System and method for increasing a target zone for electrical ablation

• US 9,414,881 B2
• Filed: 02/07/2013
• Issued: 08/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AngioDynamics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: AngioDynamics, Inc.
• Inventors: Callas, Peter, Joe, Wesley Chung
• Primary Examiner(s): Layno, Carl H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ghand, Jennifer
• Application Number:
  US13/762,027
• Publication Number:
  US 20130218157A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,286 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00613 Irreversible electroporation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00827 Current
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00875 Resistance or impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/143 multiple needles

Abstract

System for increasing a target zone for electrical ablation includes a treatment control module executable by a processor. The control module directs a pulse generator to apply pre-conditioning pulses to subject tissue cells in a pre-conditioning zone to electroporation, the pre-conditioning zone being smaller than a target ablation zone. After the pre-conditioning pulses have been applied, the control module directs the pulse generator to apply treatment pulses to electrically ablate the tissue cells in the target ablation zone. The pre-conditioning pulses cause the pre-conditioning zone to have a much higher conductivity so that the zone acts as a larger electrode area when the treatment pulses are applied, which results in a much larger target ablation zone than otherwise possible.

Claims

1. A method for increasing a target zone for electrical ablation comprising:

positioning at least one electrode near a target ablation zone;

applying through the positioned electrode a plurality of pre-conditioning pulses to subject tissue cells in a pre-conditioning zone surrounding the electrode to electroporation, the pre-conditioning zone being smaller than the target ablation zone; and

after the pre-conditioning pulses have been applied and after waiting at least 30 seconds to allow an electrical conductivity in the pre-conditioning zone to increase, applying through the positioned electrode a plurality of treatment pulses in an amount sufficient to electrically ablate the tissue cells in the target ablation zone.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein while the pre-conditioning pulses are being applied, continuously monitoring current to adjust at least one pulse parameter for the pre-conditioning pulses.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein;

the step of applying a plurality of pre-conditioning pulses includes applying the pre-conditioning pulses that have a shorter pulse width than the treatment pulses; and

the amount of waiting time prior to the step of applying a plurality of treatment pulses is at least two minutes to allow an electrical conductivity in the pre-conditioning zone to increase.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

applying a test pulse through the electrode; and

determining at least one pulse parameter for the pre-conditioning pulses based on the applied test pulse.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

applying a test pulse through the electrode after the pre-conditioning pulses have been applied; and

based on the applied test pulse, determining whether to repeat the application of the pre-conditioning pulses or proceed to application of the treatment pulses.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of determining includes determining whether to repeat the application of the pre-conditioning pulses based on an electrical conductivity derived from the test pulse.

7. A method for increasing a target zone for electrical ablation comprising:

positioning at least one electrode near a target ablation zone;

applying through the positioned electrode a plurality of pre-conditioning pulses to subject tissue cells in a pre-conditioning zone surrounding the electrode to electroporation, the pre-conditioning zone being smaller than the target ablation zone; and

after the pre-conditioning pulses have been applied, applying through the positioned electrode a plurality of treatment pulses in an amount sufficient to electrically ablate the tissue cells in the target ablation zone, the treatment pulses having a longer pulse width than the pre-conditioning pulses.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of applying a plurality of pre-conditioning pulses includes applying the pre-conditioning pulses in an amount sufficient to subject tissue cells in the pre-conditioning zone to irreversible electroporation (IRE).