Patent classifications
A61B2018/124
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ELECTROPORATION USING ASYMMETRIC WAVEFORMS AND WAVEFORMS WITH REDUCED BURST DURATION
Systems and methods for electroporation are provided. An electroporation system includes a catheter including a plurality of electrodes, and a pulse generator coupled to the catheter, the pulse generator configured to generate a waveform to be delivered using at least one of the plurality of electrodes. The waveform includes a first pulse having a first polarity, a first pulse amplitude, and a first pulse width, and a second pulse having a second polarity, a second pulse amplitude, and a second pulse width, wherein the first and second pulses are separated by an interpulse delay, and wherein at least one of i) the first pulse amplitude is different than the second pulse amplitude and ii) the first pulse width is different than the second pulse width.
Systems and methods for activating transducers
Transducer-based systems and methods may be configured to display a graphical representation of a transducer-based device, the graphical representation including graphical elements corresponding to transducers of the transducer-based device, and also including between graphical elements respectively associated with a set of the transducers and respectively associated with a region of space between the transducers of the transducer-based device. Selection of graphical elements and/or between graphical elements can cause activation of the set of transducers associated with the selected elements. Transducer activation characteristics, such as initiation time, activation duration, activation sequence, and energy delivery characteristics, can vary based on numerous factors. Visual characteristics of graphical elements and between graphical elements can change based on an activation-status of the corresponding transducers. Activation requests for a set of transducers can be denied if it is determined that a transducer in the set of transducers is unacceptable for activation.
NON-INVASIVE UNIFORM AND NON-UNIFORM RF METHODS AND SYSTEMS
Systems and methods utilizing RF energy to treat a patient's skin (e.g., dermis and hypodermis) or other target tissue including at a depth below a tissue surface (e.g., skin surface, mucosal surfaces of the vagina or esophagus) are provided herein. In various aspects, the methods and systems described herein can provide a RF-based treatment in which the deposition of RF energy can be selectively controlled to help ensure heating uniformity during one or more of body sculpting treatment (lipolysis), skin tightening treatment (laxity improvement), cellulite treatment, vaginal laxity or rejuvenation treatment, urinary incontinence treatment, fecal incontinence treatment, all by way of non-limiting examples. In various aspects, the systems can comprise one or more sources of RF energy (e.g., a RF generator), a treatment applicator comprising one or more electrode arrays configured to be disposed in contact with a tissue surface, and a return electrode (e.g., a neutral pad) to the tissue surface.
APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR INTRA-CARDIAC MAPPING AND ABLATION
An intra-cardiac mapping system is based on locating the ports through which blood flows in or out the heart chambers. For many procedures, such as ablation to cure atrial fibrillation, locating the pulmonary veins and the mitral valve accurately allows to perform a Maze procedure. The location of the ports and valves is based on using the convective cooling effect of the blood flow. The mapping can be performed by a catheter-deployed expandable net or a scanning catheter. The same net or catheter can also perform the ablation procedure.
Tissue Ablation Cannula Assembly
An assembly for radiofrequency ablation of tissue. The assembly includes a cannula and an electrode. A cannula body includes a cannula bend, and a single side opening radially positioned on an outer side of the cannula body. The outer side may be opposite an inner side on which a tip terminates at a point. A cannula hub may include indicia on a face that corresponds to the inner side. An electrode bend of an electrode body may be formed at a same axial location along its length as the cannula bend is formed along the length of the cannula body. The electrode may include a thermocouple near a distal end of the electrode body to be either directed through the single side opening in a dual active tip mode, or seated in a distal section of the cannula body in a single active tip mode.
Radio frequency ablation systems
The present invention relates to systems for use for radio frequency ablation. The systems can include one or more of an ablation tool, power source for use with the ablation tool and a backstop for use in conjunction with the ablation tool during surgical procedures. Preferred ablation tools comprise a series of three or more blade-shaped electrodes disposed in a linear, curved, curvilinear or circular array. The backstops are useful for reducing direct physical and thermal heat transfer injuries to the patient or surgeon during procedures using radiofrequency (RF) ablation devices.
HYBRID ELECTROPORATION ABLATION CATHETER
At least some embodiments of the present disclosures are directed to a hybrid electroporation ablation catheter. In some embodiments, the hybrid electroporation ablation catheter comprises a catheter shaft having a proximal end and an opposite distal end and an electrode assembly extending from the distal end of the catheter shaft and the electrode assembly comprising a plurality of energy-delivering electrodes. The electrode assembly is configured to be selectively operable in a plurality of different operation modes.
Optimizing treatment using TTFields by changing the frequency during the course of long term tumor treatment
Tumors can be treated with an alternating electric field. The size of cells in the tumor is determined prior to the start of treatment by, for example, biopsy or by inverse electric impedance tomography. A treatment frequency is chosen based on the determined cell size. The cell size can be determined during the course of treatment and the treatment frequency is adjusted to reflect changes in the cell size. A suitable apparatus for this purpose includes a device for measuring the tumor impedance, an AC signal generator with a controllable output frequency, a processor for estimating the size of tumor cells and setting the frequency of the AC signal generator based thereon, and at least one pair of electrodes operatively connected to the AC signal generator such that an alternating electric field is applied to the tumor.
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SELECTING, ACTIVATING, OR SELECTING AND ACTIVATING TRANSDUCERS
Transducer-based systems can be configured to display a graphical representation of a transducer-based device, the graphical representation including graphical elements corresponding to transducers of the transducer-based device, and also including between graphical elements respectively associated with a set of the transducers and respectively associated with a region of space between the transducers of the transducer-based device. Selection of graphical elements and/or between graphical elements can cause activation of the set of transducers associated with the selected elements. Selection of a plurality of graphical elements and/or between graphical elements can cause visual display of a corresponding activation path in the graphical representation. Visual characteristics of graphical elements and between graphical elements can change based on an activation-status of the corresponding transducers. Activation requests for a set of transducers can be denied if it is determined that a transducer in the set of transducers is unacceptable for activation.
Surgical instrument utilizing drive signal to power secondary function
A surgical instrument connectable to a surgical energy module that is configured to provide a first drive signal at a first frequency range for driving a first energy modality and a second drive signal at a second frequency range for driving a second energy modality is provided. The surgical instrument can comprise a surgical instrument component configured to receive power from a direct current (DC) power source, an end effector, and a circuit. The circuit can be configured to convert the first electrical signal to a DC voltage, apply the DC voltage to the surgical instrument component, and deliver the second energy modality to the end effector according to the second drive signal. Alternatively, the circuit can be disposed within a cable assembly configured to connect the surgical instrument to the surgical energy module.