A surgical instrument that includes a surgical end effector that is articulatable relative to a proximal shaft segment of the surgical instrument. The surgical end effector is attached to the proximal shaft segment by an articulation joint that comprises a plurality of movably interconnected links that interface with a centrally disposed drive member to apply articulation motions thereto and which serve to provide improved lateral stability to the articulation joint.

Certain drugs and other molecules cannot ordinarily traverse the blood brain barrier (BBB). However, when alternating electric fields at certain first frequencies (e.g., 100 kHz) are applied to the brain, the BBB becomes permeable to those molecules. Moreover, certain drugs and other molecules cannot ordinarily traverse cell membranes. However, when alternating electric fields at certain second frequencies are applied to the cells (e.g., 150 kHz for uterine sarcoma cells), the cell membranes become permeable to those molecules. To get a certain drug past both the BBB and the relevant cell membranes, the permeability of both of those barriers can be overcome by sequentially (or simultaneously) applying alternating electric fields at both the first frequency and the second frequency.

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.

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.

An electrode device for use in delivery of electrical pulses to a desired tissue of a mammal. The electrode device comprises a handle portion comprising first second electrode connections, and first and second needle electrodes comprising a respective first and second attachment end. Each one of the first and second electrode connections is configured with an inner electrode position and an outer electrode position, wherein the inner and outer electrode positions are electrically conducting. Further, each one of the first and second attachment ends is configured with an insulating part configured to electrically insulate one out of the inner electrode position and the outer electrode position when located therein, and configured with an electrically conducting part configured to conduct current supplied to the other one out of the inner electrode position or the outer electrode position when located therein.

Disclosed are methods of delivering a therapeutic to a target site of a subject comprising administering a lipid capsule to a target site of a subject, wherein the lipid capsule comprises a therapeutic agent; and applying an alternating electric field, at a frequency for a period of time, to the target site of the subject, wherein the alternating electric field releases the therapeutic from lipid capsule at the target site of the subject. Disclosed are methods of increasing target site specific release of a therapeutic agent in a subject comprising administering a lipid capsule to a target site of a subject, wherein the lipid capsule comprises a therapeutic agent; and applying an alternating electric field, at a frequency for a period of time, to the target site of the subject, wherein the alternating electric field releases the therapeutic agent from the lipid capsule at the target site of the subject, thereby increasing the target site specific release of the therapeutic agent. Disclosed are methods of treating comprise administering a lipid capsule to a target site of a subject in need thereof, wherein the lipid capsule comprises a therapeutic agent; and applying an alternating electric field, at a frequency for a period of time, to the target site of the subject in need thereof, wherein the alternating electric field releases the therapeutic agent from the lipid capsule at the target site of the subject in need thereof. Disclosed are methods of killing a cell comprising administering a lipid capsule to a target site, wherein the lipid capsule comprises a therapeutic agent; and applying an alternating electric field for a period of time, to the target site, wherein the alternating electric field releases the therapeutic agent from the lipid capsule at the target site, wherein the target site comprises a cell, wherein the therapeutic kills the cell.

An electrode array for use with an electroporation device includes a support member having a top surface and a bottom surface and defines a plurality of injection channels extending from the top surface to the bottom surface. A plurality of needle electrodes are coupled to the support member, such that distal ends of the plurality of needle electrodes extend to a needle depth below the bottom surface. The plurality of needle electrodes are arranged in a matrix pattern having rows of the needle electrodes and columns of the needle electrodes disposed along the support member. The plurality of injection channels are dispersed within the matrix pattern.

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.

Cancer treatment methods using thermotherapy and/or enhanced immunotherapy are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the method comprising the steps of: (i) applying controlled thermal energy at 40-43° C. for a first predetermined time period to damage and weaken tumor cells of a tumor in a patient; (ii) administering pulsed high intensity focused ultrasound (pHIFU) in a first ultrasound mode to the tumor cells in the patient so as to damage the tumor cells without increasing the thermal energy; and (iii) administering low intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU) in a second ultrasound mode to further damage the tumor cells at a temperature of 39-43° C. for a second predetermined time period while performing observation of the tumor cells by ultrasonic thermometry.

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.