Electroporetic gene and drug therapy
US6132419A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 25, 1994 |
| Grant date | Oct 17, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 25, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61N1/40
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method and apparatus are provided for introducing molecules such as genes and pharmaceutical compounds into living blood cells of a patient for therapeutic purposes. A device is placed into contact with the body of the patient for generating an electric field at a preselected location within a selected blood vessel. Preselected molecules are infused into the selected blood vessel. Simultaneously an electric signal is applied to the applied device to repeatedly subject a quantity of blood flowing within the selected blood vessel past the preselected location to electric fields of a predetermined amplitude and duration. The parameters of the electric fields are precisely controlled in order to make the walls of preselected cells in the blood transiently permeable to permit the molecules to enter said preselected cells without killing said cells. The device can include either an induction coil that is placed into contact with the body over a blood vessel, or alternatively, an induction coil that surrounds the blood vessel. The electric signal is supplied by a power pack and the preselected molecules are infused with a supply pump.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.