Spring-Loaded Needle Probe Guide for Irreversible Electroporation

The patent changes the fundamental parameter of energy delivery from thermal (continuous heating) to electrical (pulsed electric fields). By using irreversible electroporation with controlled electric pulses, the system achieves tissue ablation without the thermal diffusion that causes damage to surrounding healthy tissue. The electric field parameters (voltage, pulse duration, frequency) are precisely controlled to target only the undesirable tissue.

The patent replaces the thermal/mechanical heating system with an electrical field-based system. Instead of using high temperature thermal energy to cause cell necrosis, the system uses controlled electric pulses that create irreversible electroporation in cell membranes, leading to cell death without thermal effects. This substitution eliminates the temperature-related harmful effects while maintaining the necrosis achievement.

The patent segments the treatment approach by using multiple independently controllable electrodes that can be positioned at different locations and orientations. This segmentation allows the system to treat tissue in a non-line-of-sight manner, as each electrode can be independently directed at residual tissue in cavities and lumens. The modular electrode design enables adaptation to complex anatomical structures that conventional single-direction instruments cannot access.

The patent employs a spring-loaded mechanism that automatically positions and secures the electrodes at the correct depth and orientation within the tissue. The spring mechanism provides self-regulating force to ensure consistent electrode-tissue contact without requiring manual adjustment, thereby achieving reliable ablation of undesirable tissue while preserving the healthy tissue margin through precise, repeatable positioning.