Bipolar needle electrodes for electroporation-based treatments in soft and bone tissues: technical design and...

Electroporation (EP) transiently increases cell membrane permeability through the application of controlled electric pulses. Bipolar needle electrodes have been developed to simplify EP procedures by reducing the number of electrode insertions while improving control of electric field geometry and spatial confinement. This technical note describes the design principles, electric field behavior, and image-guided implementation of single-needle bipolar electrodes for EP applications in both soft and bone tissues. Electric field simulations and preclinical investigations were performed to assess field distribution, safety, and tissue selectivity. The practical implementation of the bipolar configuration is illustrated through representative image-guided examples from multiple institutions across different anatomical settings. The single-needle design enables minimally invasive procedures with predictable field control and limited extension to surrounding structures, even in anatomically complex or previously treated regions. Overall, bipolar electrodes represent a versatile and reproducible technological solution for electroporation-based treatments, supporting precise and tissue-sparing image-guided interventions.