US 12,137,968 B2
Methods and apparatus for multi-catheter tissue ablation
Gary L. Long, Cincinnati, OH (US)
Assigned to Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc., Maple Grove, MN (US)
Filed by Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc., Maple Grove, MN (US)
Filed on Mar. 19, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/207,053.
Application 17/207,053 is a continuation of application No. 15/795,075, filed on Oct. 26, 2017, abandoned.
Application 15/795,075 is a continuation of application No. 15/341,523, filed on Nov. 2, 2016, abandoned.
Application 15/341,523 is a continuation of application No. PCT/US2015/031086, filed on May 15, 2015.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/996,855, filed on May 16, 2014.
Prior Publication US 2022/0000547 A1, Jan. 6, 2022
Int. Cl. A61B 18/12 (2006.01); A61B 18/14 (2006.01); A61B 17/00 (2006.01); A61B 18/00 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 18/1492 (2013.01) [A61B 2017/00154 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00363 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00577 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00613 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00654 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00708 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00839 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00875 (2013.01); A61B 18/1206 (2013.01); A61B 2018/124 (2013.01); A61B 2018/126 (2013.01); A61B 2018/1266 (2013.01)] 8 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for delivering electrical energy to a target tissue of a patient, the energy configured to achieve ablation by irreversibly electroporation so as to treat a cardiac arrhythmia, the system comprising:
a first flexible catheter having a first distal end portion including a first magnet having a first magnetic polarity, the first flexible catheter including a first plurality of electrodes;
a second flexible catheter having a second distal end portion including a second magnetic having a second magnetic polarity opposite to the first magnetic polarity and configured to couple to the first magnet at the first distal end portion, the second flexible catheter including a second plurality of electrodes;
wherein the first and second flexible catheters are configured to be disposed at least partially around a cardiac chamber adjacent the target tissue when coupled together at the first and second end portions by the first and second magnets;
a voltage pulse generator configured to produce a pulsed voltage waveform; and
an electrode controller configured to be operably coupled to the voltage pulse generator, the electrode controller including a first output port and a second output port, the first output port configured to be operatively coupled to the first plurality of electrodes, the second output port configured to be operatively coupled to the second plurality of electrodes, the electrode controller configured to determine an impedance between a first subset of electrodes drawn solely from the first plurality of electrodes and a second subset of electrodes drawn solely from the second plurality of electrodes, and to select from the first and second subsets of electrodes at least one paired electrode subset for electrical pairing based on a pre-determined range of impedance values selected for ablation, and to deliver first and second output signals having opposite electrical polarities and associated with a pulsed voltage waveform respectively to the first and second output ports for respective application to the first and second subsets of electrodes of the at least one paired electrode subset, wherein the first and second output signals are configured to generate an electric field sufficient to achieve irreversible electroporation to ablate the target tissue.