TISSUE ABLATION BY RAPID AND SUSTAINED ALTERATION IN MEMBRANE POTENTIAL

摘要

A method for the ablation of undesirable tissue, such as cells of a cancerous or non-cancerous tumor, infected tissue, adipose tissue, wound, etc., comprising the injection of at least one ion channel or ion pump blocker into said undesirable tissue then applying a low voltage electrical current into said undesirable tissue to trigger a rapid and sustained change in membrane potential (Vm) of the targeted cells, causing said undesirable tissue to die by a process of programmed cell death (apoptosis) followed by immune system action on any surviving cells in the undesirable tissue. Alternatively, depending on the tissue type, a mechanical vibration or an osmotic force may be used instead of a low voltage electrical current.