Patent ID: 7171264

Claim:
A method for introducing a biologically active agent into cells in a region of tissue of a subject, said method comprising: a) using one or more needle-free injectors of an electroporation device to inject said agent into said region in a form suitable for electrotransport, wherein said electroporation device comprises: i. a needle-free injector configured to serve as a first electroporation electrode when positioned in contact with tissue of the subject: ii. a second electroporation electrode disposed in spaced relation to said first electroporation electrode: iii. an energy source in electrical communication with said first and second electroporation electrodes to energize said first and second electroporation electrodes to effect electroporation; and b) using said electroporation device to generate an electric field sufficient to electroporate cells of said region, wherein said electroporating is conducted prior to, simultaneously with, and/or subsequently to injecting said agent into said region using at least one of said needle-free injectors to introduce the biologically active agent into said subject, whereby the combination of needle-free injection and electroporation is sufficient to introduce the agent into the cells.