Electroporation device

Abstract

An electroporation device produces electric signals that may be adjusted in response to a cover area of electrodes, so that the electric signals are tolerable when delivered to cells within the cover area. The electroporation device can include an applicator, a plurality of electrodes extending from the applicator, a power supply in electrical communication with the electrodes, and a guide member coupled to the electrodes. The electrodes are associated with a cover area. The power supply is configured to generate one or more electroporating signals to cells within the cover area. The guide member can be configured to adjust the cover area of the electrodes. In some embodiments, the electrical signals may include opposing waveforms that produce a resultant interference waveform to effectively target the cover area, and each waveform may be a unipolar waveform or a bipolar waveform.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of electroporating cells using the device of  claim 1 , the method comprising:
 administering selected molecules into the cells within the cover area;   contacting the cells with the electrodes; and   delivering the one or more electroporating signals.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising adjusting the cover area of the electrodes. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more electroporating signals are each associated with an electrical field, and wherein delivering the one or more electroporating signals further comprises maintaining the electrical field within a predetermined range so as to substantially prevent permanent damage in the cells within the cover area. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more electroporating signals are each associated with an electrical field, and wherein delivering the one or more electroporating signals further comprises maintaining the electrical field within a predetermined range so as to substantially minimize pain. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising adjusting a temperature of the cells to about 4° C. to about 45° C. 
     
     
         6 . An electroporation device comprising:
 an applicator;   a plurality of electrodes extending from the applicator;   a power supply in electrical communication with the electrodes; and a camera coupled to the applicator and positioned adjacent the electrodes.   
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6  further comprising a device memory in electronic communication with the camera, wherein the device memory is configured to store an electroporation treatment database. 
     
     
         8 . An electroporation device comprising:
 an applicator;   a plurality of electrodes extending from the applicator;   a power supply in electrical communication with the electrodes; and   a cooling/heating element coupled to the applicator and positioned adjacent the electrodes,   wherein the power supply provides a first electrical signal to a first electrode and a second electrical signal to a second electrode, wherein the first and second electrical signals combine to produce a wave having a beat frequency,   wherein the first and second electrical signals each have at least one of a unipolar waveform and a bipolar waveform,   wherein the first electrical signal has a first frequency and a first amplitude,   wherein the second electrical signal has a second frequency and a second amplitude,   wherein the first frequency is different from or the same as the second frequency, and   wherein the first amplitude is different from or the same as the second amplitude.   
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the cooling/heating element includes a Peltier cooler. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the cooling/heating element is configured to adjust a temperature of tumor cells to about 4° C. to about 45° C.