Selective cancer cell ablation via programmable bipolar pulse
This technology uses precisely timed bursts of electrical pulses to destroy abnormal cells—such as cancer cells in tumors—while leaving surrounding healthy tissue largely intact. By tuning the length of each pulse and the gap between pulses, clinicians can create two distinct treatment zones: one where all cells are destroyed and a second where only targeted aberrant cells are affected. The approach builds on electroporation, a well-established technique that uses electric fields to breach cell membranes, and can be combined with cancer drugs to amplify the effect. It is specifically designed to treat solid tumors, including difficult-to-reach brain tumors.
What you could build
A clinical ablation device—likely a catheter or probe system—that oncologists and neurosurgeons use to treat solid tumors with programmable high-frequency bipolar pulse sequences; hospital systems and interventional oncology centers would be the buyers.
Who in Virginia should care
Inova Health System, UVA Health, and VCU Health are active in interventional oncology and neurosurgery, making them plausible early clinical partners or pilot-site buyers.
Readiness: Prototype likely
Concept — described but not yet demonstrated. Lab validated — supported by experimental results in the patent. Prototype likely — the text describes a built, working embodiment.
Readiness is inferred from the patent text, not from a lab visit.
The record
- Inventors
- Michael B. Sano, Christopher B. Arena, Scott S. Verbridge, Rafael V. Davalos
- Granted
- May 2, 2023
- Status
- Granted patent
- Patent number
- 11638603
Ready to talk?
Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties handles licensing for this technology.
Prosim summaries are generated from public patent text and are not legal advice.