Design and Characterization of a Minimally Invasive Bipolar Electrode for Electroporation

• Main Authors: Giulia Merola, Roberta Fusco, Elio Di Bernardo, Valeria D’Alessio, Francesco Izzo, Vincenza Granata, Deyanira Contartese, Matteo Cadossi, Alberto Audenino, Giacomo Perazzolo Gallo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-09-01
• Series: Biology
• Subjects: electroporation; bipolar electrode; minimally invasive
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/9/9/303

Objective: To test a new bipolar electrode for electroporation consisting of a single minimally invasive needle. Methods: A theoretical study was performed by using Comsol Multiphysics^® software. The prototypes of electrode have been tested on potatoes and pigs, adopting an irreversible electroporation protocol. Different applied voltages and different geometries of bipolar electrode prototype have been evaluated. Results: Simulations and pre-clinical tests have shown that the volume of ablated area is mainly influenced by applied voltage, while the diameter of the electrode had a lesser impact, making the goal of minimal-invasiveness possible. The conductive pole’s length determined an increase of electroporated volume, while the insulated pole length inversely affects the electroporated volume size and shape; when the insulated pole length decreases, a more regular shape of the electric field is obtained. Moreover, the geometry of the electrode determined a different shape of the electroporated volume. A parenchymal damage in the liver of pigs due to irreversible electroporation protocol was observed. Conclusion: The minimally invasive bipolar electrode is able to treat an electroporated volume of about 10 mm in diameter by using a single-needle electrode. Moreover, the geometry and the electric characteristics can be selected to produce ellipsoidal ablation volumes.