# US 10,245,105 B2 · Electroporation with cooling to treat tissue > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,245,105 B2 - Document ID: US10245105B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/627,046 - Filed: 2015-02-20 - Published: 2015-06-18 - Granted: 2019-04-02 - Earliest claimed: 2008-04-29 - Assignees: Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc. - Applicants: Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties Inc. - Inventors: Rafael V. Davalos; Paulo A. Garcia; John L. Robertson; John H. Rossmeisl; Robert E. Neal, II - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10245105B2 ## CPC - A61B 18/1477: {Needle-like probes} - A61B 18/1206: {Generators therefor} - A61N 1/327: {for enhancing the absorption properties of tissue, e.g. by electroporation} - C12N 13/00: Treatment of microorganisms or enzymes with electrical or wave energy, e.g. magnetism, sonic waves - A61B 2018/00446: {Brain} - A61B 2018/00613: {Irreversible electroporation} - A61N 1/05: for implantation or insertion into the body, e.g. heart electrode (A61N1/06 takes precedence) - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B) - C12N: MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA (microbiological testing media C12Q1/00) ## Abstract The present invention provides methods, devices, and systems for in vivo treatment of cell proliferative disorders. Included is a method of treating tissue with electrical energy, the method comprising: delivering electrical energy to tissue using one or more electroporation devices comprising one or more electrodes; and cooling the tissue, surrounding tissue, one or more of the electrodes, or one or more of the electroporation devices to minimize heating. In embodiments, the invention can be used to treat solid tumors, such as brain tumors, and in some embodiments, exemplary methods rely on non-thermal irreversible electroporation (IRE) to cause cell death in treated tumors. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of treating tissue with electrical energy, the method comprising: performing electroporation of target tissue using one or more electroporation devices comprising one or more electrodes and one or more hollow chambers with a fluid disposed therein; and flowing the fluid disposed in one or more of the hollow chambers to provide cooling during the electroporation to cause non-thermal cell death of the target tissue. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the electroporation causes non-thermal irreversible electroporation of cells. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the electroporation devices are chosen from one or more bipolar or monopolar probes. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the cooling is provided at an electrode-tissue interface. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the electroporation is performed in a manner to avoid thermal damage to target tissue and non-target tissue. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the cooling is provided by circulating the fluid through one or more of the hollow chambers. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein one or more of the hollow chambers is disposed along a center axis of one or more of the electroporation devices. ### Claim 8 A method of treating tissue with electrical energy, the method comprising: delivering electrical energy to target tissue to cause non-thermal irreversible electroporation (IRE) of cells using one or more electroporation devices comprising one or more electrodes and one or more hollow chambers with a fluid disposed therein; and flowing the fluid disposed in one or more of the hollow chambers to provide for cooling at an electrode-tissue interface. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the electroporation devices are chosen from one or more bipolar or monopolar probes. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the IRE is performed in a manner to avoid thermal damage to target tissue and non-target tissue. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein one or more of the hollow chambers is disposed along a center axis of one or more of the electroporation devices. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the cooling is provided by circulating the fluid through one or more of the hollow chambers. ### Claim 13 A method of treating tissue with electrical energy, the method comprising: delivering electrical energy to target tissue using one or more electroporation devices comprising: at least two electrodes disposed as annular conductive surfaces along an axis of a single probe; and one or more hollow chambers with a fluid disposed therein; wherein the delivering of the electrical energy to the target tissue comprises alternating polarity of the at least two electrodes; flowing the fluid disposed in one or more of the hollow chambers to provide for cooling during the delivering to result in non-thermal cell death within the target tissue. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the delivering of the electrical energy causes non-thermal irreversible electroporation (IRE) of cells. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the cooling is provided at an electrode-tissue interface. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the delivering of the electrical energy is performed in a manner to avoid thermal damage to target tissue and non-target tissue. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the cooling is provided by circulating the fluid through one or more of the hollow chambers. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein one or more of the hollow chambers is disposed along a center axis of one or more of the electroporation devices. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein a non-conductive surface is disposed between the two annular conductive surfaces.