Electrical impedance tomography to control electroporation
AssigneeThe Regents of the University of California
InventorsBoris Rubinsky, Yong Huang
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Abstract
Images created by electrical impedance tomography (EIT) are used to adjust one or more electrical parameters and obtain a desired degree of electroporation of cells in tissue. The parameters include current, voltage and a combination thereof. The cells are subjected to conditions such that they become permeabilized but are preferably not subjected to conditions which result in irreversible pore formation and cell death. The electroporation can analyze cell membranes, diagnose tissues and the patient as well as to move materials into and out of cells in a controlled manner.
Claims15
A method, comprising the steps of:
- sending an electrical current between a first point and a second point separated from the first point by an electrically conductive medium comprising tissue;
- creating an image of the tissue wherein the image is based on electrical impedance of the tissue;
- adjusting an electrical parameter based on the image to obtain a desired degree of electroporation of biological cells in the tissue.
A device, comprising:
- a means for creating an electrical current across an electrically conductive medium;
- a means for analyzing a first electrical parameter of the electrically conductive medium in order to create an image;
- a means for adjusting a second electrical parameter based on the image to obtain a desired degree of electroporation of biological cells in the electrically conductive medium.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.