Claims
- 1. A method for the therapeutic application of electroporation to a portion of the body of a patient for introducing molecules into cells therein, comprising:
providing an array of electrodes, at least one of said electrodes having a needle configuration for penetrating tissue; inserting said needle electrode into selected tissue for introducing molecules into the tissue; positioning a second electrode of said array of electrodes in conductive relation to said selected tissue so that said tissue is between said first and second electrodes; providing an electric pulse generator; connecting said electric pulse generator to said electrodes; and operating said electric pulse generator for applying pulses of high amplitude electric signals to the electrodes proportionate to the distance between said electrodes for in vivo electroporation of cells of the tissue.
- 2. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of providing said array of electrodes comprises providing first and second needle electrodes comprising a pair of tubular needles for inserting into selected tissue, and said electrodes are separable conductors insertable through said needles into said tissue.
- 3. The method of claim 2 wherein said needles are removable over said electrodes.
- 4. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of providing said array of electrodes comprises providing a central electrode of a first polarity and a plurality of electrodes of a second polarity encircling said central electrode.
- 5. The method of claim 4 comprising the step of providing a switch assembly including a rotary switch selectively positionable for connecting alternate opposite pairs of electrodes to said pulse generator.
- 6. The method of claim 1 wherein the molecule is selected from the group consisting of a chemotherapeutic agent, a polynucleotide and a polypeptide.
- 7. The method of claim 1 wherein the molecule is introduced by a method selected fromthe group consisting of intratumorally, systemically and locally.
- 8. The method of claim 6, wherein the chemotherapeutic agent is bleomycin.
- 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the tissue is selected from the group consisting of pancreas, lung, heart, kidney, muscle, breast, colon, prostate, thymus, testis, and ovary.
- 10. A method for the in vivo electroporation-mediated therapy of a cell of a subject comprising:
administering a therapeutic composition to the subject such that the composition is delivered to the cell; providing an array of electrodes, at least one of said electrodes having a needle configuration for penetrating a cell of a tissue; inserting said needle electrode into selected cell for introducing molecules into the cell; positioning a second electrode of said array of electrodes in conductive relation to said selected tissue so that said cell is between said first and second electrodes; providing an electric pulse generator; connecting said electric pulse generator to said electrodes; and operating said electric pulse generator for applying electrical pulses of short duration to the electrodes proportionate to the distance between said electrodes for in vivo electroporation of a cell of the tissue.
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application is a Continuation-in-Part of co-pending application Ser. No 08/467,566, filed on Jun. 6, 1995, which is a Continuation-in-Part of copending application Ser. No. 08/042,039 filed on Apr. 1, 1993.
Divisions (1)
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Number |
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09427151 |
Oct 1999 |
US |
Child |
09551327 |
Apr 2000 |
US |
Continuations (2)
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09551327 |
Apr 2000 |
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10053861 |
Jan 2002 |
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Parent |
08537265 |
Sep 1995 |
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09427151 |
Oct 1999 |
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Continuation in Parts (2)
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08467566 |
Jun 1995 |
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08537265 |
Sep 1995 |
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08042039 |
Apr 1993 |
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Child |
08467566 |
Jun 1995 |
US |