Ablation-integrated scoring tool to predict immunotherapy
This technology is a treatment planning system that uses electrical pulse ablation — a method of destroying tumor tissue without heat — and monitors the electrical current flowing through the patient during the procedure. By analyzing how that current behaves, the system predicts whether a specific patient's immune system is likely to mount a meaningful response to follow-on immunotherapy. In other words, it acts as a real-time diagnostic tool that helps oncologists decide, right at the moment of ablation, whether immunotherapy is worth pursuing for that individual. This matters because only some patients benefit from the combination of ablation and immunotherapy, and identifying them early avoids ineffective treatments and unnecessary costs.
What you could build
A software and hardware module integrated into existing irreversible electroporation (IRE) or pulsed electric field ablation systems that generates a real-time 'immunotherapy response score' for the treating oncologist; target buyers are interventional radiology and oncology departments at hospital systems and cancer centers, as well as medical device companies that manufacture ablation equipment such as AngioDynamics or Medtronic.
Who in Virginia should care
Virginia-based health systems such as Inova, VCU Health, or UVA Health with active oncology and interventional radiology programs would be natural early clinical partners or licensees.
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
- Rafael V. Davalos, Natalie White
- Granted
- March 12, 2024
- Status
- Granted patent
- Patent number
- 11925405
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.