Tissue ablation with irreversible electroporation

• US 9,005,189 B2
• Filed: 07/11/2012
• Issued: 04/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Original Assignee: Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Inventors: Davalos, Rafael, Rubinsky, Boris
• Primary Examiner(s): HUPCZEY, JR, RONALD JAMES
• Application Number:
  US13/546,339
• Publication Number:
  US 20120277741A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,007 Days
• Field of Search: 606/32, 606/34, 606 49- 41, 606 45- 50
• US Class Current: 606/32
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/12 by passing a current through the tissue to be heated, e.g. high-frequency current
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1233 with circuits for assuring patient safety
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1477 Needle-like probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00613 Irreversible electroporation reversible electroporation A61N1/327
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00714 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00761 Duration
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00827 Current
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1425 Needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0412 Specially adapted for transcutaneous electroporation, e.g. including drug reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0472 Structure-related aspects
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/05 for implantation or insertion into the body, e.g. heart electrode A61N1/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/327 for enhancing the absorption properties of tissue, e.g. by electroporation

Abstract

A new method for the ablation of undesirable tissue such as cells of a cancerous or non-cancerous tumor is disclosed. It involves the placement of electrodes into or near the vicinity of the undesirable tissue through the application of electrical pulses causing irreversible electroporation of the cells throughout the entire area of the undesirable tissue. The electric pulses irreversibly permeate the cell membranes, thereby invoking cell death. The irreversibly permeabilized cells are left in situ and are removed by the body immune system. The amount of tissue ablation achievable through the use of irreversible electroporation without inducing thermal damage is considerable.

Claims

1. A method of ablating tissue cells, comprising:

identifying a zone of tissue to be ablated;

placing one or more electrodes near the identified tissue zone;

applying electrical pulses through the one or more electrodes in an amount which is;

sufficient to selectively induce irreversible electroporation of cells in the identified tissue zone, and selectively raise tissue temperature in the identified tissue zone wherein the electrical pulses are applied in amounts predetermined to be based on a modified Pennes bioheat equation, and an Arrhenius bioheat equation.