VARIABLE CURRENT DENSITY SINGLE NEEDLE ELECTROPORATION SYSTEM AND METHOD

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electroporation method, electrodes for electroporation, and an electroporation system that make it possible to quantitatively measure the volumetric capacity of the tissue to which electroporation is actually applied, and can bring the possibility of reducing the excitement of sensory cells during electroporation-assisted delivery of a therapeutic substance by enabling substantial reduction of the electrical energy sent into a tissue containing nerve sensory cells.SOLUTION: This invention comprises an improved electroporation electrode system including a single needle and a ring- or donut-shaped electrode. In this configuration, the difference in surface area of the electrodes leads to a substantial reduction of current density near the surface of the treated tissue and a more concentrated current density sufficient for electroporation only in tissues adjacent to the terminating end portion of the single needle electrode. Thus, this invention provides for targeting specific tissue for electroporation and also should provide for lessening the sensation of electric current in the treated tissue.