Electrode Tip Wear Increases Needle Deflection and Procedural Complexity in Electrochemotherapy
Ana Campastri1,2, Antonella Cilio1,2, Marina Ribeiro1
1Instituto Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud Fundación HA Barceló-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Bioelectricity
|May 14, 2026
Summary
Triangular needle tips offer superior performance in electrochemotherapy (ECT) by maintaining sharpness longer and requiring less force for insertion. This improves electric field distribution and reduces tissue trauma during cancer treatment.
Area of Science:
- Medical Devices
- Oncology
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Electrochemotherapy (ECT) is a standard treatment for skin cancers.
- Current needle electrodes degrade quickly, causing tissue trauma and uneven electric field distribution.
- Veterinary electrodes often have sharper tips than human medical electrodes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the performance of different needle tip geometries for electrochemotherapy.
- To assess insertion force, needle sharpness degradation, and electric field distribution.
- To investigate the efficacy of a guiding mask in minimizing needle deflection.
Main Methods:
- Compared conical, beveled, and triangular needle tips (7 mm diameter).
- Utilized COMSOL Multiphysics® simulations for electric field analysis.
- Evaluated insertion force and sharpness loss using an ex vivo model.
- Tested a guiding mask to reduce needle deflection.
Main Results:
- Triangular tips required the least insertion force and maintained sharpness for up to 200 insertions.
- Conical tips degraded fastest (approx. 50 insertions), followed by beveled (approx. 150 insertions).
- A guiding mask significantly reduced needle deflection, improving alignment and electric field uniformity.
Conclusions:
- Triangular needle tips offer superior insertion efficiency and durability for electrochemotherapy.
- Optimized needle design and guiding masks can enhance ECT efficacy and patient outcomes.
- Further research into electrode design can minimize treatment-related complications.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:30Processes at Electrodes
The electrode interacts with ions in the electrolyte solution at its interface. The rate of oxidation and reduction depends on the speed at which electrons can transfer through this interface. As ions attach to or leave the electrode surface, the electrode acquires a charge, and an electrical potential forms across the interface, making the process more difficult to reach equilibrium. The charge on the electrode affects the local ion concentrations in the solution, though thermal motion...
01:30Electroconvulsive Therapy
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), or shock therapy, remains a critical biomedical intervention for severe, treatment-resistant depression. While its origins can be traced back to Hippocrates' observations that malaria-induced convulsions alleviated mental illness, modern ECT has evolved significantly from its earlier, more primitive applications. First introduced in 1938 by Ugo Cerletti and his colleagues, ECT involves inducing controlled seizures using electrical currents. In its early years,...