Vacuum-assisted electroporation devices, and related systems and methods
A device for vacuum-assisted in vivo electroporation of tissue includes a housing that defines a chamber and at least one opening into the chamber. A port extends through the housing, is remote from the at least one opening, and is connectable to a vacuum source. The port is configured to communicate vacuum pressure from the vacuum source to the chamber. A plurality of electrodes are positioned within the chamber and are configured to deliver one or more electroporation pulses to a targeted portion of tissue extending through the opening and held in the chamber responsive to the vacuum pressure.
1 . A device for vacuum-assisted in vivo electroporation of tissue, comprising:
a housing defining a chamber, at least one opening into the chamber at a distal end of the housing, an interior surface located within the chamber, and an end surface within the chamber and located opposite the opening;
at least one port extending through the housing, wherein the at least one port is remote from the at least one opening and is connectable to a vacuum source, such that the at least one port is configured to communicate vacuum pressure from the vacuum source to the chamber; and
a plurality of electrodes positioned within the chamber, wherein the plurality of electrodes are configured to deliver one or more electroporation pulses to a targeted portion of tissue extending through the at least one opening and at least momentarily held in the chamber responsive to the vacuum pressure, wherein the plurality of electrodes comprises:
a first electrode that extends along the interior surface and is elongate in a circumferential direction along a circumference of the interior surface, wherein the first electrode is spaced from a proximal end of the chamber; and
a second electrode that extends from the end surface, wherein the first and second electrodes are concentric with each other.
2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one opening is a single opening, and the opening is circular.
3 . The device of claim 2 , wherein the housing has a wall extending from the end surface to the opening, the wall defining the interior surface, wherein the interior surface at least partially defines the chamber.
4 . The device of claim 3 , wherein the second electrode is a single electrode centrally positioned with respect to the end surface, and the first electrode extends along an entire circumference of the interior surface.
5 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of electrodes have electrode surfaces that are exposed within the chamber, and at least some of the electrode surfaces are one or more of textured and protruding into the chamber.
6 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the housing is constructed of a material that is flexible, and the material comprises one or more of polycarbonate, polyetheretherketone, polyphthalamide, polyethylene, polytherimide, polyvinyl chloride, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyamide, polyimide, polysiloxane (silicone), polyethylene terephthalate, polyurethane, crosslinked or non-crosslinked rubbers, polyesters.
7 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a signal generator in electrical communication with the plurality of electrodes and is configured to transmit the one or more electroporation pulses to the plurality of electrodes; and
a processor in electrical communication with the signal generator and at least one sensor positioned in the chamber, the at least one sensor configured to sense at least one parameter of the tissue during delivery of the one or more electroporation pulses and communicate feedback data of the at least one parameter to the processor, and the processor is configured to execute one or more algorithms utilizing the feedback data and adjust at least one pulse parameter of the one or more pulses during delivery of the one or more pulse.
8 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of electrodes are configured to apply pulses with potential magnitudes ranging from about 2 V to about 1000 V.
9 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of electrodes are configured to apply pulses with current magnitudes ranging from about 0.01 Amps to about 2.0 Amps, the pulses having pulse durations ranging from about 0.1 milliseconds to about 100 milliseconds.
10 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the targeted portion of the tissue is at least one of skin tissue and adipose tissue.
11 . The device of claim 1 , wherein:
the plurality of electrodes comprises a third electrode that extends along the interior surface, wherein the third electrode is elongate along the circumferential direction.
12 . The device of claim 11 , wherein the third electrode is spaced between the first electrode and the at least one opening into the chamber, and the third electrode is concentric with the first electrode.
13 . The device of claim 12 , wherein the first and third electrodes each extend along an entire circumference of the interior surface.