Method and apparatus for destroying dividing cells
USRE43618E1 · kind E1 · reissue
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 16, 2001 |
| Grant date | Aug 28, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 16, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC —)General
Abstract
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for selectively destroying dividing cells in living tissue formed of dividing cells and non-dividing cells. The dividing cells contain polarizable intracellular members and during late anaphase or telophase, the dividing cells are connected to one another by a cleavage furrow. According to the present method the living tissue is subjected to electric field conditions sufficient to cause movement of the polarizable intracellular members toward the cleavage furrow in response to a non-homogenous electric field being induced in the dividing cells. The non-homogenous electric field produces an increased density electric field in the region of the cleavage furrow. The movement of the polarizable intracellular members towards the cleavage furrow causes the break down thereof which results in destruction of the dividing cells, while the non-dividing cells of the living tissue remain intact.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.