Passive Electric Field Focus System for In Vivo and In Vitro Applications

• US 20090131994A1
• Filed: 10/07/2008
• Published: 05/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: University of South Florida (State University System of Florida)
• Original Assignee: University of South Florida (State University System of Florida)
• Inventors: Rey, Jose I., Jaroszeski, Mark J., Gilbert, Richard, Heller, Richard
• Granted Patent: US 9,014,800 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/2
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 35/02 Electrical or electromagnetic means, e.g. for electroporation or for cell fusion

Abstract

The present invention provides a system and method of directing, focusing, or concentrating electrical charges within a defined electric field so that these charges can be used to exert forces on cells and tissues in vivo and/or cell cultures in vitro. The present invention reduces and/or eliminates the damage at a target site that would normally be caused by an electrode that acts as a current source or sink to accomplish the same task.

Claims

1. A system for focusing an electric field intensity within a defined electric field to exert electrical forces on a biological entity, the system comprising:

at least two active electrodes to establish an electric field within the biological entity; and

at least one passive electrode to focus the electric field intensity of the established electric field at a desired location within the biological entity.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a power source coupled to the at least two active electrodes.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising software means to control the establishment of the electric field.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least two active electrodes further comprises a source electrode and a sink electrode.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the biological entity is in vivo.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the biological entity is in vitro.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the biological entity is selected from the group consisting of a cell or cells, a cellular tissue and a cell culture.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the passive electrode is fabricated of a material selected from the group consisting of metals, semiconductors, nanoparticles, plastics, polymers, bio-polymers, fluidistic substances, bio-molecules, antibodies, proteins, DNA, RNA, non-conductive materials and high relative permittivity materials.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the passive electrode is shaped in a star geometry.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the passive electrode is shaped in a four-corners geometry.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the passive electrode further comprises a plurality of conductive needles.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the passive electrode is a metal sphere placed beneath a surface layer of the biological entity.

13. The system of claim 12, where the metal sphere further comprises shell particles positioned on the surface of the sphere.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the passive electrode is native to the biological entity.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the passive electrode is a fluid.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the concentration profile of the fluid passive electrode changes over time.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the shape of the fluid passive electrode changes over time.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the passive electrode is internal to the biological entity.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the passive electrode is external to the biological entity.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the passive electrode is removable.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein the passive electrode becomes an active electrode.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein the passive electrode is a container for an agent.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the agent is a drug for delivery into the biological entity.

24. The system of claim 1, wherein the passive electrode is a scaffold for biological structures within the biological entity.

25. The system of claim 1, wherein the passive electrode is labeled.

26. The system of claim 1, wherein the passive electrode further comprises a plurality of electrical characteristics and said electrical characteristics vary dependent upon varying environmental conditions.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein one of the plurality of electrical characteristics is conductivity, and said conductivity of the passive electrode changes under varying temperature conditions.

47. The method of claim 1, wherein the passive electrode further comprises a plurality of electrical characteristics and said electrical characteristics vary dependent upon varying environmental conditions.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein one of the plurality of electrical characteristics is conductivity, and said conductivity of the passive electrode changes under varying temperature conditions.

28. A method of focusing an electric field within a defined electric field to exert electrical forces on a biological entity, the method comprising the steps of:

establishing an electric field within the biological entity; and

focusing the established electric field at a desired location within the biological entity by positioning a passive electrode within the established electric field.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the electric field is established by positioning at least two active electrodes adjacent to the biological entity.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein the at least two active electrodes further comprises a source electrode and a sink electrode.

31. The method of claim 28, wherein the establishment of the electric field is controlled by software means.

32. The method of claim 28, wherein the biological entity is in vivo.

33. The method of claim 28, wherein the biological entity is in vitro.

34. The method of claim 28, wherein the passive electrode is fabricated of a material selected from the group consisting of metals, semiconductors, nanoparticles, plastics, polymers, bio-polymers, fluidistic substances, bio-molecules, antibodies, proteins, DNA, RNA, non-conductive materials, high relative permittivity materials and endogenous biological materials within the biological entity.

35. The method of claim 28, wherein the passive electrode is native to the biological entity.

36. The method of claim 28, wherein the passive electrode is a fluid.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the concentration profile of the fluid passive electrode changes over time.

38. The method of claim 36, wherein the shape of the fluid passive electrode changes over time.

39. The method of claim 28, wherein the passive electrode is internal to the biological entity.

40. The method of claim 28, wherein the passive electrode is external to the biological entity.

41. The method of claim 28, wherein the passive electrode is removable.

42. The method of claim 28, wherein the passive electrode becomes an active electrode.

43. The method of claim 28, wherein the passive electrode is a container for an agent.

44. The method of claim 28, wherein the agent is a drug for delivery into the biological entity.

45. The method of claim 28, wherein the passive electrode is a scaffold for biological structures within the biological entity.

46. The method of claim 28, wherein the passive electrode is labeled.