PASSIVE ELECTRIC FIELD FOCUS SYSTEM FOR IN VIVO AND IN VITRO APPLICATIONS
First Claim
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1. A system for focusing an electric field within a defined electric field to facilitate electroporation within a biological entity, the system comprising:
- at least two active electrodes positioned to establish an electric field within the biological entity, the electric field established between the at least two active electrodes and the established electric field having an electric field intensity concentration focus; and
at least one passive electrode positioned within the established electric field between the at least two active electrodes, the at least one passive electrode to change the focus of the electric field intensity concentration to facilitate electroporation at a desired location within the biological entity, 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, non-conductive materials and high relative permittivity materials, wherein the passive electrode is not a current source or a current sink for the established electric field, wherein the passive electrode is never physically or electrically coupled to a source of electrical energy, wherein the passive electrode is never physically or electrically coupled to another passive electrode or to a conducting element, and wherein the passive electrode exerts electrical forces on the biological entity at the desired focus location.
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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.
24 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A system for focusing an electric field within a defined electric field to facilitate electroporation within a biological entity, the system comprising:
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at least two active electrodes positioned to establish an electric field within the biological entity, the electric field established between the at least two active electrodes and the established electric field having an electric field intensity concentration focus; and at least one passive electrode positioned within the established electric field between the at least two active electrodes, the at least one passive electrode to change the focus of the electric field intensity concentration to facilitate electroporation at a desired location within the biological entity, 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, non-conductive materials and high relative permittivity materials, wherein the passive electrode is not a current source or a current sink for the established electric field, wherein the passive electrode is never physically or electrically coupled to a source of electrical energy, wherein the passive electrode is never physically or electrically coupled to another passive electrode or to a conducting element, and wherein the passive electrode exerts electrical forces on the biological entity at the desired focus location. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification