Electrochemical Probe and Method for In Situ Treatment of a Tissue

• US 20080167650A1
• Filed: 03/20/2008
• Published: 07/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ActiveO, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Ceramatec, Inc. (Trelleborg AB)
• Inventors: Joshi, Ashok V., Steppan, James
• Granted Patent: US 8,353,906 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/41
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3478 Endoscopic needles, e.g. for infusion biopsy needles A61B10/0233; catheters with injection needles A61M25/0067
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00261 Discectomy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/32 alternating or intermittent currents applying electric fields by inductive or capacitive coupling A61N1/40; microwave apparatus A61N5/02
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 13/0207 Water
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 13/0248 Physical processing only
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 13/10 Preparation of ozone
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2210/0053 Hydrogen
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 7/03 Preparation from chlorides
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 7/096 Bromine
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 7/14 Iodine
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 7/20 Fluorine

Abstract

A method and apparatus for dehydrating, electro-oxidizing, or electro-reducing a target tissue is described. The apparatus utilizes an electrochemical probe or other device to deliver one or more beneficial agents into the target tissue. Water from the target tissue provides a precursor that may be split by electrolysis to generate the beneficial agent. Alternatively, water is provided from an external source to generate the beneficial agent. The beneficial agent facilitates in situ oxidation and/or reduction of a material within the tissue. One type of beneficial agent is ozone.

Claims

1. A method of treating a tissue, the method comprising:

inserting a pair of electrodes into the tissue in a body;

applying a low frequency voltage to the pair of electrodes; and

causing in situ electrolysis within the tissue in the body by applying the low frequency voltage to the pair of electrodes.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein causing the in situ electrolysis comprises dehydrating the tissue by forming at least one of hydrogen and hydrogen ions, and forming at least one of oxygen, ozone, and oxygen ions.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein causing the in situ electrolysis comprises causing electro-oxidation of a material of the tissue.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein causing the in situ electrolysis comprises causing electro-reduction of a material of the tissue.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein causing the in situ electrolysis of the material of the tissue comprises causing at least one of electro-oxidation and electro-reduction of proteoglycans.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

placing an absorbent membrane between the pair of electrodes;

at least partially filling the absorbent membrane with fluid; and

electrolyzing the fluid in the absorbent membrane.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein at least partially filling the absorbent membrane with the fluid comprises at least partially filling the absorbent membrane with the water from the tissue.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein at least partially filling the absorbent membrane with the fluid comprises at least partially filling the absorbent membrane with the water from a source external to the tissue.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein at least partially filling the absorbent membrane with the fluid comprises at least partially filling the absorbent membrane with an organic solvent.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

placing a precursor material between the pair of electrodes; and

electrolyzing the precursor material to form a beneficial agent or a beneficial agent constituent.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the precursor material comprises a material chosen from at least one of air, oxygen, water, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, chlorine, bromine, and combinations thereof.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the precursor material comprises a salt solution chosen from NaI, NaF, NaCl, NaBr, and combinations thereof.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the precursor material comprises a salt having at least one cation chosen from H⁺, Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, NH₄⁺, Ca⁺⁺, Mg⁺⁺, Sr⁺⁺, Ba⁺⁺, and combinations thereof.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the precursor material comprises a salt having at least one anion chosen from F⁻

, Cl⁻

, Br⁻

, I⁻

, SO₄²⁻

, NO₃²⁻

, CO₃²⁻

, O²⁻

, S²⁻

, CH₃COO⁻

and combinations thereof.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the precursor material is in the form of a gas, liquid, gel, solid or combinations thereof.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein applying the low frequency voltage comprises applying a voltage in a range from about one to thirty volts.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein applying the low frequency voltage comprises applying a voltage in a range from about one to six volts.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein applying the low frequency voltage comprises applying a voltage in a range from about six to twelve volts.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein applying a low frequency voltage comprises applying a voltage having a frequency less than about 200 kHz.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein applying a low frequency voltage comprises applying a voltage having a frequency between about 0 kHz and about 50 kHz.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein applying a low frequency voltage comprises applying a voltage having a frequency between about 0.1 and about 1 kHz.

22. An electrochemical probe for treatment of a tissue, the electrochemical probe comprising:

a needle comprises a tip, the needle to penetrate the tissue within a body;

a material treatment module coupled to the needle, the material treatment module located in the tip of the needle, the material treatment module comprising first and second electrodes to electrolyze an electrolyte between the first and second electrodes; and

a power source coupled to the first and second electrodes, the power source to supply a low frequency electrical potential to the first and second electrodes.

23. The electrochemical probe of claim 22, further comprising an absorbent membrane disposed between the first and second electrodes, wherein the absorbent membrane is configured to at least partially contain the electrolyte.

24. The electrochemical probe of claim 23, wherein the absorbent material comprises a wick and the electrolyte comprises fluid.

25. The electrochemical probe of claim 24, wherein the fluid comprises water from the tissue.

26. The electrochemical probe of claim 24, wherein the fluid comprises water from a source external to the tissue.

27. The electrochemical probe of claim 24, wherein the fluid comprises an organic solvent.

28. The electrochemical probe of claim 22, wherein the material treatment module comprises an electrochemical cell to cause one of electro-oxidation and electro-reduction of a material of the tissue.

29. The electrochemical probe of claim 22, wherein an operating frequency of the low frequency electrical potential comprises a frequency less than about 200 kHz.

30. The electrochemical probe of claim 22, wherein the first electrode comprises at least a part of the needle.

31. The electrochemical probe of claim 22, further comprising:

an electrical conductor between the power source and one of the first and second electrodes; and

an insulator material within the needle, the insulator material to insulate the electrical conductor from the needle.

32. The electrochemical probe of claim 31, further comprising a channel within the insulator material.

33. The electrochemical probe of claim 22, further comprising at least one channel within the needle to permit passage of electrolysis products through the needle and out of the electrochemical probe.

34. The electrochemical probe of claim 22, further comprising a plurality of apertures in the needle to allow a fluid to communicate with the tissue and the needle.

35. The electrochemical probe of claim 22, further comprising a substrate supported in the tip of the needle, wherein the first and second electrodes are located on the substrate.

36. The method of claim 22, wherein the electrolyte comprises a material chosen from at least one of air, oxygen, water, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, chlorine, bromine, and combinations thereof.

37. The method of claim 22, wherein the electrolyte comprises a salt solution chosen from NaI, NaF, NaCl, NaBr, and combinations thereof.

38. The method of claim 22, wherein the electrolyte comprises a salt having at least one cation chosen from H⁺, Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, NH₄⁺, Ca⁺⁺, Mg⁺⁺, Sr⁺⁺, Ba⁺⁺, and combinations thereof.

39. The method of claim 22, wherein the electrolyte comprises a salt having at least one anion chosen from F⁻

, Cl⁻

, Br⁻

, I⁻

, SO₄²⁻

, NO₃²⁻

, CO₃²⁻

, O²⁻

, S²⁻

, CH₃COO⁻

and combinations thereof.

40. The method of claim 22, wherein the electrolyte is in the form of a gas, liquid, gel, solid or combinations thereof.

41. An electrochemical probe for treatment of tissue, the probe comprising:

a needle for penetrating a body to a target tissue, wherein the needle comprises a first electrode and has a tip;

a second electrode at or near the tip of the needle; and

a power source applying a low frequency electrical potential across the first and second electrodes.

42. The electrochemical probe of claim 41, further comprising a wick disposed within the needle to hold the electrolyte during an electrolysis process.