Immunotherapeutic methods using electroporation

A method of treating a tissue of a patient, the method comprising:

• positioning a surface electrode on skin of the patient, wherein the surface electrode is configured to be a return electrode;
• positioning a monopolar probe electrode within the tissue to be treated, wherein the monopolar probe electrode is configured to be an active electrode;
• and
• activating a generator operatively coupled to the surface electrode and the monopolar probe electrode, the generator configured to generate a plurality of electrical pulses to be delivered by the monopolar probe electrode sufficient to cause pulsed electric field ablation of the tissue by causing cell death of at least some cells within a target ablation zone;
• wherein the plurality of electrical pulses has a frequency of 10 kHz-500 kHz.

A method of pulsed electric field ablation of a tissue of a patient, the method comprising:

• positioning a ground electrode in contact with, but external to, the patient;
• positioning an active electrode within the tissue of the patient;
• and
• activating a generator operatively coupled to the ground electrode and the active electrode, the generator configured to apply a plurality of electrical pulses through the active electrode and into the tissue to induce cell death through non-thermal mechanisms leaving extracellular matrix intact and preserving surrounding healthy tissue;
• wherein the plurality of electrical pulses has a frequency of 10 kHz-500 kHz.

A method of treating a tissue of a patient, the method comprising:

• positioning a dispersive electrode on skin of the patient;
• positioning an active electrode within the tissue of the patient;
• and
• applying a plurality of electrical pulses through the active electrode to cause pulsed electric field ablation of the tissue by causing cell death of at least some cells within a target ablation zone of the tissue;
• wherein one or more electrical pulses of the plurality of electrical pulses are biphasic, have a square waveform, and have a frequency of 10 kHz-500 kHz;
• and
• wherein the applying of the plurality of electrical pulses causes ablation of cells of the tissue in an amount sufficient to promote an immune response within the patient in a manner that causes death of one or more metastases by way of immune cells that respond to the applied electrical pulses.