Granted Patent B2

US 12,697,172 · App. 18/100,835 · Granted Aug 4, 2026

Inventors: Paulo A. Garcia (Somerville, MA); Rafael V. Davalos (Blacksburg, VA)

Assignee: Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc.

A61B34/10A61B18/1206A61B18/14A61B18/1477A61B18/18C12N13/00A61B2018/0016A61B2018/00577A61B2018/00613A61B2018/00666A61B2018/00672A61B2018/00678A61B2018/00767A61B2018/00875A61B2018/1425A61B2034/104

Abstract

Claims (42)

1 . A method of treating a lesion, the method comprising:

activating a generator to apply at least one test pulse to the lesion via an electrode;

activating the generator to administer an electrical energy based treatment via the electrode, including applying at least one treatment pulse to the lesion based on a measured response from the at least one test pulse, wherein the at least one treatment pulse has a higher voltage than the at least one test pulse;

wherein the generator is operably coupled to a processor and a display device, the processor for executing instructions stored in a non-transitory, computer readable medium, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the processor to:

determine a baseline conductivity of the lesion from the application of the test pulse;

based at least in part on the baseline conductivity, determine a maximum conductivity expected during administration of the electrical energy based treatment;

monitor a parameter associated with the electrical energy based treatment, thereby monitoring a progress of the electrical energy based treatment;

determine a result of the electrical energy based treatment based on:

the maximum conductivity expected; and

the monitoring of the parameter associated with the electrical energy based treatment;

display, on the display device, the progress of the electrical energy based treatment in real-time; and

display, on the display device, the result of the electrical energy based treatment.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising administering at least one non-electroporating pulse after the applying of the at least one treatment pulse.

3 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising measuring a response from the at least one non-electroporating pulse.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the measured response from the at least one non-electroporating pulse is a measured electrical conductivity.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the measured response from the at least one test pulse is a measured current.

6 . The method of claim 5 , further comprising estimating a target ablation zone based on the maximum conductivity expected.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the monitoring of the progress includes monitoring a current value associated with the electrical energy based treatment.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the monitoring of the progress includes monitoring a voltage value associated with the electrical energy based treatment.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the monitoring of the progress includes monitoring a high current condition, a low current condition, a high voltage condition, or a low voltage condition.

10 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining whether the electrical energy based treatment was successful in ablating the lesion.

11 . A method of treating a lesion, the method comprising:

applying at least one test pulse to the lesion via an electrode;

measuring a response from the at least one test pulse, wherein the measured response includes an impedance value;

optimizing a treatment plan, based on the measured response, for an electrical energy based treatment, wherein the electrical energy based treatment includes at least one treatment pulse;

applying the at least one treatment pulse based on the optimized treatment plan;

determining a baseline conductivity of the lesion from the application of the test pulse;

determining a maximum conductivity expected during administration of the electrical energy based treatment;

monitoring a parameter associated with the electrical energy based treatment, thereby monitoring a progress of the electrical energy based treatment;

determining a result of the electrical energy based treatment based on;

the monitoring of the parameter associated with the electrical energy based treatment, wherein the determining includes determining whether the electrical energy based treatment was successful in ablating the lesion; and

a ratio of the maximum conductivity expected to the baseline conductivity;

displaying, on a display device, a progress of the electrical energy based treatment in real-time; and

displaying, on the display device, the result of the electrical energy based treatment in a manner in which indicates whether the electrical energy based treatment was successful or whether further treatment is necessary.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the treatment plan includes an estimated treatment volume.

13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the measured response is a measured current.

14 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising estimating a target ablation zone based on the maximum electrical conductivity expected.

15 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the monitoring of the progress includes monitoring an impedance value associated with the at least one treatment pulse.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the at least one test pulse includes an AC voltage pulse and the at least one treatment pulse includes a DC voltage pulse delivered through the same electrode.

17 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the monitoring of the progress includes monitoring a current value associated with the electrical energy based treatment.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the monitoring of the progress includes monitoring a voltage value associated with the electrical energy based treatment.

19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the monitoring of the progress includes monitoring a high current condition, a low current condition, a high voltage condition, or a low voltage condition.

Assignments (2)

Continuity (11)

References Cited (400)