Electroporation Ablative Therapy as a Clinical Tool: An Old Technology Revisited

Electroporation is considered a novel means for treating various tissues using high-voltage, short-duration, direct current pulses to elicit different cellular responses. Varying the parameters of therapeutic pulses allows for either temporary or permanent cellular damage. It is believed that direct current pulses disrupt cell membranes, with larger electric fields inducing more damage. Importantly, a wide variety of input parameters allows for the ability to fine tune this technology for targeting different tissue types. Since delivery of energy is based on an electric field compared to a thermal field, there is also potential to better target specific areas while minimizing collateral tissue damage. Electroporation therapy, in its latest technological form, is currently being explored to determine its possible clinical application for cardiac therapies.