Moving electrodes for the application of electrical therapy within a tissue

Inventors

Hinman, Cameron D. • Moss, Kevin L. • Danitz, David J.

Assignees

Pulse Biosciences Inc

Abstract

Electrodes that are configured to apply energy within the tissue while moving relative to the tissue. The apparatuses (devices, assemblies, systems) described herein may be configured with one or more electrodes that may move slightly in oscillatory movement and/or rotation relative to the tissue. The apparatuses described herein may be used to apply energy to a patient while minimizing or preventing the unintended modification of the tissue adjacent to the electrode, such as by arcing.

Core Innovation

The invention relates to electrical-therapy systems that use one or more penetrating electrodes configured to deliver electrical energy to a tissue, together with a driver configured to move the one or more penetrating electrodes. The driver moves the one or more penetrating electrodes to rotate, oscillate, or both rotate and oscillate the one or more penetrating electrodes during delivery of electrical energy.

A processor causes application of a high voltage power having a peak voltage between 0.5 kilovolts per centimeter (kV/cm) and 500 kV/cm to the one or more penetrating electrodes. The processor further directs operation of the driver to move the one or more penetrating electrodes when the high voltage power is applied or between pulses of pulsed applied power to the one or more penetrating electrodes.

The invention addresses arcing during electrical therapy by preventing or reducing arcing while applying the electrical energy to the tissue. This is achieved by controlling movement of the one or more penetrating electrodes so that a point of high current density is moved to a different location in the tissue, including to reduce unintended tissue modification associated with arcing.

The disclosed implementations include mechanical actuation mechanisms and robotic implementations that control electrode movement, including drivers and linkages that move the penetrating electrodes in the required rotational and/or oscillatory manner. Robotic implementation includes image acquisition to control electrode placement and/or movement, and impedance behavior can be used to identify or relate arcing conditions and the effect of moving electrodes during treatment.

Claims Coverage

The independent claim provides a system-level framework with three core inventive aspects: penetrating electrodes, a driver configured to rotate, oscillate, or both rotate and oscillate the penetrating electrodes, and processor-controlled high-voltage pulsed application coordinated with electrode motion to prevent or reduce arcing by relocating a point of high current density. Dependent claims further refine the motion mechanism, timing coordination, and image acquisition for robotic control.

Across the independent claim and its refinements, the inventive concept is centered on coordinating high-voltage pulsed electrical therapy delivered via penetrating electrodes with mechanically controlled electrode rotation and/or oscillation. The movement is used to prevent or reduce arcing by relocating a point of high current density within the tissue, with dependent claims refining motion frequency, specific driver mechanisms, and image acquisition for robotic control.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications