Method of programming an array of needle electrodes for electroporation therapy of tissue

• US 6,216,034 B1
• Filed: 01/08/1999
• Issued: 04/10/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Oncosec Medical Incorporated (China Grand Pharmaceutical & Healthcare Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Genetronics, Inc. (Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc.)
• Inventors: Levatter, Jeffrey I., Dimmer, Steven C., Hofmann, Gunter A., Dev, Sukhendu B., Nanda, Gurvinder S.
• Primary Examiner(s): KENNEDY, SHARON E
• Application Number:
  US09/227,417
• Time in Patent Office: 823 Days
• Field of Search: 604/19-22, 604/500, 604/501, 607/2, 607/100, 607/115, 607/154, 607/148, 607/116
• US Class Current: 604/21
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/143 multiple needles
• 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

A method and apparatus for in vivo electroporation therapy. Using electroporation therapy (EPT) as described in the invention, tumors treated by a combination of electroporation using the apparatus of the invention and a chemotherapeutic agent caused regression of tumors in vivo. In one embodiment, the invention provides a method of EPT utilizing low voltage and long pulse length for inducing cell death. One embodiment of the invention includes a system for clinical electroporation that includes a needle array electrode having a “keying” element that determines the set point of the therapy voltage pulse and/or selectable array switching patterns. A number of electrode applicator designs permit access to and treatment of a variety of tissue sites. Another embodiment provides a laparoscopic needle applicator that is preferably combined with an endoscope for minimally invasive EPT.

Claims

1. A method for automatically setting an electrode needle addressing scheme for an electroporation therapy apparatus capable of accepting a plurality of electrode applicators having varying numbers of electrode needles, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a type identification element in an electrode applicator having a number of electrode needles, the type identification element representing at least the number of such electrode needles;

(b) coupling the electrode applicator to the electroporation therapy apparatus;

(c) determining the number of electrode needles from the type identification element; and

(d) automatically setting the electroporation therapy apparatus to address the determined number of electrode needles.

2. The method of claim 1, further including the step of setting the electroporation therapy apparatus to address the determined number of electrode needles in a selected pattern.

3. A method for automatically setting electrical treatment parameters for an electroporation therapy apparatus capable of accepting a plurality of different electrode applicators, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a type identification element in an electrode applicator, the type identification element representing at least one of the following electrical treatment parameters to be used with the electrode applicator;

needle voltage setpoint, pulse length, or pulse shape;

(b) coupling the electrode applicator to the electroporation therapy apparatus;

(c) determining the electrical treatment parameters from the type identification element; and

(d) automatically setting the electroporation therapy apparatus to the determined electrical treatment parameters.