The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 16, 2010
Filed:
Jul. 28, 2006
Allan Westersten, Georgetown, CA (US);
William R. Wilkinson, Scottsdale, AZ (US);
Ruxandra Draghia-akli, Houston, TX (US);
Robert H. Carpenter, Bastrop, TX (US);
Douglas R. Kern, The Woodlands, TX (US);
Allan Westersten, Georgetown, CA (US);
William R. Wilkinson, Scottsdale, AZ (US);
Ruxandra Draghia-Akli, Houston, TX (US);
Robert H. Carpenter, Bastrop, TX (US);
Douglas R. Kern, The Woodlands, TX (US);
VGX Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Blue Bell, PA (US);
Abstract
The present invention relates to a modular electrode system, and its use, for facilitating the introduction of a macromolecule into cells of a selected tissue in a body or plant. The modular electrode system comprises a non-symmetrically arranged plurality of needle electrodes; a hypodermic needle; an electrical connector that provides a conductive link from a programmable constant-current pulse controller to the plurality of needle electrodes; and a power source. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an operator can grasp the plurality of needle electrodes that are mounted on a support structure and firmly insert the them into the selected tissue in a body or plant. The macromolecules are then delivered via the hypodermic needle into the selected tissue. The programmable constant-current pulse controller is activated and constant-current electrical pulse is applied to the plurality of needle electrodes. The applied constant-current electrical pulse facilitates the introduction of the macromolecule into the cell between the plurality of electrodes. Cell death due to overheating of cells is minimized by limiting the power dissipation in the tissue by virtue of constant-current pulses.