Electrical ablation devices and methods

摘要

An electrical ablation device may generally comprise first and second electrodes coupled to an energy source operative to generate and deliver a first sequence of electrical pulses and a second sequence of electrical pulses to tissue having a necrotic threshold, wherein the first sequence of electrical pulses delivers a first energy dose that is less than the necrotic threshold to induce thermal heating in the tissue and the second sequence of electrical pulses delivers a second energy dose equal to or greater than the necrotic threshold to induce cell necrosis in the tissue by irreversible electroporation. The first sequence of electrical pulses may each be independently characterized by a first amplitude, a first pulse width, and a first frequency. The second sequence of electrical pulses may be characterized by a second amplitude, a second pulse width, and a second frequency.

主权项

1. An ablation apparatus, comprising:
a housing extending along a housing axis; a first electrode supported in the housing, wherein the first electrode extends along a first axis, and wherein the first axis is substantially parallel to the housing axis; and a second electrode supported in the housing, wherein the second electrode extends along a second axis, wherein the second axis is substantially parallel to the housing axis, and wherein the second electrode is laterally-offset from the first electrode; wherein the first and second electrodes are coupled to an energy source operative to generate and deliver a first sequence of electrical pulses and a second sequence of electrical pulses to tissue having a necrotic threshold, and wherein the first sequence of electrical pulses delivers a first energy dose that is less than the necrotic threshold to induce thermal heating in the tissue intermediate the laterally-offset first and second electrodes and the second sequence of electrical pulses delivers a second energy dose equal to or greater than the necrotic threshold to induce cell necrosis in the tissue intermediate the laterally-offset first and second electrodes by irreversible electroporation; wherein the first electrode is electrically coupled to a first polarity of the energy source, wherein the second electrode is electrically coupled to a second polarity of the energy source, wherein the second polarity is opposite to the first polarity, and wherein the first sequence of electrical pulses and the second sequence of electrical pulses are transmitted laterally between the laterally-offset first and second electrodes substantially transverse to the first and second axes.