Insulated Electrode Tips for Arc-Free Skin Lesion Treatment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current electrical pulse generators for treating skin lesions face challenges in preventing electrical arcing between electrodes, which can lead to ineffective treatment and tissue damage, and existing methods often require substantial tissue removal.

Innovation Solution

A system with insulated electrode tips coated with materials like fluoropolymer or ceramic to prevent arcing, generating pulses of 1,000 nanoseconds or less, with an electric field of 1 kV/cm to 100 kV/cm, applied to skin lesions to prevent growth or reduce volume without substantial tissue removal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If electrical pulse generators are used to treat skin lesions, then treatment effectiveness is improved, but electrical arcing between electrodes occurs causing tissue damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment effectivenessVSAvoidelectrical arcing and tissue damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an electrically insulating coating as an intermediary layer between the electrodes and the tissue environment. This coating prevents direct electrical contact and arcing between electrodes while still allowing the desired electrical pulses to be delivered to the tissue for treatment, thus resolving the contradiction between treatment effectiveness and prevention of harmful arcing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies thin film insulating coatings on the electrode surfaces. These thin films provide electrical insulation to prevent arcing while maintaining the structural integrity and functionality of the electrodes. The thin film approach allows effective treatment delivery without the harmful side effects of electrical discharge.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Reliability

If conventional electrical pulse generators are used, then electrical discharge occurs between electrodes, but this leads to ineffective treatment and tissue damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment efficacyVSAvoidelectrical discharge and tissue damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The insulating coating serves as a mediator that modifies the interaction between electrodes and tissue. It prevents harmful electrical discharge while permitting controlled electrical pulse delivery, thereby eliminating the harmful factors without compromising treatment efficacy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the electrical properties of the electrode surface by applying insulating coatings. This parameter change prevents electrical discharge between electrodes while maintaining the ability to deliver therapeutic electrical pulses to the tissue, thus resolving the contradiction between effective treatment and prevention of harmful discharge.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If existing treatment methods are used, then skin lesions can be treated, but substantial tissue removal is required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelesion treatment effectivenessVSAvoidtissue removal

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical tissue removal methods with electrical pulse delivery. By using controlled electrical pulses delivered through insulated electrodes, the treatment achieves lesion elimination through non-mechanical means, thereby preventing substantial tissue loss while maintaining treatment effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The system effectively prevents lesion growth or reduces volume by at least 30% within eight days, with up to 80% reduction in lesion volume in most cases, and can clear lesions in a non-invasive manner, maintaining efficacy for several days post-treatment.

Implementation Method 1

At least a portion of the outer surface of the ground electrode, the delivery electrode, or both may be coated with an electrically insulating material to reduce or prevent electrical discharge (arcing) between the electrodes during the delivery of electrical pulses to a tissue.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical insulation: Electrical Resistance

Implementation Method 2

Ultra-short, high-field strength electric pulses may be used in the electroperturbation of biological cells. Nanosecond high voltage pulse generators have been proposed for biological and medical applications.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectNanosecond pulsed electric field generation:

Implementation Method 3

The voltage induced across a cell membrane may depend on the pulse length and pulse amplitude. Pulses much shorter than about 1 microsecond may affect the cell interior without adversely or permanently affecting the outer cell membrane. Such shorter pulses with a field strength in the range of 10 kV/cm to 100 kV/cm may trigger apoptosis or programmed cell death.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectroperturbation:

Data Source

PatentUS9956391B2Electric pulse generators

Publication Date: 2018.05.01 PULSE BIOSCIENCES INC

AI summary

This disclosure relates to an in vivo treatment of a skin lesion of a mammal comprising application of electrical energy to the skin lesion in a form of electrical pulses. At least one electrical pulse is applied. The pulse duration may be at least 1 nanosecond at the full-width-half-maximum. This treatment may prevent at least growth of the lesion.