Examples presented herein generally include a catheter and a system configured to deliver electrical pulses for ablation by IRE and methods for constructing and using the same. The catheter and system can further be configured to delivery RF electrical current for thermal ablation interleaved with ablation by IRE, simultaneously with ablation by IRE, and/or separately from ablation by IRE. The catheter can have a linear distal portion with a tip electrode, a middle ring electrode, and a proximal ring electrode. The electrodes be configured in several combinations to provide unipolar ablation, bipolar ablation, and/or a combination thereof.

Various examples of an ablation end effector are shown and described with two balloons independently inflatable so that a distal balloon can be used to ensure stability of the second balloon for electrical ablation in a beating heart. Methods and techniques to operate the ablation end-effectors are also described.

The present invention provides systems, methods, and devices for electroporation-based therapies (EBTs). Embodiments provide patient-specific treatment protocols derived by the numerical modeling of 3D reconstructions of target tissue from images taken of the tissue, and optionally accounting for one or more of physical constraints or dynamic tissue properties. The present invention further relates to systems, methods, and devices for delivering bipolar electric pulses for irreversible electroporation exhibiting reduced or no damage to tissue typically associated with an EBT-induced excessive charge delivered to the tissue.

An intravascular ablation device, including a flexible elongate body; an expandable element positioned on the elongate body; a radiofrequency or electroporation treatment segment located distally of the expandable element; a cryogenic coolant source in fluid communication with an interior of the expandable element; and a radiofrequency or electroporation energy source in communication with the radiofrequency or electroporation treatment segment.

The present disclosure provides catheters for electroporation systems. One catheter includes a plurality of catheter electrodes disposed along a portion of a distal end of the electroporation catheter. The plurality of catheter electrodes includes a plurality of first type catheter electrodes adapted for use with an electroporation generator during an electroporation procedure and a plurality of second type catheter electrodes adapted for use with an electroporation generator during an electroporation procedure and for use with a diagnostic subsystem. The plurality of first type catheter electrodes is positioned at a distal end of the electroporation catheter. Each second type catheter electrode is adjacent another second type catheter electrode.

A catheter for tissue ablation with one or more electrodes attached to the inner surface of the catheter body facing the lumen, and one or more electrodes attached to the outer surface. The electrodes are offset from the distal end of the catheter. The material between the inner and outer electrodes is an insulator and may be for example a dielectric with a high dielectric constant. This catheter configuration generates an electric field that bends around the tip of the catheter. The field strength near the catheter tip is relatively symmetric; therefore, tissue ablation depth is relatively insensitive to catheter orientation. Embodiments may have multiple inner or outer electrodes and may switch voltage configurations across electrodes to vary the electric field direction over time, improving ablation consistency.

An endocardial catheter comprises an outer shaft having an outer shaft lumen, an inner shaft slidably disposed within the outer shaft lumen, a spline assembly comprising a plurality of flexible splines each having a spline proximal end attached to a distal end of the outer shaft, an opposite spline distal end attached to a distal end of the inner shaft, and an electrode, wherein the plurality of splines collectively define an interior space of the spline assembly, and a foldable membrane disposed within the interior space of the spline assembly, the foldable membrane having an outer edge portion attached to one or more of the splines. The foldable membrane comprises an electrically insulative material.

This document describes methods and materials for improving the delivery of electroporation. For example, this document describes methods and devices for delivering electroporation while mitigating risks of ventricular fibrillation.

A medical apparatus includes a probe configured for insertion into a body of a patient. The probe includes a plurality of electrodes configured to contact tissue within the body. The medical apparatus further includes an electrical signal generator configured to apply between one or more pairs of the electrodes signals of first and second types in alternation. The signals of the first type include a sequence of bipolar pulses having an amplitude sufficient to cause irreversible electrophoresis (IRE) in the tissue contacted by the electrodes. The signals of the second type include a radio-frequency (RF) signal having a power sufficient to thermally ablate the tissue contacted by the electrodes.

An apparatus includes a shaft assembly, first and second electrode assemblies, and a controller. The shaft assembly is configured to fit in a nasal cavity of a patient. The first and second electrode assemblies are at the distal end of the shaft assembly. The second electrode assembly includes a stimulus electrode and a sensing electrode. The stimulus and sensing electrodes are positioned on opposing lateral sides in relation to the longitudinal axis of the shaft assembly. The controller is operable to generate an electrical signal to perform one or both of tissue ablation or denervation of a targeted nerve via the first electrode assembly, generate an electrical stimulus signal to stimulate the targeted nerve via the stimulus electrode of the second electrode assembly, and process a response signal received from the targeted nerve via the sensing electrode of the second electrode assembly.