Electroporation–Electrolysis Ablation for Extracellular Matrix Retention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing minimally invasive tissue ablation techniques, such as cryosurgery and thermal ablation, indiscriminately damage both cellular contents and the extracellular matrix, leading to scar tissue formation that inhibits tissue regeneration and regenerative medicine.

Innovation Solution

A method combining electroporation and electrolysis to permeabilize cell membranes while retaining the extracellular matrix intact, using controlled electric fields and electrolysis products to selectively ablate cells without damaging the scaffold, facilitating tissue regeneration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional ablation techniques (cryosurgery or thermal ablation) are used to remove targeted tissue, then cells are effectively ablated, but the extracellular matrix is also damaged indiscriminately, leading to scar tissue formation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecell ablation effectivenessVSAvoidextracellular matrix damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The ablation process is segmented into two distinct stages: first, electroporation permeabilizes cell membranes to enable selective cell death, and second, electrolysis products are introduced to complete cell ablation while sparing the extracellular matrix. This segmentation allows differential treatment of cellular components versus extracellular structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Electroporation serves as an intermediary mechanism that selectively permeabilizes cell membranes before electrolysis products are introduced. This intermediary step enables the electrolysis products to enter cells and cause selective cell death while the extracellular matrix remains intact and functional as a scaffold for regeneration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Manufacturing precision

If electroporation is applied to permeabilize cell membranes, then cell selectivity is improved, but additional steps are required to achieve complete cell ablation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecell ablation precisionVSAvoidprocedure steps

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Two distinct mechanisms—electroporation and electrolysis—are merged into a single integrated procedure. The electroporation step creates membrane permeability, and the electrolysis step introduces products that complete cell ablation. By combining these steps sequentially in one procedure, the patent achieves precise cell-selective ablation without requiring multiple separate interventions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If electrolysis products are introduced to ablate permeabilized cells, then cell death is achieved, but there is risk of damaging the extracellular matrix

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecell ablation effectivenessVSAvoidextracellular matrix integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

Electroporation is performed as a preliminary action before introducing electrolysis products. This preliminary permeabilization of cell membranes allows the electrolysis products to selectively enter and kill cells while the extracellular matrix, being outside the cells, remains protected and intact to serve as a regeneration scaffold.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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

This approach allows for effective tissue ablation with minimal scar tissue formation, enabling the extracellular matrix to serve as a scaffold for tissue regeneration and engineering, reducing inflammation and promoting natural tissue growth.

Implementation Method 1

applying an electric field to at least a portion of the tissue of the patient using the at least one electrode, the electric field configured to permeabilize cell membranes in a targeted tissue of the patient, thereby generating permeabilized cells

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectroporation: Electrolysis

Implementation Method 2

performing electrolysis to generate products of electrolysis in the tissue to ablate the permeabilized cells while leaving intact an extracellular matrix in the area targeted for ablation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrolysis: Electrolysis

Data Source

PatentUS20250288349A1Permeabilization and electrolysis for ablation with extracellular matrix retention

Publication Date: 2025.09.18 INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS INC

AI summary

Apparatuses, systems, and methods are disclosed for providing controlled delivery of electrolysis products and cellular permeabilization treatment to a site in tissue. A minimally invasive regenerative surgery of subjecting a target area in living tissue to an electric input composed of a combination of electric fields of a magnitude that permeabilizes the cell membrane and to an electrolytic reaction that generates products of electrolysis of a magnitude that, by themselves, do not cause damage to cells or the extracellular matrix, but induces cell death in combination with electric field of the magnitude that permeabilizes the cell membrane. It is shown that the apparatuses, systems, and methods generate a region of tissue in which complete regeneration of the ablated tissue occurs without massive inflammation, ulceration, coagulative necrosis, fibrotic tissue, or scar tissue.