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US 11,950,835 B2Granted
Cycled pulsing to mitigate thermal damage for multi-electrode irreversible electroporation therapy
AssigneesVirginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc., AngioDynamics, Inc.
InventorsTimothy J. O'Brien, Robert E. Neal, II, Rafael V. Davalos
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods and systems for distributing electrical energy to tissue which minimize Joule heating, thermal effects, and/or thermal damage, without sacrificing efficacy of treatment, are described. The methods and systems are particularly suitable to electrical energy-based therapies employing multiple electrodes, such as arrays of electrodes.
Claims16
A method of treating tissue, the method comprising:
- using a number of electrodes, delivering a total number of electrical pulses to a target region by:
- activating a number of pairs of the electrodes in a number of cycles;
- wherein the activating is performed a number of times that equals the total number of electrical pulses, divided by the number of pairs of electrodes, divided by the number of cycles;
- wherein the activating is performed such that within at least one cycle:
- first and second electrode pairs are activated in sequence;
- and
- third and fourth electrode pairs are activated in sequence;
- wherein the first electrode pair comprises different electrodes than the second electrode pair and the third electrode pair comprises different electrodes than the fourth electrode pair;
- whereby electrical energy is strategically distributed to sub-regions within the outline of the target region to treat tissue while mitigating one or more of thermal effects, thermal damage, potential for Joule heating, or delivery of electric current to tissue of the target region;
- and
- wherein at least one of the electrodes is a surface electrode and at least one of the electrodes is a needle electrode.
8 more elements
A method of treating a tissue with electrical energy while mitigating thermal damage to the tissue, the method comprising:
- distributing a total number of electrical pulses to the tissue by way of a plurality of electrode pairs over a plurality of cycles,
- such that each electrode pair is activated to receive one or more pulse train during each cycle of the plurality of cycles, and
- such that within at least one cycle:
- first and second electrode pairs are activated in sequence;
- and
- third and fourth electrode pairs are activated in sequence;
- wherein the first electrode pair comprises different electrodes than the second electrode pair and the third electrode pair comprises different electrodes than the fourth electrode pair;
- and
- wherein at least one of the electrodes of one or more of the electrode pairs comprises one or more surface electrodes and at least one of the electrodes of one or more of the electrode pairs comprises one or more needle electrodes.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.