations can contain a material to be conducted into electroporated tissue at the first electrode.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said perforations of the first electrode have a larger diameter than diameter of perforations of the perforate electrically-insulating layer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
53 words
The apparatus of claim 5, further including a housing for containing a material to be directed into electroporated tissue at the first electrode, said housing defining an application opening at which the first electrode is located, said electrically insulating layer and said second electrode being contained by said housing and said first electrode.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said housing further defines an inlet for introduction of a material into said housing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 8, further including a filter element located between said electrically insulating layer and said second electrode.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
59 words
The apparatus of claim 9, further including an electrical resistance measurement means, comprising: a) an electrical resistance measurement component; b) a first electrical resistance measurement electrode connected to the electrical resistance measurement component and located at said housing; and c) a second electrical resistance measurement electrode for contact with the tissue and connected to said electrical resistance measurement component.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 9 further including means at said housing for pressurizing a material within said housing.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said means includes an ultrasound device.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 9 further including means for directing material into said housing.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said means includes a syringe at said housing.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 10, further including a switching means at said first and second electrodes for switching between application of an electric field and measurement of electrical resistance at the tissue.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said first electrode is at least partially coated by a second electrically insulating layer.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
100 words
A method for electroporating a tissue, comprising the steps of: a) contacting at least one first electrode to the tissue; b) forming an electric field between said first electrode and a second electrode that is partitioned from said first electrode by a nonconductive layer that contacts the first electrode, whereby said electric field preferentially extends around at least a portion of said insulating layer, the electric field thereby causing electroporation of tissue that is proximate to the first electrode; and c) forming a plurality of electric fields, each electric field being formed between a first electrode and the second electrode.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
100 words
A method for electroporating a tissue, comprising the steps of: a) contacting at least one first electrode to the tissue; b) forming an electric field between said first electrode and a second electrode that is partitioned from said first electrode by a nonconductive layer that contacts the first electrode, whereby said electric field preferentially extends around at least a portion of said insulating layer, the electric field thereby causing electroporation of tissue that is proximate to the first electrode; and c) forming a plurality of electric fields, each electric field being formed between a first electrode and the second electrode.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 17 wherein said electric fields are formed sequentially to selectively designate at least one first electrode that is most proximate to a preferred location at said tissue for electroporation.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
111 words
A method for causing iontophoresis in a tissue, comprising the steps of: a) contacting a least one first electrode to the tissue; b) forming an electric field between said first electrode and a second electrode that is partitioned from said first electrode by a nonconductive layer that contacts the first electrode, whereby said electric field preferentially extends around at least a portion of said insulating layer, the electric field thereby causing iontophoresis of tissue that is proximate to the first electrode; and c) directing a material from a first surface of the second electrode to a second surface of the second electrode and into iontophoresed tissue proximate to said first electrode.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
111 words
A method for causing iontophoresis in a tissue, comprising the steps of: a) contacting a least one first electrode to the tissue; b) forming an electric field between said first electrode and a second electrode that is partitioned from said first electrode by a nonconductive layer that contacts the first electrode, whereby said electric field preferentially extends around at least a portion of said insulating layer, the electric field thereby causing iontophoresis of tissue that is proximate to the first electrode; and c) directing a material from a first surface of the second electrode to a second surface of the second electrode and into iontophoresed tissue proximate to said first electrode.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method of claim 19 wherein said electric field is formed by applying a voltage between said electrodes in a range of between about 0.1 volts and five volts.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-11-08 | 2003-05-10 | 2003-11-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-11-08 | 2007-05-10 | 2007-11-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-11-08 | 2011-05-10 | 2011-11-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |