U.S. patent application number 11/469689 was filed with the patent office on 2007-03-22 for electroporation microneedle and methods for its use.
This patent application is currently assigned to MERCATOR MEDSYSTEMS, INC.. Invention is credited to Kirk Patrick Seward.
Application Number | 20070066959 11/469689 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 23146230 |
Filed Date | 2007-03-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070066959 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Seward; Kirk Patrick |
March 22, 2007 |
Electroporation Microneedle and Methods For Its Use
Abstract
Electroporation of cells in target tissues is performed using
microneedles having integral electrode structures. In a first
embodiment, a pair of electrode structures are disposed on opposite
sides of a substance delivery opening on a needle or other
tissue-penetrating shaft. In a second embodiment, a first electrode
structure is disposed on the needle and a second electrode
structure is disposed on an attached base. The electrode structures
are spaced closely together and relatively low voltages are applied
to achieve electroporation-enhanced substance delivery.
Inventors: |
Seward; Kirk Patrick;
(Dublin, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
TOWNSEND AND TOWNSEND AND CREW, LLP
TWO EMBARCADERO CENTER
EIGHTH FLOOR
SAN FRANCISCO
CA
94111-3834
US
|
Assignee: |
MERCATOR MEDSYSTEMS, INC.
San Leandro
CA
|
Family ID: |
23146230 |
Appl. No.: |
11/469689 |
Filed: |
September 1, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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10167239 |
Jun 10, 2002 |
7127284 |
|
|
11469689 |
Sep 1, 2006 |
|
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60297418 |
Jun 11, 2001 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
604/501 ;
604/20 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61M 2025/105 20130101;
A61N 1/327 20130101; A61M 37/0015 20130101; A61M 2037/0023
20130101; A61M 2025/0093 20130101; A61N 1/325 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
604/501 ;
604/020 |
International
Class: |
A61M 31/00 20060101
A61M031/00 |
Claims
1. A method for delivering substances to solid tissue, said method
comprising: penetrating a shaft into the solid tissue; delivering
the substance through the shaft to a target site in the solid
tissue; and applying an electric field to the target site through
an electrode structure on the shaft.
2. A method as in claim 1, wherein the substance comprises a
nucleic acid.
3. A method as in claim 1, wherein the substance comprises a
protein.
4. A method as in claim 1, wherein the substance comprises a small
molecule drug.
5. A method as in claim 1, wherein applying an electric field
comprises delivering current between a first electrode structure on
the shaft and a second electrode structure spaced-apart by a
preselected distance on the shaft.
6. A method as in claim 5, wherein the preselected distance is in
the range from 10 .mu.m to 2 mm.
7. A method as in claim 6, wherein the substance is delivered
through a location on the shaft between the first and second
electrode structures.
8. A method as in claim 7, wherein the electrode structures have
areas in contact with the solid tissue in the range from 0.0001
mm.sup.2 to 4 mm.sup.2.
9. A method as in claim 1, wherein applying an electric field
comprises delivering current between a first electrode structure on
the shaft and a second electrode structure on the base.
10. A method as in claim 9, wherein the first and second electrode
structures are spaced-apart by a distance less than 2 mm.
11. A method as in claim 9, wherein the substance is delivered
through a location on the shaft proximate the first electrode
structure.
12. A method as in claim 11, wherein the first electrode structure
has an area in the range from 0.0001 mm.sup.2 to 4 mm.sup.2 and the
second electrode structure has an area in the range from 0.01
mm.sup.2 to 100 mm.sup.2.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a divisional application of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 10/167,239, filed on Jun. 10, 2002, which
claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No.
60/297,418, filed on Jun. 11, 2001, the full disclosures of which
are incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] Drug and gene delivery to solid tissues is of significant
medical and scientific interest. Most simply, drugs and genes can
be injected into muscle, organs, and other solid tissues using a
needle under pressure, typically provided by a syringe. While many
small molecule drugs are adequately taken up by such
straight-forward injection methods, the delivery and uptake of
large molecules (such as proteins) and genes (and other nucleic
acids) is often more problematic. In particular, the successful
delivery of functional genes to solid tissues such that the genes
are expressed can often be quite difficult.
[0004] Various methods for enhancing the delivery of genes and
other large molecules have been proposed. Of particular interest to
the present invention, the application of an alternating electric
field across the target tissue, referred to as electroporation, has
been found to be of significant benefit in enhancing expression,
particularly in research settings. Such application of an
alternating electric field can open pores in the cellular membranes
of the target tissue, allowing functional genes and other large
molecules to be delivered into the cell. The application of
electroporation in experimental gene therapies has been found to
substantially increase successful cell transformation.
[0005] The development of successful clinical electroporation
devices has been very slow. One drawback has been the need to apply
relatively high voltages to achieve the needed voltage gradients at
the target cells. At present, electroporation is usually
accomplished by attaching a single needle or a needle array to one
pole of the electroporation power supply and attaching the other
pole to another needle, needle array or surface electrode.
Typically, the distance between the electrode pairs is very large,
often several centimeters or larger, requiring high voltages, on
the order of 1,000 volts or above, to achieve the necessary voltage
gradients at the target tissue. Such high voltages can cause
undesirable tissue damage. A second drawback has been the use of
large arrays comprising many needles. Many patients recoil when
feeling such apparatus.
[0006] For these reasons, it would be desirable to provide improved
methods and apparatus for the electrically-enhanced delivery of
genes and other large molecules to cells within solid target
tissues. In particular, it would be desirable to provide methods
and apparatus which could operate at lower voltages and/or with
fewer penetrating structures to reduce the risk of tissue injury
and damage. It would be further desirable to provide such
electrically enhanced methods and apparatus which could be utilized
in intravascular, minimally invasive, and other body locations
which require miniaturized access tools. At least some of these
objectives will be met by the inventions described hereinafter.
[0007] 2. Description of the Background Art
[0008] Microneedles and electroporation apparatus are described in
U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,334,856; 6,331,266; 6,312,612; 6,241,701;
6,233,482; 6,181,964, 6,090,790; 6,014,584; 5,928,207; 5,869,326;
5,855,801; 5,823,993; 5,702,359; 5,697,901; 5,591,139; 5,389,069;
and 5,273,525. Electroporation methods are described in Varenne and
Sinnaeve (2000) Current Int. Cardiol. Reports 2:309. The
fabrication of silicon and paylene microneedles is described in
Stupar and Pisano (2001) Transducers '01, 11th Int'l Conference on
Solid-State Sensors and Actuators, Munich, Germany, Jun. 10-14,
2001. The full disclosures of each of these prior patents and
publications are incorporated herein by reference.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The present invention provides improved methods and
apparatus for the electrically-enhanced delivery of substances to
cells in solid target tissues. The application of an alternating
electric field provides "electroporation" of the individual cells
in the target tissue, which in turn causes a temporary opening of
pores in the membranes of those cells. Such pores enhance the
intracellular delivery of genes, nucleic acids, proteins, and other
large molecules, which in the absence of electroporation might have
a very difficult time entering into the cells. While the present
invention is particularly useful for the delivery of such large
molecules, it will also be useful for the delivery of small
molecule drugs, typically having molecular weights below 2 kD,
which for a variety of reasons, might have difficulty entering
particular target cells.
[0010] The present invention relies on the use of injection
apparatus comprising a shaft, such as a needle, having a substance
delivery lumen therein. At least one electrode structure is
disposed on the shaft near a delivery opening in the shaft which
communicates with the lumen. A second electrode structure is
located close to the first electrode structure, either on the shaft
or on a base or other structure attached to the shaft. The two
electrode structures (and optionally further electrode structures)
will be separated by very small distances, as described in more
detail below, which spacings have the benefit of providing
relatively high voltage gradients at the cellular level achieved by
the application by relatively low voltages. Usually, to achieve
such close spacings, the shaft and the electrode structures
themselves will also be very small, as described in more detail
below.
[0011] The use of such small injection apparatus has further
advantages. For example, the present invention can utilize very
short needles or other shaft structures, to achieve relatively
shallow epidermal injections without penetrating deep enough for
nerve reception. Additionally, such small injection structures can
be incorporated into catheters and other devices intended for
intravascular and minimally invasive access. Thus, genes, large
molecule drugs, and other substances can be delivered from within a
blood vessel, other body lumen, hollow body organ, or variety of
other internal anatomical spaces. The ability to locally deliver
genes and other drugs with very high efficiencies is a significant
advantage.
[0012] Thus, in a first aspect of the present invention, methods
for delivering a substance to solid tissue comprise penetrating a
shaft into the solid tissue. The substance is then delivered
through the shaft, typically through an internal lumen in the
shaft, to a target site in the solid tissue. An electric field,
typically an alternating electric field at a voltage and
frequency-selected to deliver a desired voltage gradient to the
cells in target tissue, is then applied to the target site through
an electrode structure on the shaft. In a first embodiment, the
electrode structure may comprise first and second electrode
structures on the shaft connected to opposite poles of an
electroporation power supply to induce the alternating electric
field immediately adjacent to an outlet port of the substance
delivery lumen. In an alternative embodiment, at least one
electrode structure will be disposed near the substance delivery
lumen outlet on the shaft and a second electrode structure will be
disposed nearby, for example on a base structure attached near a
proximal end of the shaft.
[0013] In all cases, it will be desirable that the spaced-apart
electrode structures which apply the alternating electric field be
positioned relatively close to each other, typically being no
further apart than 2 mm, usually no further apart than 1 mm, and
usually being in the range from 10 .mu.m to 1 mm, preferably in the
range from 50 .mu.m to 750 .mu.m, and most preferably in the range
from 100 .mu.m to 500 .mu.m. Usually, the electrode structures will
have relatively small exposed areas, typically being in the range
from 0.0001 mm.sup.2 to 4 mm.sup.2, usually being in the range from
0.001 mm.sup.2 to 2 mm.sup.2, and preferably being in the range
from 0.01 mm.sup.2 to 1 mm.sup.2.
[0014] In a second aspect of the present, electroporation apparatus
comprises a base, a shaft, a first electrode structure, and a
second electrode structure. The shaft has a distal end, a proximal
end, and a substance-delivery lumen extending from a proximal
location to an opening at a distal location on the shaft. The shaft
will be adapted to penetrate tissue and thus may have a
tissue-penetrating distal tip or may be combined with a separate
stylet or other instrument to facilitate tissue penetration. The
shaft may have any cross-sectional shape, typically being circular,
but alternatively having a square cross-section, rectangular
cross-section, ovoid cross-section, polygonal cross-section,
irregular cross-section, or the like. The width of the shaft (or
diameter in the case of circular cross-sections) will preferably be
small, usually being in the range from 10 .mu.m to 1 mm, preferably
from 50 .mu.m to 500 .mu.m, and more preferably from 100 .mu.m to
200 .mu.m. Such small width shafts minimize patient trauma and are
well-suited for use with the small electrode structures and
electrode spacings of the present invention, as discussed in more
detail below.
[0015] The shafts may be formed from any material having adequate
mechanical characteristics to permit tissue penetration. Thus, the
shafts may be formed from metals, such as stainless steel,
polymers, semi-conductor materials, or the like. In the case of
metal shafts, it may be necessary to insulate all or a portion of
the exterior of the shaft to isolate the electrode structures, as
described in more detail below. A presently preferred electrode
structure is composed at least in part from parylene and may be
fabricated as disclosed in co-pending application Ser. No.
09/877,653, having common inventorship with the present
application, the full disclosure of which is incorporated herein by
reference. Other suitable fabrication techniques for microneedles
are described in Stupar and Pisano (2001) cited above and
incorporated herein by reference. The fabrication of stainless
steel microtubes suitable for use as shafts in the present
invention is well-described in the medical, technical, and patent
literature.
[0016] The electroporation apparatus of the present invention will
usually, although not necessarily, employ relatively short shaft
lengths. In general, shafts useful in the present invention may
have a length in the range from 0.1 mm to 10 mm, usually from 0.2
mm to 5 mm, and preferably from 0.5 mm to 2 mm. The use of
relatively short shafts (or shafts having a flange or other
structure which prevent tissue penetration to some maximum depth)
are advantageous since they can limit tissue penetration and
substance delivery to a relatively shallow depth, typically either
limited to the epidermal layer or the epidermal layer and just
below that layer. In particular, such shallow insertion can avoid
penetration into the nerve beds of the patient.
[0017] The first electrode structure will be disposed on the shaft
near the opening at the distal location. The second electrode
structure may be disposed on the shaft near the distal location,
usually on a side of the opening opposite to that of the first
electrode structure. Alternatively, the second electrode structure
may be disposed on the base in such a way that it will engage the
tissue when the shaft is penetrated into the tissue. The location
of the second electrode structure on the shaft will often be
employed with relatively short shaft lengths so that the first
electrode structure and second electrode structure remains
spaced-apart within the exemplary and preferred ranges set forth
above.
[0018] When both the first and second electrodes are structures are
disposed on the shaft, they will typically have exposed electrode
areas within the ranges set forth above, typically having identical
areas. When the second electrode structure is disposed on the base,
it may have a larger electrode area, typically being in the range
from 0.01 mm.sup.2 to 100 mm.sup.2, preferably from 0.1 mm.sup.2 to
10 mm.sup.2, and most preferably from 0.5 mm.sup.2 to 5
mm.sup.2.
[0019] The base structure will typically serve as a handle or other
manipulation device for the shaft. For example, the base may
comprise a syringe which is attached to the shaft to allow for
pressurized delivery of the substance through the
substance-delivery lumen. Alternatively, the base may comprise a
catheter, such as an intravascular catheter, for positioning the
shaft within the vasculature for drug delivery. Alternatively, the
base may comprise a simple plate or other structure. In some
instances, the base may serve as an anchor for removable attachment
of the shaft to a separate device, such as a catheter, syringe,
substance delivery tubing, or the like. Additionally, the base will
usually provide for permanent or removable attachment of the wires
or cables needed to deliver the alternating current to the
electrode structures in the apparatus.
[0020] As discussed above, the electrode structures shall be
electrically isolated from each other as well as from other
conductive elements which would interfere with the desired current
flow. In the case of parylene and other electrically non-conductive
shaft materials, there will be no problem in forming the electrode
structures directly over the shaft, e.g., by various deposition or
plating processes. In the case of stainless steel and other
electrically conductive shaft materials, it will be necessary to
provide for an intermediate insulating layer between the shaft and
the electrode structures that are formed thereover. The ability to
form electrodes and electrical current conductors over conductive
and insulating materials is well-known in the art, particularly in
the art of making semi-conductor devices, printed circuit boards,
and the like.
[0021] Apparatus of the present invention may further comprise an
alternating current power supply adapted to deliver electroporation
current to the electrode structures at a desired voltage and
frequency, typically selected to deliver electroporation current to
the electrodes at a voltage in the range from 1 V to 30 kV. The
particular voltage will depend at least in part on the spacing
between the first and second electrode structures. The frequency
will typically be in the range from 10 Hz to 107 Hz, usually from
104 Hz to 106 Hz. Suitable voltages for exemplary electrode
spacings are set forth in Table 1 below. TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1
Electrode Spacing Voltage 10 .mu.m 1-30 V 100 .mu.m 10-300 V 500
.mu.m 50-1500 V 1 mm 100-3000 V
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] FIGS. 1 and 1A illustrate a microneedle having a pair of
spaced-apart electrode structures located on opposite sides of a
substance-delivery opening on a shaft.
[0023] FIG. 2 illustrates an electroporation device comprising a
shaft on a base having a first electrode structure on the shaft and
the second electrode structure on the base.
[0024] FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 2, with an electrode structure on
the base having a different configuration.
[0025] FIG. 4 is similar to FIGS. 2 and 3, with a pair of parallel
electrode structures on the base.
[0026] FIG. 5 illustrates a distal end of an exemplary shaft having
an electrode structure at its distal tip.
[0027] FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate the operation of an electroporation
apparatus having a first electrode structure on the shaft and a
pair of second electrode structures on the base.
[0028] FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate an electroporation apparatus
according to the principles of the present invention where the
shaft is mounted on an intravascular catheter.
[0029] FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate use of the apparatus of FIGS. 8
and 9 in delivering a substance into the adventitial tissue
surrounding a blood vessel.
[0030] FIGS. 12 and 13 illustrate a syringe apparatus incorporating
a shaft according to the principles of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0031] A first exemplary electroporation apparatus constructed in
accordance with the principles of the present invention is
illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 1A. The apparatus comprises a shaft 10
having a distal end 10a and proximal end 10b attached to a base 16
at its proximal end. The apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 1A may be formed
by vapor deposition of a material into a mold or by chemical
etching of a material. Suitable materials include metals, polymers,
and semi-conductors Specific methods for fabricating apparatus as
illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 1A are described in copending
application Ser. No. 09/877,653, the full disclosure of which has
previously been incorporated by reference.
[0032] The shaft 10 has a substance-delivery lumen 10c which
terminates in an opening 10d in the wall of the shaft. The lumen
10c is connected to a luer or other conventional fitting 17 which
permits connection of the lumen 10c to a conventional
pressurized-delivery device, such as a syringe, pump, or the like.
Thus, a liquid formulation carrying the substance of interest may
be delivered through opening 10d as indicated by the arrow in FIG.
1. The fluid will thus pass outwardly into a region 14 surrounding
a plurality of cells 13 (shown much larger than scale).
[0033] In order to enhance uptake of the substance, which may be a
gene, other nucleic acid, protein or other large molecule, a small
molecule drug, or the like, an electric field 12 is established
between electrodes 11 spaced-apart on opposite sides of the opening
10d. The voltage, frequency, and other electrical field parameters
will be selected primarily based on the distance between the
electrodes 11, as set forth in Table 1 above.
[0034] A second exemplary electroporation apparatus constructed in
accordance with the principles of the present invention is
illustrated in FIG. 2. In that apparatus, a base 21 defines a
ground plane having a shaft 23 projecting upwardly from a central
point 22. While illustrated as a plane, the ground plane need not
be "planar" or flat and instead may be curved or otherwise
contoured for any particular use. The shaft 23 may be permanently
affixed to the base or may be removable and/or replaceable.
Additionally, the shaft 23 is illustrated in a perpendicular
orientation relative to the base 21, but could be at a fixed or
adjustable angle relative to the base.
[0035] The shaft 23 has a substance delivery lumen (not shown) with
both an inlet port or fitting (not shown) and an outlet opening 23a
at its distal tip. The first electrode structure 24 is also
disposed at the distal tip of the shaft 23 and lies immediately
adjacent to the opening 23a. The first electrode structure 24 is
connected by a trace or other conductor 25 which extends down the
exterior (or alternatively interior) of the shaft to the base and
terminates in an attachment pad 26. The conductors 25 and 26 may be
insulated to prevent tissue contact, but such insulation is not
necessary.
[0036] In contrast to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 1A, the
electroporation device of FIG. 2 includes a pair of second
electrode structures 28 and 29 formed on the upper surface of base
21. The electrodes structures 28 and 29 are formed as concentric
bands and are connected, respectively, to conductive pads 27 and
27a. While illustrated as being divided into six individual
segments, each of the bands 28 and 29 may have a variety of
particular configurations. Thus, each band and banded segment can
be wired together to an electroporation power supply, wired
separately to an electroporation power supply, and can be energized
in a variety of geometric and timed patterns and arrangements.
Moreover, the different bands and band segments can be maintained
at different electrical potentials (voltages) with respect to the
first electrode structure 24.
[0037] Referring now to FIG. 3, a third exemplary electroporation
device constructed in accordance with the principles of the present
invention is illustrated. The device of FIG. 3 is identical to that
of FIG. 2, except that outer band 38 and inner band 39 are shown as
continuous electrode structures rather than segmented structures.
All other components are identical and have identical reference
numbers. While illustrated as round, the electrode bands 38 and 39
may have other geometries, and may in some instances even cross one
another. One might prefer one configuration over the other to
enhance electric field uniformity in the tissue being
electroporated. Various electrodes may be held at different voltage
potentials to further enhance uniformity. The geometry and material
of electrodes may be selected to improve the field uniformity.
[0038] A fourth exemplary electroporation apparatus constructed in
accordance with the principles of the present invention is
illustrated in FIG. 4. The apparatus of FIG. 4 is similar to that
of FIGS. 2 and 3, except that the second electrode structure on
base 21 comprises a pair of parallel electrode strips 48 and 49
instead of concentric electrode ring structures. All other
components in the apparatus remain the same and have the same
reference numbers.
[0039] While several distinct second electrode patterns have been
illustrated, it will be appreciated that a wide variety of other
patterns could also be used. For example, the use of single second
electrode structures may also find use. Moreover, single and
multiple second electrode structures need not be disposed
symmetrically about the shaft 23, and instead could be located on
either side of the shaft or in other non-symmetric patterns.
[0040] Referring now to FIG. 5, the shaft 23 of the present
application may be configured in many different ways. In FIG. 5,
shaft 23 is shown with a sharpened distal tip having electrode 54
formed thereover. Fluid port 51 is disposed on the side of the
shaft and is in fluid communication with substance-delivery lumen
52 within the shaft.
[0041] Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7, use of the apparatus of FIG.
4 having a shaft 23 as illustrated in FIG. 5 will be described. The
shaft 23 is penetrated into tissue 61 so that second electrode
structures 48 and 49 on base 21 engage a tissue surface TS. The
tissue surface may be the patient's epidermis, i.e., external skin,
or may be a surface of an internal organ or other tissue mass. The
shaft 23 penetrates into the tissue 61 so that electrode 54 lies at
a desired target site. An electroporation power supply 65 is
connected to the electrodes 48, 49, and 54, and is energized to
induce an electric field shown as broken lines 62.
[0042] As shown in FIG. 7, a liquid is delivered through lumen 52
so that it permeates through tissue outwardly in a region 71. The
region 71 coincides with the electrical field being generated
between first electrode structure 54 and second electrode structure
48. The electrical field enhances a cellular permeability, thus
enhancing the delivery of the desired target substance to the
cells.
[0043] The electroporation power supply can be a conventional power
supply. The requirements and specifications of such power supplies
are well described in the literature. See, for example, Neumann et
al., Electroporation and Electrofusion in Cell Biology, Plenum
Press, New York, N.Y., 1989; Chang et al., Guide to Electroporation
and Electrofusion, Academic Press, San Diego, Calif., 1992;
Jaroszeski et al., Eletrochemotherapy, Electrogenetherapy, and
Transdermal Drug Delivery: Electrically Mediated Delivery of
Molecules to Cells, Humana Press, Totowa, N.J., 2000; and Lynch and
Davey, Electrical Manipulation of Cells, Chapman & Hall, New
York, N.Y., 1996. The full disclosures of each of these
publications are incorporated herein by reference.
[0044] The electroporation apparatus of the present invention may
be adapted for a number of particular uses, including transdermal
injection, intraluminal injection, intravascular injection,
injection into body organs, such as the heart, liver, kidneys,
spleen, and the like. In particular, it will be desirable to
incorporate the electroporation structures of the present invention
into vascular and other catheters intended for use in target blood
vessels and other body lumens. An exemplary catheter 100
incorporating the electroporation components of the present
invention is illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9. The catheter
construction, without the electroporation components, is described
in more detail in co-pending application Ser. Nos. 09/961,080, and
09/961,079, both having common inventorship with the present
application, the full disclosures of which are incorporated herein
by reference.
[0045] The catheter 100 comprises a catheter body 102 having a
needle or other tissue-penetrating shaft 104 disposed near its
distal end 106. The needle 104 is mounted on the exterior of the
catheter body 102, but is normally recessed within a folded or
involuted section of the catheter 108, as best shown in FIG. 9. In
particular, the catheter body is involuted so that its interior 110
is in the form of a crescent or C-shaped geometry. The interior 110
at this point will be connected to an inflation source (not shown)
which permits the catheter body to be expanded, as best shown in
FIG. 10. It will be appreciated that the needle or other shaft
structure 104 will be advanced radially outwardly so that the
needle will penetrate the vascular or other luminal wall of the
body lumen into which the catheter 100 has been positioned. As best
shown in FIG. 11, the catheter 100 may be positioned in a blood
vessel BV so that the "expanded" involuted section 108 drives the
needle 104 into an adventitial region A surrounding the blood
vessel. A gene, protein, or other desired substance may then be
delivered into the adventitial region from a proximal portion 110
of the needle structure which is connected to a syringe or other
source of the substance external to the patient. An electroporation
field may then be applied between first electrode 122 and second
electrode 124, as illustrated by electrode field lines in FIG. 11.
Intracellular delivery of the desired substance will thus be
enhanced within the cells of the adventitia.
[0046] Referring now to FIGS. 12 and 13, a needle or other shaft
structure 150 having a substance delivery opening 152 and first and
second electrode structures 154 and 156 may be mounted directly on
a syringe base 160. The syringe can deliver a desired liquid
through the needle and out of the opening 152. Electrical
connectors 162 positioned on the syringe barrel allow connection of
the first and second electrode structures 154 and 156 to an
external electroporation power supply (not shown).
[0047] While the above is a complete description of the preferred
embodiments of the invention, various alternatives, modifications,
and equivalents may be used. Therefore, the above description
should not be taken as limiting the scope of the invention which is
defined by the appended claims.
* * * * *