Patent · US Active

Treating parasites with electric fields

US7890183B2 · kind B2 · utility

99Cited by
53References
18Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 13, 2008
Grant dateFeb 15, 2011
Priority date—
Expiry dateSep 9, 2029

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61N1/325
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

Cells that are in the process division are vulnerable to damage by AC electric fields that have specific frequency and field strength characteristics. The selective disruption of rapidly dividing cells can therefore be accomplished by imposing an AC electric field in a target region for extended periods of time. Some of the cells that divide while the field is applied will be damaged, but the cells that do not divide will not be harmed. This selectively damages or disrupts rapidly dividing cells like parasites, but does not harm normal cells that are not dividing.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.