Electroporation Microneedle and Methods For Its Use

• US 20070066959A1
• Filed: 09/01/2006
• Published: 03/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Mercator MedSystems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Mercator MedSystems, Inc.
• Inventors: Seward, Kirk
• Application Number:
  US11/469,689
• Publication Number:
  US 20070066959A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/501
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0093 wherein at least one needle is a microneedle
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/105 having a balloon suitable for drug delivery, e.g. by using holes for delivery, drug coating or membranes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2037/0023 Drug applicators using microneedles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/0015 by using microneedles
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/325 for iontophoresis, i.e. transfer of media in ionic state by an electromotoric force into the body electrodes for external use A61N1/0428
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/327 for enhancing the absorption properties of tissue, e.g. by electroporation

Abstract

Electroporation of cells in target tissues is performed using microneedles having integral electrode structures. In a first embodiment, a pair of electrode structures are disposed on opposite sides of a substance delivery opening on a needle or other tissue-penetrating shaft. In a second embodiment, a first electrode structure is disposed on the needle and a second electrode structure is disposed on an attached base. The electrode structures are spaced closely together and relatively low voltages are applied to achieve electroporation-enhanced substance delivery.

Claims

1. A method for delivering substances to solid tissue, said method comprising:

penetrating a shaft into the solid tissue;

delivering the substance through the shaft to a target site in the solid tissue; and

applying an electric field to the target site through an electrode structure on the shaft.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein the substance comprises a nucleic acid.

3. A method as in claim 1, wherein the substance comprises a protein.

4. A method as in claim 1, wherein the substance comprises a small molecule drug.

5. A method as in claim 1, wherein applying an electric field comprises delivering current between a first electrode structure on the shaft and a second electrode structure spaced-apart by a preselected distance on the shaft.

6. A method as in claim 5, wherein the preselected distance is in the range from 10 μ

m to 2 mm.

7. A method as in claim 6, wherein the substance is delivered through a location on the shaft between the first and second electrode structures.

8. A method as in claim 7, wherein the electrode structures have areas in contact with the solid tissue in the range from 0.0001 mm² to 4 mm².

9. A method as in claim 1, wherein applying an electric field comprises delivering current between a first electrode structure on the shaft and a second electrode structure on the base.

10. A method as in claim 9, wherein the first and second electrode structures are spaced-apart by a distance less than 2 mm.

11. A method as in claim 9, wherein the substance is delivered through a location on the shaft proximate the first electrode structure.

12. A method as in claim 11, wherein the first electrode structure has an area in the range from 0.0001 mm² to 4 mm² and the second electrode structure has an area in the range from 0.01 mm² to 100 mm^2.