IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,564,436
Granted Patent B2
US 12,564,436 · App. 18/503,067 · Granted Mar 3, 2026

Methods, systems, and apparatuses for tissue ablation using pulse shape designs

Inventors: Boris Rubinsky (El Cerrito, CA); Paul Mikus (Miami, FL); Liel Rubinsky (El Cerrito, CA); Michael Klaus Stehling (Rödermark, DE); Enric Günther (Hattersheim, DE)
Assignees: Inter Science GmbH; RM2 Technology LLC
A61B18/1206A61B18/1402A61N1/205A61N1/327A61B5/14539A61B2018/00577A61B2018/00613A61B2018/00827A61B2018/00994A61B2018/1266A61B2018/1472
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,564,436
App. No.
18/503,067
Granted
Mar 3, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Example methods and apparatuses are disclosed for providing tissue ablation through electrolysis, electroporation, or a combination thereof. A way to deliver the combination through a pulse that has an element of gradual decay and can thereby reduce both muscle contraction and electric breakdown discharge at the electrodes is disclosed. The apparatus disclosed may include an electrode, a power supply, and a controller. The controller may control a charge applied to the electrode to induce a direct current through a treatment site to produce electrolysis products and a voltage to produce electroporation. The duration and magnitude of the charge applied may determine the dose of the products and the degree of the permeabilization of cells in the treatment site.

Claims (27)

1 . A method for tissue ablation, the method comprising:

delivering a pulse of a current or a voltage to a treatment site, wherein a magnitude and a duration of the pulse is selected to induce electroporation at the treatment site;

wherein the duration of the pulse is further selected to produce an amount of electrolytic products at the treatment site;

receiving a current measurement from the treatment site, wherein the current measurement is indicative of electroporation at the treatment site;

receiving a pH measurement from the treatment site; and

adjusting a duration and a magnitude of a subsequent pulse to the treatment site with a controller based on the current measurement and the pH measurement.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the electroporation induced is reversible electroporation.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the electroporation induced is irreversible electroporation.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising discontinuing applying the subsequent pulse to the treatment site when a time period has elapsed.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the current measurement is indicative of a gas at the treatment site, and

wherein the magnitude of the subsequent pulse is adjusted by the controller to reduce discharge of the gas.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising discontinuing applying the subsequent pulse to the treatment site when the pH measurement reaches a threshold value.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the threshold value is indicative of ablation of tissue at the treatment site.

8 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the threshold value is indicative of tissue damage at the treatment site.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the current measurement is indicative of a gas at the treatment site,

wherein the pulse comprises a plateau, and

wherein a width of the plateau is selected to reduce discharge of the gas at the treatment site.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the pH measurement is indicative of electrolytic products at the treatment site and the magnitude and the duration of the subsequent pulse are adjusted to produce an amount of the electrolytic products sufficient to induce cell death.

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein delivering the pulse comprises:

charging a capacitance to an initial voltage with a power supply; and

discharging the capacitance through a resistance and an electrode to the treatment site, wherein the pulse has an exponential decay defined by a time constant.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the capacitance is selected so that the voltage of the pulse induces electroporation at the treatment site.

13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the resistance is selected so that the time constant provides a duration of the pulse adequate to generate an amount of electrolytic products at the treatment site sufficient to induce cell death.

14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the duration is based on and adjusted as a function of the current measurement.

15 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the capacitance is selected based, at least in part on the amount of electrolytic products and a period of the electroporation.

16 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising measuring an isoelectric field level at the treatment site by an electric meter,

wherein the isoelectric field level is indicative of cell permeabilization.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 7, 2023
From: MIKUS, PAUL; RUBINSKY, LIEL; RUBINSKY, BORIS; STEHLING, MICHAEL KLAUS; GUNTHER, ENRIC
To: INTER SCIENCE GMBH; RM2 TECHNOLOGY LLC
Reel/Frame 065484/0638 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 17195298 · Mar 8, 2021
Division 15570914
Provisional Application 62155623 · May 1, 2015
Related Publication 20240065749A1 · Feb 29, 2024
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