Device and method for destruction of cancer cells

Abstract

The present invention provides devices and systems, as well as methods, of electric field delivery and non-thermal or selective ablation of target tissue regions, including selective ablation of cancerous cells and solid tumors. A method of the present invention includes delivering an electric field to a tissue, including positioning an electrode within a target tissue region comprising cancerous cells, and applying an alternating electrical current to the target tissue so as to non-thermally ablate cancerous cells of the target tissue region around the electrodes.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device for selectively destroying cancerous cells, the device comprising:
 a probe comprising a plurality of electrodes positionable within a target tissue region comprising cancerous cells, the plurality comprising a first electrode and a plurality of secondary electrodes,   wherein the secondary electrodes at least partially define a treatment volume, the first electrode positionable within the treatment volume and spaced from the secondary electrodes so as to provide one or more alternating electric fields extending radially from the first electrode and through the treatment volume, and the one or more alternating fields operable for preferentially destroying cancerous cells compared to non-cancerous cells within the treatment volume.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the alternating electric fields have a frequency between about 50 kHz to about 300 kHz. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the alternating electric fields have an intensity of less than 50 V/cm. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the probe comprising a tissue piercing distal portion for percutaneous access to the target tissue. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a delivery member having a distal portion with a lumen, and the plurality of electrodes positionable within the lumen of the delivery member under a non-deployed state and outside the lumen under a deployed state. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein at least one electrode of the plurality of electrodes is advanced from the distal portion of the delivery member under the deployed state. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , where the at least one electrode includes the first electrode. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 6 , where the at least one electrode includes at least one of the secondary electrodes. 
     
     
         9 . A device for non-thermal tissue ablation, the device comprising:
 a plurality of electrodes positionable within a target tissue region comprising cancerous cells, the plurality comprising a first electrode and one or more outer electrodes,   wherein the outer electrodes at least partially define an ablation volume, the first electrode positionable within the ablation volume and spaced from the secondary electrodes so as to provide one or more alternating electric fields extending radially from the first electrode and through the ablation volume, the alternating electric fields having a frequency between about 50 kHz to about 300 kHz.   
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein at least one electrode of the plurality of electrodes comprises an insulated portion and/or non-insulated portion. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the non-insulated portion of the at least one electrode comprises an electric current delivery surface. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the electrodes are positionable such that the applied electric field is substantially aligned with a division axis of dividing cancerous cell in the ablation volume. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein at least two of the secondary electrodes are electrically connected. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the first electrode is positioned substantially within the center of the ablation volume. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the device comprises an electrically floating system. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the secondary electrodes comprise a plurality of straight needle electrodes equally spaced from a central first needle electrode, the secondary electrodes defining a cylindrical ablation volume. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the secondary electrodes are curved so as to define a substantially spherical ablation volume.