Nanosecond pulsed electric field ablation electric shock cup capable of adjusting distance between electrode plates
By designing a nanosecond pulsed electric field ablation cup with adjustable electrode plate distance, the problems of limited electric field intensity variation and adherent cell ablation were solved, and effective ablation of suspended and adherent cells under a uniform electric field was achieved.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- THE FIRST AFFILIATED HOSPITAL ZHEJIANG UNIV COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
- Filing Date
- 2025-05-20
- Publication Date
- 2026-04-24
AI Technical Summary
In existing nanosecond pulsed electric field ablation experiments, the overall size of the electrocautery cup and the distance between the electrode plates are fixed, making it difficult to achieve continuous changes in the electric field intensity and to ablate adherent cells under a uniform electric field.
A nanosecond pulsed electric field ablation electroshock cup with adjustable electrode plate distance was designed. It adopts a structure with built-in movable electrode plates and high-voltage resistant insulating rubber layer. The electrode plate distance can be arbitrarily adjusted by combining the movable electrode plates with fixing bolts and springs. A rectangular cell culture plate is embedded inside the electroshock cup to accommodate adherent cells.
It achieves continuous variation of electric field strength under constant applied voltage, and can effectively ablate suspended and adherent cells under uniform electric field, solving the problems of limited electric field strength variation and adherent cell ablation.
Smart Images
Figure CN224160627U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This utility model relates to the field of pulsed electric field tumor ablation therapy, and in particular to a nanosecond pulsed electric field ablation electrotherapy cup with adjustable electrode plate distance. Background Technology
[0002] Pulsed electric fields are a relatively new tumor ablation therapy technique. Currently, pulsed electric fields used in tumor treatment are classified by pulse width, mainly including millisecond-level pulsed electric fields, microsecond-level pulsed electric fields, and nanosecond-level pulsed electric fields. Nanosecond pulsed electric fields are a tumor local ablation technique developed using the cellular biological effects of high-voltage pulsed electric fields. It is a novel method for reducing local tumor burden without relying on thermal effects. Nanosecond pulsed electric fields achieve this by accumulating high-voltage electrical energy (typically tens of kilovolts) and then releasing it over nanosecond time intervals, outputting high-voltage, short, and low-thermal-effect electrical pulses. Compared to traditional thermal ablation methods, such as radiofrequency ablation, nanosecond pulsed electric fields, due to their extremely short duration, can penetrate cell membranes and act on intracellular structures within nanoseconds, leading to apoptosis or necrosis. This results in minimal heat generation, characterized by low thermal effect and no thermal damage. Compared to current mainstream thermal ablation treatments, nanosecond pulsed electric field ablation offers a series of advantages, including shorter duration, less pain, less damage to adjacent bile ducts and large blood vessels, no thermal effect conduction, and less post-treatment scarring. This has made it a highly promising local tumor treatment method with significant clinical translational potential over the past two decades. In vitro studies have demonstrated that it can induce significant apoptosis and necrosis in tumor cells through multiple mechanisms and exhibits synergistic effects with various chemotherapeutic drugs, targeted therapies, and nanomedicines. Furthermore, multiple animal experiments have shown that it can effectively ablate various tumors, including breast cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, pancreatic cancer, osteosarcoma, melanoma, and squamous cell carcinoma. In addition, recent clinical trials for basal cell carcinoma and hepatocellular carcinoma have also demonstrated its significant application potential in the field of local tumor treatment due to its safety and efficacy.
[0003] In current nanosecond pulsed electric field cell ablation experiments, electrocautery cups are the primary carriers for ablation cell suspensions. However, commonly used electrode cups only come in three main sizes with electrode plate distances of 0.1 cm, 0.2 cm, and 0.4 cm, making it difficult to achieve continuous changes in electric field intensity by finely varying the electrode plate distance. Furthermore, due to factors such as the morphology of adherent cells, protein synthesis levels, and damage from cell digestion, there are certain differences between cells in their adherent and suspended states. Since most adherent cells are currently cultured in culture dishes or flasks, it is currently difficult to conduct research on nanosecond pulsed electric field ablation of adherent cells using an externally applied uniform electric field. Utility Model Content
[0004] The purpose of this application is to provide a nanosecond pulsed electric field ablation electrocautery cup with adjustable electrode plate distance, solving the problem that the fixed overall size of the electrocautery cup in existing nanosecond pulsed electric field cell ablation experiments leads to a fixed plate distance, resulting in very limited specifications in the current market and making it difficult to achieve continuous changes in electric field intensity. Simultaneously, it provides a new solution to the problem that existing nanosecond pulsed electric field cell ablation experimental devices are difficult to use for experimental ablation of adherent cells under a uniform electric field.
[0005] According to an embodiment of this application, a nanosecond pulsed electric field ablation electroshock cup with adjustable electrode plate distance is provided, including a cup body and an electroshock cup lid. The lower part of the cup body has a pair of opposing conductive aluminum electrode plates, and the electroshock cup lid is mounted on the cup body. The cup body also includes:
[0006] An adjustable electrode plate is disposed in the cup body. The adjustable electrode plate includes an aluminum electrode plate at the bottom and a polycarbonate plate at the top. A high-voltage resistant insulating rubber layer is adhered to the right side of the aluminum electrode plate.
[0007] The conductive aluminum electrode plate located on the left side and the left side of the aluminum electrode plate body are enclosed by a first retractable insulating rubber sleeve to form a container with a variable opening space at the top, which is used to hold cell suspension.
[0008] The conductive aluminum electrode plate on the right side has a high-voltage resistant insulating rubber layer adhered to its surface.
[0009] The left side of the aluminum electrode plate is electrically connected to the conductive aluminum electrode plate located on the right side via a wire.
[0010] Optionally, the cup body is a cuboid container with an open top, and through holes are provided on both side walls of the container for mounting conductive aluminum electrode plates.
[0011] Optionally, the cup body has a scale for measuring the position of the movable electrode plate between a pair of conductive aluminum electrode plates.
[0012] Optionally, the through hole is covered by a second retractable insulating rubber sleeve.
[0013] Optionally, the two ends of the wire pass through the high-voltage resistant insulating rubber layer adhered to the right side of the aluminum electrode plate and the high-voltage resistant insulating rubber layer adhered to the conductive aluminum electrode plate located on the right side, respectively.
[0014] Optionally, the conductive aluminum electrode plate on the right side is connected to the right side of the aluminum electrode plate body by a spring, which fixes the movable electrode plate in a vertical position and allows adjustment of its distance from the conductive aluminum electrode plate.
[0015] Optionally, a left-right sliding groove is provided at the upper end of the cup body, and a fixing bolt is provided on each side of the upper edge of the movable electrode plate. The two ends of the fixing bolt are inserted into the sliding groove, and the position of the movable electrode plate is fixed to a certain position of the cup body by the nut. A layer of retractable insulating rubber sleeve is glued between the fixing bolt and the two ends of the sliding groove to cover the sliding groove.
[0016] Optionally, the electric shock cup lid has a groove, in which a rectangular cell culture plate can be embedded, placing it in a conductive liquid medium environment inside the cup body.
[0017] The technical solutions provided by the embodiments of this application may include the following beneficial effects:
[0018] As can be seen from the above embodiments, compared with the existing pulse electric field ablation electrodes, this application adopts an electroshock cup design with built-in movable electrode plates. By tightening and loosening the fixing bolts protruding outward from both sides of the movable electrode plate and the fixing nuts connected to them, the position of the movable electrode plate can be fixed to any position on the cup body, realizing arbitrary adjustment of the electrode plate spacing. There are two layers of high-voltage resistant insulating rubber separating the movable electrode plate from the inner lining electrode plate of the opposite electroshock cup wall. At the same time, the surfaces of the high-voltage resistant insulating rubber layers on both sides are connected by two horizontal springs, fixing the movable electrode plate in a vertical position. The wires passing through the high-voltage resistant insulating rubber layers on both sides and connecting the movable electrode plate and the inner lining electrode plate of the opposite electroshock cup wall connect the two originally insulated states, realizing continuous adjustment of the electrode plate spacing while keeping the overall size of the electroshock cup unchanged. Meanwhile, the space between the side of the movable electrode plate without the high-voltage insulating rubber layer and the opposite wall of the electrocautery cup containing the conductive aluminum electrode plate, including the cup walls on both the front and back sides without the conductive aluminum electrode plate material and the bottom of the electrocautery cup, is tightly connected to the movable electrode plate and the opposite wall of the electrocautery cup containing the conductive aluminum electrode plate by a layer of retractable insulating rubber sleeve. This constitutes a closed cubic space with an opening at the top for containing cell suspension. By using tweezers to hold the movable electrode plate and move it left and right, continuous changes in field strength are achieved in the experiment of nanosecond pulse electric field ablation of cells under a constant external output voltage. In addition, this application adopts an electrocautery cup cap design with grooves inside, in which a rectangular cell culture plate can be embedded. The rectangular cell culture plate with adherent cells is placed in the conductive liquid medium environment inside the electrocautery cup for ablation, realizing the ablation of adherent cells under a uniform electric field of nanosecond pulses. This invention effectively solves the problem that traditional pulsed electric field tumor ablation, due to the fixed overall size and plate spacing of the electrocautery cup, has very limited specifications, making it difficult to achieve precise changes and continuous variations in electric field intensity. Simultaneously, it also solves the problem that existing electrocautery cups are unsuitable for studying the ablation of adherent cells using nanosecond pulsed uniform electric fields.
[0019] It should be understood that the above general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only, and do not limit this application. Attached Figure Description
[0020] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with this application and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of this application.
[0021] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the main cross-sectional structure of a nanosecond pulse electric field ablation electroshock cup with adjustable electrode plate distance provided in an embodiment of the present invention.
[0022] Figure 2 A top view of a nanosecond pulse electric field ablation electroshock cup with adjustable electrode plate distance provided for an embodiment of this utility model (excluding the electroshock cup cover).
[0023] Figure 3 This is a top view of the electric shock cup lid provided in an embodiment of the present invention.
[0024] The attached figures are labeled as follows:
[0025] 1. Cup body; 2. Electric shock cup lid; 3. Conductive aluminum electrode plate; 4. Movable electrode plate; 41. Aluminum electrode plate body; 42. Polycarbonate plate body; 5. High voltage resistant insulating rubber layer; 6. First retractable insulating rubber sleeve; 7. Container; 8. Scale; 9. Spring; 10. Slide groove; 11. Fixing bolt; 12. Nut; 13. Second retractable insulating rubber sleeve; 14. Groove; 15. Cup lid handle. Detailed Implementation
[0026] Exemplary embodiments will now be described in detail, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. When the following description relates to the drawings, unless otherwise indicated, the same numbers in different drawings denote the same or similar elements. The embodiments described in the following exemplary embodiments do not represent all embodiments consistent with this application. Rather, they are merely examples of apparatuses and methods consistent with some aspects of this application as detailed in the appended claims.
[0027] The terminology used in this application is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the application. The singular forms “a,” “the,” and “the” used in this application and the appended claims are also intended to include the plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It should also be understood that the term “and / or” as used herein refers to and includes any or all possible combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.
[0028] It should be understood that although the terms first, second, third, etc., may be used in this application to describe various information, such information should not be limited to these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish information of the same type from one another. For example, without departing from the scope of this application, first information may also be referred to as second information, and similarly, second information may also be referred to as first information. Depending on the context, the word "if" as used herein may be interpreted as "when," "when," or "in response to determination."
[0029] like Figures 1-3 As shown, this utility model provides a nanosecond pulsed electric field ablation electroshock cup with adjustable electrode plate distance, including a cup body 1 and an electroshock cup cover 2. The lower part of the cup body 1 has a pair of oppositely arranged conductive aluminum electrode plates 3. The electroshock cup cover 2 is installed on the cup body 1. It also includes: a movable electrode plate 4, which is adjustablely disposed in the cup body 1. The movable electrode plate 4 includes an aluminum electrode plate body 41 located at the bottom and a polycarbonate plate body 42 located at the top. The right side of the aluminum electrode plate body 41 is covered with a high-voltage resistant insulating rubber layer 5. The conductive aluminum electrode plate 3 located on the left side and the left side of the aluminum electrode plate body 41 are surrounded by a first retractable insulating rubber sleeve 6 to form a container 7 with a variable opening space at the top. This container 7 is used to contain cell suspension. The surface of the conductive aluminum electrode plate 3 located on the right side is covered with a high-voltage resistant insulating rubber layer 5. The left side of the aluminum electrode plate body 41 is electrically connected to the conductive aluminum electrode plate 3 located on the right side through a wire.
[0030] As can be seen from the above embodiments, compared with existing pulsed electric field ablation electrodes, this application adopts an electroshock cup design with a built-in movable electrode plate 4. The lower part of the movable electrode plate 4 is a conductive aluminum electrode plate 3, and the upper part is a transparent polycarbonate insulating cup body 1 that can withstand high voltage, while ensuring its conductivity and safety; the movable electrode plate 4 is adjustablely disposed in the cup body 1, and the position of the movable electrode plate 4 can be fixed at any position on the cup body 1, realizing arbitrary adjustment of the electrode plate spacing.
[0031] By injecting cell suspension into the container 7 and moving the movable electrode plate 4 left and right with tweezers, the continuous change of the ablation electric field strength was achieved in the experiment of ablation of cells with nanosecond pulse electric field under the condition that the external output voltage remained unchanged.
[0032] In this embodiment, without loss of generality, the cup body 1 is a cuboid container 7 with an open top. The side walls of the container 7 have through holes for installing conductive aluminum electrode plates. The through holes are covered by a second retractable insulating rubber sleeve 13, which allows the movable electrode plate 4 to be inserted into the through holes through the fixing bolts 11 on both sides of its upper end. This allows the position of the movable electrode plate in the cup body to be adjusted arbitrarily in the left and right directions. Since the electric field strength (E) is inversely proportional to the plate spacing (d) of the parallel plate capacitor under the premise that the applied voltage (U) is constant (E=U / d), this allows the electric field strength inside the conductive part (container 7) of the electric shock cup (the parallel plate capacitor) to be adjusted arbitrarily within a certain range after energization.
[0033] In this embodiment, the cup body 1 has a scale 8 for measuring the distance between the movable electrode plate 4 and the conductive aluminum electrode plate 3. This distance is the plate spacing of the parallel plate capacitor formed by the two, providing parameters for subsequent calculation of the electric field strength in the parallel plate capacitor.
[0034] In this embodiment, a first retractable insulating rubber sleeve 6 is provided on the inner side of the front and rear walls of the electroshock cup (i.e., the front and rear walls of container 7) and the bottom of container 7. The rubber sleeve 6 is connected to the left wall of the cup body, i.e. the edge of the conductive aluminum electrode plate 3, and to the right edge of the movable electrode plate 4. The retractable insulating rubber sleeve 6 on the front, rear, and lower sides, together with the conductive aluminum electrode plate 3 on the left and the movable electrode plate 4 on the right, form a closed cubic space with an opening at the top, i.e., container 7. This space is the space for injecting cell suspension. When the electrode plates on the left and right sides are energized, it becomes a closed parallel plate capacitor region, providing a uniform electric field for the experiment to the cell suspension inside.
[0035] In this embodiment, the movable electrode plate 4 and the right conductive aluminum electrode plate 3 are separated by two layers of high-voltage resistant insulating rubber 5. Simultaneously, the surfaces of the two high-voltage resistant insulating rubber layers 5 are connected by two horizontal springs, fixing the movable electrode plate 4 in a vertical position. This ensures that the movable electrode plate 4 is always in a vertical position perpendicular to the cup wall and bottom. The two ends of the wire pass through the high-voltage resistant insulating rubber layer 5 adhered to the right side of the aluminum electrode plate 41 and the high-voltage resistant insulating rubber layer 5 adhered to the right-side conductive aluminum electrode plate 3, respectively. The wire passing through the two high-voltage resistant insulating rubber layers 5 connects the two previously insulated components, preventing direct air conduction. This design ensures that the voltage value of the high-voltage electric field applied to the outside of the cup body 3 on both sides is equal to the electric field strength applied to the cell electrostimulation region between the left conductive aluminum electrode plate 3 and the right aluminum electrode plate 41.
[0036] In this embodiment, the conductive aluminum electrode plate 3 on the right side is connected to the right side of the aluminum electrode plate body 41 by a spring. This embodiment has two springs, each connected to the middle part of the movable electrode plate, positioned front and back to prevent torsion. Since the middle movable electrode plate needs a fixed fulcrum to maintain its vertical position, the outer diameter of the spring can be larger to increase the connection area with the movable electrode plate. When there is no external force or when adjusting the position of the movable electrode plate, the movable electrode plate 4 is kept in a vertical position. Once the position of the movable electrode plate 4 is adjusted, it is fixed directly by the fixing bolt 11 and nut 12. The elasticity of the spring should not be too large, otherwise it will be difficult to adjust the movable electrode plate. The spring should be adjustable and fixed without shifting.
[0037] In this embodiment, a left-right sliding groove 10 is formed at the upper end of the cup body 1. A fixing bolt 11 is located on each side of the upper edge of the movable electrode plate 4. Both ends of the fixing bolt 11 pass through the sliding groove 10. Nuts 12 are used to fix the position of the movable electrode plate 4 to a certain position on the cup body 1, thereby fixing the position of the movable electrode plate 4 to any position on the cup body 1, achieving arbitrary adjustment of the electrode plate spacing. A second retractable insulating rubber sleeve 13 is adhered between the fixing bolt 11 and both ends of the sliding groove 10 to cover the sliding groove 10. This design ensures that the inside of the electrotherapy cup remains in a sterile, sealed environment during the sliding adjustment process of the movable electrode plate 4.
[0038] In this embodiment, the electroshock cup lid 2 has a lid handle 15 and a groove 14. A rectangular cell culture plate with adherent cells can be embedded in the groove 14. When the lid is closed, this rectangular cell culture plate is placed in the conductive liquid medium environment inside the cup body 1. This design overcomes the shortcoming of currently commercially available electroshock cups that cannot achieve adherent cell ablation, and provides a new solution to the difficult problem of electroshock experiments on adherent cells in a uniform electric field.
[0039] The method of use and principle of this utility model are as follows:
[0040] 1. Suspended cell electroshock experiment: First, determine the value of the applied voltage (U) of the parallel plate capacitor used in this experiment and the value of the planned electric field strength E. Calculate the plate distance d of the parallel electrode plates according to the formula E=U / d (d is the distance between the left conductive aluminum electrode plate cup 3 and the middle movable electrode plate 4). Use tweezers to hold the movable electrode plate 3 and move it to the position indicated by the scale 8. Then, inject the cell suspension into the container 7. After that, place the electroshock cup into the electroshock cup metal cup holder of the nanosecond pulse electric field generator. Turn on the nanosecond pulse electric field generator to start the suspended cell electroshock experiment.
[0041] 2. Adherent cell electroshock experiment: First, adjust the electric field strength by adjusting the position of the movable electrode plate 3 as described above. Then, inject an appropriate amount of cell culture medium into the container 7. Next, embed a rectangular cell culture plate with adherent cells into the groove 14 on the inner surface of the cup lid. Cover the cup lid so that the rectangular cell culture plate is placed in the cell culture medium in the container 7. Then, place the electroshock cup into the electroshock cup metal cup holder of the nanosecond pulse electric field generator. Turn on the nanosecond pulse electric field generator to start the adherent cell electroshock experiment.
[0042] The above-described embodiments provide a detailed explanation of the technical solution and beneficial effects of this utility model. It should be noted that the above are merely specific implementation examples of this utility model and do not limit this utility model. Any modifications, additions, and equivalent substitutions made within the scope of the principles of this utility model are included within the protection scope of this utility model.
Claims
1. A nanosecond pulsed electric field ablation electroshock cup with adjustable electrode plate distance, comprising a cup body and an electroshock cup lid, wherein the lower part of the cup body has a pair of opposing conductive aluminum electrode plates, and the electroshock cup lid is mounted on the cup body, characterized in that, Also includes: An adjustable electrode plate is disposed in the cup body. The adjustable electrode plate includes an aluminum electrode plate at the bottom and a polycarbonate plate at the top. A high-voltage resistant insulating rubber layer is adhered to the right side of the aluminum electrode plate. The conductive aluminum electrode plate located on the left side and the left side of the aluminum electrode plate body are enclosed by a first retractable insulating rubber sleeve to form a container with a variable opening space at the top, which is used to hold cell suspension. The conductive aluminum electrode plate on the right side has a high-voltage resistant insulating rubber layer adhered to its surface. The left side of the aluminum electrode plate is electrically connected to the conductive aluminum electrode plate located on the right side via a wire.
2. The nanosecond pulsed electric field ablation cup with adjustable electrode plate distance according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cup body is a cuboid container with an open top, and through holes are opened on both sides of the container for installing conductive aluminum electrode plates.
3. The nanosecond pulsed electric field ablation cup with adjustable electrode plate distance according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cup body has a scale for measuring the position of the movable electrode plate between a pair of conductive aluminum electrode plates.
4. The nanosecond pulsed electric field ablation cup with adjustable electrode plate distance according to claim 2, characterized in that, The through-hole is covered by a second retractable insulating rubber sleeve.
5. The nanosecond pulsed electric field ablation cup with adjustable electrode plate distance according to claim 3, characterized in that, The two ends of the wire pass through the high-voltage resistant insulating rubber layer adhered to the right side of the aluminum electrode plate and the high-voltage resistant insulating rubber layer adhered to the conductive aluminum electrode plate located on the right side, respectively.
6. The nanosecond pulsed electric field ablation cup with adjustable electrode plate distance according to claim 1, characterized in that, The conductive aluminum electrode plate on the right is connected to the right side of the aluminum electrode plate body by a spring, which fixes the movable electrode plate in a vertical position and allows adjustment of its distance from the conductive aluminum electrode plate.
7. The nanosecond pulsed electric field ablation cup with adjustable electrode plate distance according to claim 1, characterized in that, The upper end of the cup body has a left-right sliding groove. There is a fixing bolt on each side of the upper edge of the movable electrode plate. The two ends of the fixing bolt pass through the sliding groove, and the position of the movable electrode plate is fixed to a certain position of the cup body by the nut. A layer of retractable insulating rubber sleeve is glued between the fixing bolt and the two ends of the sliding groove to cover the sliding groove.
8. The nanosecond pulsed electric field ablation cup with adjustable electrode plate distance according to claim 1, characterized in that, The electric shock cup lid has a groove, into which a rectangular cell culture plate can be embedded, placing it in a conductive liquid medium environment inside the cup body.