Dynamic Electroporation for Targeted Cell Treatment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Static electroporation techniques for medical devices are limited in their ability to efficiently transfer treatment materials into cells, as they are restricted to nearby cells based on electrode position and size, leading to sub-optimal efficacy and potential cell damage.

Innovation Solution

Dynamic electroporation methods involve moving electroporation electrodes through a spatial region to generate a time-varying electrical field, allowing for the targeted electroporation of a larger cell population without increasing electrode size or electrical field strength, using a series of current pulses to create a moving electroporation field that changes location over time.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If static electroporation electrodes are used, then the setup is simple, but the ability to transfer treatment materials into cells is limited and cell population coverage is restricted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment material transfer efficiencyVSAvoidelectrode array complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the dynamics principle by transforming static electrodes into movable electrodes that can travel through the spatial region. The electroporation electrodes are moved along defined paths to dynamically access different cell populations, enabling a single electrode to replace complex static arrays while maintaining treatment efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Quantity of substance

If electrode size is increased to reach more cells, then cell population coverage improves, but cell damage increases and treatment precision decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of cells treatedVSAvoidcell damage

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

By moving the electrodes through the spatial region along defined paths, the system can treat a larger number of cells without increasing electrode size. The dynamic movement allows sequential access to different cell populations, reducing the need for larger electrodes that would cause increased cell damage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The treatment material is introduced into the spatial region before the electroporation process begins. This preliminary action ensures that when electrodes pass through the region, treatment material is already available for immediate uptake by cells, improving efficiency without requiring larger electrodes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Quantity of substance

If static electrode arrays are used to treat larger cell populations, then more cells are reached, but the device complexity and setup requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecell population coverageVSAvoidelectrode array structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex static electrode arrays with simpler movable electrodes that achieve the same cell population coverage through dynamic movement. The electrodes travel along defined paths to access different spatial regions, demonstrating that motion can substitute for structural complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Productivity

If electrical field strength is increased to improve transfer efficiency, then treatment material uptake improves, but cell damage increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment material transfer rateVSAvoidcell damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The dynamic movement of electrodes allows the system to maintain moderate electrical field strengths while still achieving high transfer efficiency. By continuously moving through the spatial region, the electrodes can treat more cells over time without needing to increase field strength to levels that would cause cell damage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Dynamic electroporation enables the efficient transfer of treatment materials into a greater number of cells along the electrode path, reducing cell damage and achieving higher yields compared to static methods, with a simpler setup that can match or exceed the effectiveness of complex static electrode arrays.

Implementation Method 1

applying a series of current pulses from the external electroporation device to the one or more electroporation electrodes to generate at least one dynamic electroporation electrical field proximate to the cells

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectroporation:

Data Source

PatentUS20230372707A1Dynamic electroporation

Publication Date: 2023.11.23 COCHLEAR LIMITED

AI summary

Presented herein are techniques for dynamic electroporation of the cells of a recipient of an implantable medical device. A carrier member with one or more electroporation electrodes is positioned in a spatial region proximate to cells of a recipient. The one or more electroporation electrodes are electrically connected to an external electroporation device and a treatment material to be transferred into the cells of the recipient is delivered proximate to the cells. The carrier member is moved through the spatial region while a series of electroporation signals, generated by the external electroporation device, are applied to the electroporation electrodes to generate an electroporation electrical field proximate to the cells. Due to the movement of the carrier member (and thus the electroporation electrodes) a location of a locus of the electroporation electrical field changes, over time, within the spatial region.