Application of non-therapeutic waveforms with gradient sensing to predict pulsed field ablation (PFA) fields

A medical-treatment method, comprising:

• with a waveform generator, selectively applying pulsed electrical waveforms to a plurality of electrodes placed to be in electrical communication with a targeted site of a patient body;
• with an electronic controller, estimating impedances of electrical paths in the patient body between an anchor electrode and a corresponding set of counter electrodes by applying first waveforms thereto and sensing corresponding electrical currents, the anchor electrode and the corresponding set of counter electrodes being variously selected from the plurality of electrodes, the first waveforms being non-therapeutic waveforms;
• and
• selecting, with the electronic controller and based on the impedances, a group of electrodes for application of second waveforms to the targeted site, the group of electrodes including one or more of the variously selected anchor electrodes, the second waveforms being therapeutic waveforms;
• with a mapping and navigation system, tracking positions of one or more of the plurality of electrodes to determine one or more distances between the anchor electrode and the corresponding set of counter electrodes;
• and
• with the electronic controller, estimating pulsed-electric-field effects within the targeted site for the second waveforms based on the one or more distances.

A medical-treatment apparatus, comprising:

• a plurality of electrodes placeable to be in electrical communication with a targeted site of a patient body;
• a waveform generator configured to selectively apply pulsed electrical waveforms to the plurality of electrodes;
• a mapping and navigation system configured to track positions of one or more of the plurality of electrodes to determine one or more distances between an anchor electrode and a corresponding set of counter electrodes;
• and
• an electronic controller configured to:
• estimate impedances of electrical paths in the patient body between the anchor electrode and the corresponding set of counter electrodes by causing the waveform generator to apply first waveforms thereto and sensing corresponding electrical currents, the anchor electrode and the corresponding set of counter electrodes being variously selected from the plurality of electrodes, the first waveforms being non-therapeutic waveforms;
• select, based on the impedances, a group of electrodes for application of second waveforms to the targeted site, the group of electrodes including one or more of the variously selected anchor electrodes, the second waveforms being therapeutic waveforms;
• and
• estimate electric field strengths at the targeted site based on the one or more distances.