Conventional tumor ablation methods cause significant collateral damage to healthy tiss…
This technology uses precisely timed bursts of electrical pulses to destroy abnormal or cancerous cells inside the body. By tuning the frequency, duration, and polarity of these electrical bursts, the system can selectively kill tumor cells while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue. The approach can work either by directly disrupting cell membranes beyond repair (irreversible electroporation) or by temporarily opening cell membranes to enhance the effect of anti-cancer drugs. It is specifically designed for treating solid tumors, including difficult-to-reach brain tumors.
What you could build
A minimally invasive ablation device — similar in form to existing RF or microwave ablation probes — that oncology and neurosurgery departments in hospitals would purchase or license for treating inoperable or high-risk solid tumors.
Who in Virginia should care
Virginia hospitals and academic medical centers (Inova, VCU Health, UVA Health) with active oncology and neurosurgery programs would be natural early-adoption partners or clinical trial sites.
Readiness: Lab validated
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
- Filed
- Patent pending — filed March 20, 2023
- Status
- Application
- Publication number
- US20230248414A1
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.