Treatment tip with protected electrodes

Inventors

Moss, Kevin L. • Foster, Christopher J. • Hinman, Cameron D. • Danitz, David J. • Uecker, Darrin R.

Assignees

Pulse Biosciences Inc

Abstract

Described herein are treatment tip apparatuses (e.g., devices, systems, etc.) including one, or more preferably a plurality, of electrodes that are protected by an electrode partition, such as an electrode housing (which may be retractable) until pressed against the tissue for deployment of the electrodes and delivery of a therapeutic treatment. In particular, these apparatuses may include a plurality of treatment electrodes (e.g., needle electrodes) and be configured for the delivery of nanosecond pulsed electric fields.

Core Innovation

The invention relates to a treatment tip device for delivery of electrical therapy that includes a treatment tip housing and an electrode housing extending from a distal end of the treatment tip housing. The electrode housing is configured to retract proximally into the treatment tip housing, and the device includes a plurality of treatment electrodes, including plurality of needle electrodes, at least partially within the electrode housing. The device provides an un-deployed configuration in which distal ends of the electrodes do not extend beyond a distal end face of the electrode housing, and a deployed configuration in which the electrodes extend beyond the distal end face.

A core aspect is the use of a soft, electrically insulating material at a distal face of the electrode housing, and in one version also forming sides of the distal end. The soft, electrically insulating material has a durometer of 60 or less on the Shore A hardness scale. The device converts between un-deployed and deployed configurations by moving the electrode housing relative to the plurality of treatment electrodes so that the electrode distal ends extend past the insulating distal face when deployed.

In addition, the invention includes configurations in which the treatment tip housing is removably coupled to a handle via a mechanical and/or electrical connector. In one version, the needle electrodes are fixed or lockable relative to the treatment tip housing while the electrode housing moves relative to the needle electrodes to convert between undeployed and deployed configurations.

Claims Coverage

The independent claims are clm-00001, clm-00023, and clm-00024. Across these claims, the inventive coverage focuses on converting between an un-deployed and deployed electrode configuration using relative motion of an electrode housing, while providing soft electrically insulating material with a Shore A durometer of 60 or less on the electrode housing distal face, optionally with a removably coupled handle interface and electrode lock/fixation relationships.

Across the independent claims, the central claim scope covers a retractable treatment tip device that switches between un-deployed and deployed electrode positions by relative movement of an electrode housing, while including a soft electrically insulating material on the electrode housing distal face with a Shore A durometer of 60 or less. Additional independent coverage includes removably coupling the treatment tip housing to a handle and, in one version, specifying that needle electrodes are fixed or lockable relative to the treatment tip housing and that the insulating material forms distal face and sides.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications