IP Library Granted Patent US 11,903,690
Granted Patent B2
US 11,903,690 · App. 16/865,031 · Granted Feb 20, 2024

Devices, systems, and methods for real-time monitoring of electrophysical effects during tissue treatment

Inventors: Rafael V. Davalos (Blacksburg, VA); Mohammad Bonakdar (Blacksburg, VA); Eduardo L. Latouche (Chelsea, MA); Roop L. Mahajan (Blacksburg, VA); John L. Robertson (Floyd, VA); Christopher B. Arena (Burlington, NC); Michael B. Sano (Durham, NC)
Assignee: Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc.
A61B5/0538A61B5/01G01N33/5438
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,903,690
App. No.
16/865,031
Filed
May 1, 2020
Granted
Feb 20, 2024
Kind
B2
Art Unit
3791
USPC
600/547
Abstract

Provided herein are devices, systems, and methods for monitoring lesion or treated area in a tissue during focal ablation or cell membrane disruption therapy.

Claims (41)

1. An electrical conductivity sensor comprising:

an array of impedance sensors, wherein the array of impedance sensors is configured to measure impedance:

at a first frequency in the range of about 0.001 Hz to 1 kHz; and

at a second frequency in the range of about 0.1 MHz to 100 GHz;

one or more temperature sensors; and

a substrate, wherein the array of impedance sensors and the one or more temperature sensors are coupled to the substrate.

2. The electrical conductivity sensor of claim 1 , wherein the substrate is flexible.

3. The electrical conductivity sensor of claim 1 , wherein the array of impedance sensors comprises two or more electrical conductors.

4. The electrical conductivity sensor of claim 3 , wherein the electrical conductors are in a bipolar configuration.

5. The electrical conductivity sensor of claim 4 , wherein the electrical conductors are in a tetrapolar configuration.

6. The electrical conductivity sensor of claim 3 , wherein the array of impedance sensors comprises two impedance sensors coupled to the substrate such that they are orthogonal to each other.

7. The electrical conductivity sensor of claim 3 , wherein each of the electrical conductors of the array of impedance sensors is coupled with a bonding pad.

8. The electrical conductivity sensor of claim 1 , further comprising a common ground, wherein each impedance sensor of the array is coupled to the common ground.

9. The electrical conductivity sensor of claim 1 , further comprising a common counter electrode, wherein the common counter electrode is coupled to the substrate.

10. The electrical conductivity sensor of claim 1 , wherein the array of impedance sensors comprises interdigitated electrodes.

11. The electrical conductivity sensor of claim 10 , further comprising one or more sensors configured to detect pH, a chemical concentration, a nucleic acid concentration, a gas amount, or combinations thereof.

12. The electrical conductivity sensor of claim 1 , wherein the array of impedance sensors further comprises a receptor molecule configured to specifically bind a target molecule, wherein the receptor molecule is coupled to one or more of the impedance sensors of the array.

13. The electrical conductivity sensor of claim 12 , wherein the array of impedance sensors comprises interdigitated electrodes.

14. The electrical conductivity sensor of claim 12 , further comprising one or more sensors configured to detect pH, a chemical concentration, a nucleic acid concentration, a gas amount, or combinations thereof.

15. The electrical conductivity sensor of claim 1 , further comprising one or more sensors configured to detect pH, a chemical concentration, a nucleic acid concentration, a gas amount, or combinations thereof.

16. An electrical conductivity probe comprising:

an elongated member; and

an electrical conductivity sensor coupled to a flexible substrate, wherein the flexible substrate is coupled to the elongated member; and

wherein the electrical conductivity sensor comprises:

an array of impedance sensors, wherein the array of impedance sensors is configured to measure impedance at a first frequency within the range of 0.001 Hz to 1 kHz and at a second frequency within the range of about 0.1 MHz to 100 GHz; and one or more temperature sensors.

17. The electrical conductivity probe of claim 16 , wherein the electrical conductivity sensor is removably coupled to the elongated member at the substrate.

18. A system comprising:

a waveform generator;

an impedance analyzer; and

a treatment probe comprising an elongated member and configured to operatively couple to the waveform generator and the impedance analyzer, wherein the treatment probe comprises:

i) one or more electrodes configured to deliver electrical energy to a tissue; and

ii) one or more impedance sensors configured to measure impedance within two different frequency ranges, wherein a first frequency range is 0.001 Hz to 1 kHz and a second frequency range is about 0.1 MHz to 100 GHz; wherein the impedance analyzer is configured for operable communication with the one or more impedance sensors to measure the impedance; and

wherein the waveform generator is further configured for delivering the electrical energy to the one or more electrodes and for delivering an electrical signal to the one or more impedance sensors.

19. The system of claim 18 , further comprising a computer, wherein the computer is configured for operable communication with the impedance analyzer and to determine a location of treated tissue.

20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the computer comprises a processing logic further configured to generate a signal to a user when the location of treated tissue has reached a predetermined position.

21. The system of claim 18 , wherein the one or more electrodes are needle electrodes.

22. The system of claim 18 , wherein the elongated member comprises a proximal portion and a distal portion, the distal portion having a pointed, rounded, or flat end.

23. The system of claim 22 , wherein the one or more electrodes are located at or along the distal portion of the elongated member.

24. The system of claim 23 , wherein the one or more impedance sensors comprise an array of impedance sensors, and the array of impedance sensors is located between the proximal portion of the elongated member and the one or more electrodes.

25. The system of claim 18 , wherein the one or more impedance sensors comprise an array of impedance sensors.

26. The system of claim 18 , wherein the first frequency range is about 0.1 Hz to about 10 Hz and the second frequency range is about 0.1 MHz to about 10 MHz.

Assignments (5)
CONFIRMATORY LICENSE Recorded Feb 26, 2025
From: VIRGINIA POLYTECHNIC INST AND ST UNIV
To: NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Reel/Frame 070334/0596 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 14, 2020
From: DAVALOS, RAFAEL V.; BONAKDAR, MOHAMMAD; LATOUCHE, EDUARDO L.; MAHAJAN, ROOP L.; ROBERTSON, JOHN L.; ARENA, CHRISTOPHER B.; SANO, MICHAEL B.
To: VIRGINIA POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE AND STATE UNIVERSITY
Reel/Frame 054050/0795 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 14, 2020
From: VIRGINIA POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE AND STATE UNIVERSITY
To: VIRGINIA TECH INTELLECTUAL PROPERTIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 054050/0882 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 14, 2020
From: DAVALOS, RAFAEL V.; BONAKDAR, MOHAMMAD; LATOUCHE, EDUARDO L.; MAHAJAN, ROOP L.; ROBERTSON, JOHN L.; ARENA, CHRISTOPHER B.; SANO, MICHAEL B.
To: VIRGINIA POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE AND STATE UNIVERSITY
Reel/Frame 054051/0048 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 14, 2020
From: VIRGINIA POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE AND STATE UNIVERSITY
To: VIRGINIA TECH INTELLECTUAL PROPERTIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 054051/0216 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 15536333
Provisional Application 62091703 · Dec 15, 2014
Related Publication 20200260987A1 · Aug 20, 2020
Cited By (14)
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