Towards a predictive model of electroporation-based therapies using pre-pulse electrical measurements

Annu Int Conf IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc. 2012:2012:2575-8. doi: 10.1109/EMBC.2012.6346490.

Abstract

Electroporation-based therapies have been gaining momentum as minimally invasive techniques to facilitate transport of exogenous agents, or directly kill tumors and other undesirable tissue in a non-thermal manner. Typical procedures involve placing electrodes into or around the treatment area and delivering a series of short and intense electric pulses to the tissue/tumor. These pulses create defects in the cell membranes, inducing non-linear changes in the electric conductivity of the tissue. These dynamic conductivity changes redistribute the electric field, and thus the treatment volume. In this study, we develop a statistical model that can be used to determine the baseline conductivity of tissues prior to electroporation and is capable of predicting the non-linear current response with implications for treatment planning and outcome confirmation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms
  • Electric Conductivity
  • Electrochemotherapy / methods*
  • Electroporation
  • Humans