JP-2026076185-A - Electrical applicator for applying energy to the surface of a tissue or the shallow layer of that surface.

Abstract

[Problem] To provide an apparatus and method for applying electrical energy to target tissue using a therapeutic applicator equipped with one or more electrodes. [Solution] The therapeutic applicator for delivering electrical energy to target tissue has a therapeutic tip in which dual suction ports 1615 each form a continuous suction port between two sets of electrodes 1605, and each elongated suction port pulls the tissue between the sets of electrodes to prevent arc discharge and firmly fixes the tissue in contact with the tip so that the electrodes can penetrate into the tissue. [Selection Diagram] Figure 16

Inventors

• モス，ケヴィン，エル．
• ダニッツ，デヴィッド，ジェイ．
• コノリー，リチャード，ジェイ．
• ヴァイルバッハー，キャサリン，ピー．
• ヒンマン，キャメロン，ディー．

Assignees

• パルス バイオサイエンシズ インコーポレイテッド

Dates

Publication Date

20260511

Application Date

20251226

Priority Date

20210810

Claims (20)

1. A device for delivering electrotherapy, An electrode housing extending from the distal end of the device, A first electrode or set of electrodes extending from or configured to extend from the electrode housing and arranged over a first length of the electrode housing, A second electrode or set of electrodes extending from or configured to extend from the electrode housing and positioned over a second length of the electrode housing parallel to the first length, A device comprising: a suction port that penetrates the electrode housing and extends continuously between the first electrode or set of electrodes and the second electrode or set of electrodes, the suction port extending further across the electrode housing than the first and second lengths to prevent arc discharge between the first electrode or set of electrodes and the second electrode or set of electrodes.
2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the collision distance, including the minimum path length between the first electrode or set of electrodes and the second electrode or set of electrodes around the suction port, is 5% or more longer than the minimum distance extending across the suction port between the first electrode or set of electrodes and the second electrode or set of electrodes.
3. A device for delivering electrotherapy, An electrode housing extending from the distal end of the device, A first electrode or set of electrodes extending from or configured to extend from the electrode housing, A second electrode or set of electrodes extending from or configured to extend from the electrode housing, A device comprising: an suction port that penetrates the electrode housing and extends continuously between the first electrode or set of electrodes and the second electrode or set of electrodes, wherein the collision distance between the first electrode or set of electrodes and the second electrode or set of electrodes, including the minimum path length around the first suction port, is 10% or more longer than the minimum distance extending across the suction port between the first electrode or set of electrodes and the second electrode or set of electrodes, so as to prevent arc discharge between the first electrode or set of electrodes and the second electrode or set of electrodes.
4. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the suction port at least partially surrounds the first electrode or set of electrodes.
5. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a second suction port that penetrates the electrode housing and extends continuously between the first electrode or set of electrodes and the second electrode or set of electrodes.
6. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising: a first external suction port located on the side of the first electrode or set of electrodes opposite the suction port; and a second external suction port located on the side of the second electrode or set of electrodes opposite the suction port.
7. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the suction port comprises a C-shaped opening that penetrates the electrode housing.
8. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the suction port comprises an I-shaped opening that penetrates the electrode housing.
9. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the electrode housing is configured to extend and retract relative to the distal end of the applicator housing.
10. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the first electrode or set of electrodes and the second electrode or set of electrodes are equipped with non-penetrating electrodes.
11. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the first electrode or set of electrodes and the second electrode or set of electrodes are equipped with a tissue-penetrating electrode.
12. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, further comprising one or more peripheral seals around the suction port, configured to seal the distal end of the device to target tissue when suction is applied through the suction port.
13. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 12, further comprising a suction channel within the electrode housing that communicates fluid with the suction port.
14. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the device is configured as a treatment tip, and the device further comprises a mechanical and/or electrical connector at the proximal end of the treatment tip, which is configured to be detachably coupled to a handpiece.
15. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 13, comprising a reusable handpiece and a replaceable treatment tip, wherein the replaceable treatment tip is configured to be releasably coupled to the reusable handpiece through one or more electrical connectors and vacuum connectors.
16. The device according to claim 15, further comprising a pulse generator coupled to the handpiece.
17. The device according to claim 15, further comprising a negative pressure source within the reusable handpiece.
18. Applying the distal end of the treatment applicator in contact with the tissue, The tissue is brought into contact with the first electrode or set of first electrodes and the second electrode or set of second electrodes on the electrode housing of the treatment applicator. To prevent arc discharge between the first electrode or set of first electrodes and the second electrode or set of second electrodes by applying suction through the continuous suction port on the electrode housing that extends between the first electrode or set of first electrodes and the second electrode or set of second electrodes, so that the tissue comes into contact with the continuous suction port that extends beyond either side of the first electrode or set of first electrodes and the second electrode or set of second electrodes, A method comprising applying pulsed electrotherapy to the tissue using a first electrode or a set of first electrodes and a second electrode or a set of second electrodes.
19. The method according to claim 18, wherein preventing arc discharge involves applying suction through the suction port such that the collision distance between the first electrode or set of electrodes and the second electrode or set of electrodes, including the minimum path length around the first suction port, is at least 5% longer than the minimum distance extending across the suction port between the first electrode or set of electrodes and the second electrode or set of electrodes.
20. The method according to any one of claims 18 to 19, wherein contact with the tissue includes penetrating the tissue using the first electrode or set of first electrodes and the second electrode or set of second electrodes.

Description

Cross-reference of related applications This patent application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/231,698, filed on 10 August 2021, entitled “ELECTRICAL APLICATORS FOR APPLYING ENERGY TO TISSUE SURFACES OR REGIONS SUPERFICIAL TO THE SURFACE,” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. By Reference: All publications and patent applications described herein are incorporated herein by reference to the same extent as each individual publication or patent application is specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference. Technical Field The methods and apparatus described herein may relate to electrodes for applying electrical energy to a subject, such as a patient. More specifically, the methods and apparatus described herein relate to electrodes capable of applying pulsed electrical energy (e.g., nanosecond pulsed electrical energy) to the surface of a patient's tissue, such as skin, or to a shallow area of the tissue surface. These apparatuses and methods described herein may be particularly useful for improving targeting and positioning, and for avoiding or minimizing undesirable electrical changes to tissue, including preventing or limiting electric arcs. Electrical energy can be applied within tissues for a variety of purposes, including the treatment of medical conditions. Electrical energy can be delivered through electrodes of therapeutic applicators placed on and/or inserted into the tissue. In some cases, the application of electrical energy through electrodes can cause undesirable changes in the tissue at or around the electrodes. Insufficient or inconsistent contact between the therapeutic applicator, including the electrodes, and the tissue can lead to such undesirable changes, particularly when applying high voltage or high-power energy, potentially resulting in uncontrolled discharges such as arcs. These problems can become particularly serious when applying high-speed, high-energy pulses, for example, to treat patients. For instance, nanosecond high-voltage pulse generators have been described for biological and medical applications. See, for example, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0038971. The entire contents of these publications are incorporated herein by reference. Due to the extremely high treatment voltage and very fast pulse duration, applicators for the delivery of such sub-microsecond pulsed devices should ideally be configured to avoid, or at least minimize, arc discharge between electrodes. Furthermore, improving contact between the tissue and the applicator and electrodes, including preventing tissue tenting around and/or between the electrodes, would be beneficial. Tenting can occur when tissue penetrated or pressed by one or more electrodes on the applicator and/or treatment tip stretches around the electrodes, leaving a gap. Tenting can cause problems with targeting and control of the applied energy, including arc discharge, potentially resulting in less favorable electrotherapy outcomes. The methods and apparatus described herein can address various issues raised above, including improved targeting of the treatment area. This specification describes apparatuses and methods for applying electrical energy to target tissue using a therapeutic applicator (hereinafter also simply referred to as “applicator” or “applicator device”) having one or more electrodes. These electrodes may be configured to be used in conjunction with locally applied suction to assist in establishing or maintaining contact with the tissue surface and/or superficial regions of the tissue. For example, this specification describes a therapeutic applicator having an array of electrodes, each of which can be biased to apply a predetermined force in contact with the tissue. These electrodes may have extended positions, but in some embodiments they may be blunted or otherwise configured not to penetrate the tissue, so that contact with the tissue surface can drive the electrodes to retract at least partially into the therapeutic applicator while the electrodes are driven in contact with the tissue with a constant force. In some embodiments, these electrodes may be used in conjunction with suction applied around the electrodes, thereby stabilizing contact with the target tissue. Suction may be coupled with the electrodes such that contact with the tissue (detected by retracting the electrodes) can trigger the application of suction. The methods and apparatus described herein can address arc discharge and tenting, as well as the targeting problems described above. For example, these methods and apparatus can improve targeting of the lesion area by allowing the user to clearly see the target lesion when placing the treatment applicator on the tissue, and to continue seeing the lesion throughout the treatment. Therefore, energy can be applied directly to the skin surface using one or more electrodes, thereby reducing the physical trauma assoc