High-Voltage Pulse Discharge Circuit for Safe nsPEF Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current nanosecond pulsed electric field (nsPEF) generators lack effective control over pulse generator charge state, posing risks to operators, patients, and test subjects, and are inefficient in delivering high voltage pulses due to limitations in switch technology, leading to low efficiency and high impedance issues.
Innovation Solution
A tunable, high-voltage nsPEF generator system utilizing a Marx-switch stack hybrid circuit with power MOSFETs and a discharge circuit that allows for selective discharge of capacitors, enabling precise control over pulse parameters and reducing risk through safe energy management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If conventional switch technology is used to deliver high voltage pulses, then the generator can produce nsPEFs, but the efficiency is low and impedance is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the high voltage pulse delivery system into multiple stages, with each stage containing series-connected power MOSFETs. This segmentation allows each switch to handle a portion of the total voltage, reducing individual switch stress and improving overall efficiency while maintaining low output impedance through coordinated switching of multiple segments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces conventional mechanical or simple electronic switch technology with power MOSFETs, which offer faster switching speeds, lower on-resistance, and better efficiency. This substitution eliminates the high impedance and low efficiency associated with older switch technologies while enabling precise control of the nsPEF delivery.
2Power
If energy storage devices are charged to generate nsPEFs, then high voltage pulses can be delivered, but the risk of damage and harm to operators and patients increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the energy storage function into separate, isolated capacitor stages that can be independently charged and discharged. This extraction allows the high voltage energy to be contained in discrete units, reducing the overall risk profile while maintaining the capability to deliver high voltage pulses when needed for treatment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a discharge circuit with switches that can preemptively discharge the energy storage devices before potential harmful events occur. This beforehand cushioning mechanism ensures that if an emergency or unintended discharge situation arises, the energy can be safely dissipated in advance, protecting operators and patients from harm.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If pulse generator charge state control is improved for safety, then risk reduction is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback control through the discharge circuit, which monitors the charge state of the energy storage devices and automatically activates switches to discharge capacitors when appropriate. This feedback mechanism provides safe, automatic charge state management without requiring complex manual control systems, thereby reducing risk while keeping device complexity manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The discharge circuit is designed to automatically manage the charge state of energy storage devices without external intervention. The circuit self-regulates by detecting charged capacitors and activating discharge paths as needed, providing autonomous safety management that reduces operational complexity while maintaining rigorous charge state control.
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 achieves high efficiency, low impedance, and variability in pulse duration, allowing for safe and effective delivery of nsPEFs with improved control, reducing the risk of damage and enhancing treatment efficacy for cancerous tumors by stimulating apoptosis and immune response.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of inductive elements configured to generate the control signals for the serially connected switches, where each inductive element is configured to generate a control signal for one of the serially connected switches in response to one or more input signals at one or more of the control input terminals
Data Source
AI summary
A pulse generator discharge circuit is disclosed. The circuit includes one or more discharge stages, each discharge stage including a plurality of control input terminals. The circuit also includes first and second discharge terminals, and a plurality of serially connected switches electrically connected between the first and second discharge terminals, where a conductive state of each of the switches is controlled by a control signal. The circuit also includes a plurality of inductive elements configured to generate the control signals for the serially connected switches, where each inductive element is configured to generate a control signal for one of the serially connected switches in response to one or more input signals at one or more of the control input terminals, and where each of the serially connected switches is configured to receive a control signal from a respective one of the inductive elements.