Universal handpiece for electrical treatment applicator
AssigneePulse Biosciences, Inc.
InventorsCameron D. HINMAN, Kevin L. MOSS, Wesley C. JOE, Peter H. ROBINO
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and apparatuses (e.g., devices, instruments and systems, including applicator handles for use with pulse generators) for automatically and/or mechanically setting impedance matching for connecting the applicator handle with different electrode tips. These methods and apparatuses may be useful for applying therapeutic energy, including but not limited to short, high field strength electric pulses, while avoiding the risk of arcing or otherwise harming the tissue.
Claims19
A system, the system comprising:
- a treatment applicator, the treatment applicator comprising a plurality of electrodes, and a plurality of treatment applicator electrical connectors in communication with the plurality of electrodes;
- a pulse generator configured to deliver microsecond or sub-microsecond pulses having a voltage of 1 kV or greater, wherein the pulse generator is configured to engage with the plurality of treatment applicator electrical connectors so that the plurality of electrodes are in electrical communication with the pulse generator;
- a plurality of impedance matching circuits;
- and
- an impedance matching selector configured to selectively couple the plurality of treatment applicator electrical connectors with one or more of the plurality of impedance matching circuits based on an encoding shape connection with the plurality of electrodes to connect the treatment applicator to the pulse generator, wherein the impedance matching selector comprises a first set of internal electrical contacts comprising high-current/high power contacts separated from a second set of internal electrical contacts by a minimum clearance distance that avoids arcing and wherein the first set of internal electrical contacts is configured to couple with the second set of internal contacts to engage one or more of the plurality of impedance matching circuits when the encoding shape connection connects with the treatment applicator.
A method of setting an impedance for a treatment applicator that is coupled to a pulse generator, the method comprising:
- engaging a first encoding shape connector of a first treatment applicator comprising a plurality of electrodes with an impedance matching selector, wherein the impedance matching selector selectively places a plurality of treatment applicator electrical connectors of the first treatment applicator in electrical communication with one or more impedance matching circuits based at least in part on the first encoding shape connector to place the plurality of electrodes of the first treatment applicator in electrical communication with the pulse generator through the one or more impedance matching circuits;
- and
- coupling a first set of internal electrical contacts of the impedance matching selector with a second set of internal electrical contacts of the impedance matching selector to engage at least one of the one or more impedance matching circuits when the first encoding shape connector is engaged with the impedance matching selector, wherein the first set of internal electrical contacts comprises high-current/high power contacts separated from the second set of internal electrical contacts by a minimum clearance distance that avoids arcing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.