Electroporation method and apparatus for insertion of drugs and genes into endothelial cells
US5304120A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 1, 1992 |
| Grant date | Apr 19, 1994 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 1, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61N1/325
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A catheter device is inserted into a selected blood vessel of a patient and advanced to a preselected location within the blood vessel where the endothelial cells on the inner wall of the vessel are to be treated. Once in place, the catheter device is expanded so that a plurality of axially extending, circumferentially spaced electrodes carried thereby are in contact with the inner wall of the blood vessel. A fluid medium is then infused into the blood vessel adjacent the electrodes via a conventional pump. A power pack connected to the electrodes is energized to apply a predetermined electric signal to the electrodes. This subjects the endothelial cells to electric fields of predetermined amplitude and duration in order to make the walls of the endothelial cells transiently permeable to permit therapeutic genes or drugs carried by the fluid medium to enter the endothelial cells without killing them.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.