High-voltage pulse ablation systems and methods
A tissue treatment system configured to ablate a tissue, the system comprising: (a) a clamp assembly comprising a first jaw mechanism and a second jaw mechanism configured to receive and compress a tissue therebetween; (b) a first electrode disposed on the first jaw mechanism and configured to contact the tissue; and (c) a second electrode disposed on the second jaw mechanism and configured to contact the tissue, where the first electrode and the second electrode are configured so that at least one of an ablation energy output of the first electrode and an ablation energy output of the second electrode is automatically adjusted to accommodate variable tissue thicknesses between the first electrode and the second electrode.
1 . A method of ablating a tissue, the method comprising:
compressing a target tissue including myocytes between a first jaw comprising a first electrode and a second jaw comprising a second electrode;
non-thermally ablating the myocytes by delivering voltage pulses at or above 500 volts to the target tissue via at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode;
wherein delivering voltage pulses to the target tissue via the at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode comprises delivering about 5-50 pulses at about 1500-3000 Volts with pulse durations of about 0.02-0.1 milliseconds over a time interval of about 1-60 seconds.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein delivering voltage pulses to the target tissue via the at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode comprises applying a voltage pulse regimen to the target tissue via the at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode.
3 . The method of claim 2 ,
wherein the target tissue comprises a plurality of myocardial cells; and
wherein the voltage pulse regimen is sufficient to irreversibly damage the plurality of myocardial cells.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein delivering voltage pulses to the target tissue via the at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode comprises applying at least one of bipolar energy and monopolar energy to the target tissue via the at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein compressing the target tissue comprises operating an actuator to move at least one of the first jaw and the second jaw to close the first jaw and the second jaw.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein compressing the target tissue comprises closing the first jaw and the second jaw so that the first jaw and the second jaw are separated by less than about 5 millimeters.
7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising automatically individually adjusting the voltage pulses delivered via the at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode to accommodate variable tissue thicknesses between the first electrode and the second electrode, wherein automatically individually adjusting includes adjusting the voltage pulses to deliver voltage pulses above about 500 Volts per centimeter.
8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein delivering voltage pulses to the target tissue via the at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode comprises delivering the voltage pulses to the target tissue synchronously with ventricular contraction.
9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising adhering at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode to the target tissue by applying suction.
10 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising creating a mark or indicia on a surface of the target tissue corresponding to a lesion.