Apparatus for electrically mediated delivery of therapeutic agents
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- administering a therapeutic agent to a predetermined site within the tissue of a patient by;
loading the therapeutic agent into an apparatus comprising;
a) a plurality of penetrating electrodes arranged in a predetermined spatial relationship, each electrode with a cross sectional area contributing to a total cross sectional area of all electrodes;
b) an applicator housing an inanimate source of energy operatively connected to said plurality of electrodes, and wherein said source of energy is configured to provide a force sufficient to rapidly insert the electrodes; and
c) an electrical field generator operatively connected to said electrodes at least in their deployed state; and
d) at least one cantilevered extension of a cartridge that engages an injection drive mechanism of said applicator to passively prime said inanimate source of energy when said cartridge is inserted into said applicator;
positioning the apparatus against the patient;
deploying the electrodes using the source of energy;
generating an electric field between the electrodes at the predetermined site; and
delivering the therapeutic agent to the predetermined site;
wherein the administering does not result in tenting of the skin of the patient or significant distortion of the electrodes.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus for the delivery of an electrical field which facilitates the intracellular delivery of a therapeutic agent to a predetermined site within the tissue of a patient. The apparatus will comprise a plurality of penetrating electrodes arranged in a predetermined spatial relationship, each electrode with a cross sectional area contributing to the total cross sectional area of all electrodes, and structural means incorporating an inanimate source of energy operatively connected to the plurality of electrodes for deploying the electrodes, wherein the source of energy is sufficient to impart a force of at least 1000 pounds per square inch (0.7 kilogram per square millimeter) of total cross sectional area of all electrodes at the initiation of the deployment of the electrodes. The apparatus will also comprise means for generating an electrical field which facilitates the intracellular delivery of a therapeutic agent, which means is operatively connected to said electrodes at least in their deployed state.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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administering a therapeutic agent to a predetermined site within the tissue of a patient by; loading the therapeutic agent into an apparatus comprising; a) a plurality of penetrating electrodes arranged in a predetermined spatial relationship, each electrode with a cross sectional area contributing to a total cross sectional area of all electrodes; b) an applicator housing an inanimate source of energy operatively connected to said plurality of electrodes, and wherein said source of energy is configured to provide a force sufficient to rapidly insert the electrodes; and c) an electrical field generator operatively connected to said electrodes at least in their deployed state; and d) at least one cantilevered extension of a cartridge that engages an injection drive mechanism of said applicator to passively prime said inanimate source of energy when said cartridge is inserted into said applicator; positioning the apparatus against the patient; deploying the electrodes using the source of energy; generating an electric field between the electrodes at the predetermined site; and delivering the therapeutic agent to the predetermined site; wherein the administering does not result in tenting of the skin of the patient or significant distortion of the electrodes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification