US6107699A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Power supply for use in electrophysiological apparatus employing high-voltage pulses to render tissue temporarily unresponsive
Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed Inc
•
Filing: 1998-05-22
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Granted: 2000-08-22
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Expires: 2018-05-22
Abstract
Abstract Systems and methods for diagnosing and treating tissue transmit an electrical energy pulse that temporarily stuns a zone of tissue, temporarily rendering it electrically unresponsive. The systems and methods sense an electrophysiological effect due to the transmitted pulse. The systems and methods alter an electrophysiological property of tissue in or near the zone based, at least in part, upon the sensed electrophysiological effect. The alteration of the electrophysiological property can be accomplished, for example, by tissue ablation or by the administration of medication. In a preferred implementation, radio frequency energy is used to both temporarily stun tissue and to ablate tissue through a common electrode.
Inventors
- 👤 David K. Swanson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 22:11
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/04; A61B18/12; A61B18/14; A61B18/1492; A61B2018/00053; A61B2018/00214
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
113 words
A high-voltage RF energy pulse circuit for use in an electrophysiological system that supplies stunning or modification energy to tissue, comprising: an AC power supply; a rectifying circuit coupled to the AC power supply and having an output terminal; a RC circuit having a capacitor and a first resistor directly connected to the capacitor, an input terminal coupled to the rectifying circuit, and an output terminal; and a first switching device connecting the output terminal of the RC circuit to a load; wherein a charge stored by the capacitor is discharged through the first resistor providing a pulse train of RF pulses to the load in response to switching of the switching device.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
113 words
A high-voltage RF energy pulse circuit for use in an electrophysiological system that supplies stunning or modification energy to tissue, comprising: an AC power supply; a rectifying circuit coupled to the AC power supply and having an output terminal; a RC circuit having a capacitor and a first resistor directly connected to the capacitor, an input terminal coupled to the rectifying circuit, and an output terminal; and a first switching device connecting the output terminal of the RC circuit to a load; wherein a charge stored by the capacitor is discharged through the first resistor providing a pulse train of RF pulses to the load in response to switching of the switching device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
64 words
A circuit as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a first transformer coupled to the AC power supply and having an input coupled to the AC power supply and an output coupled to the rectifying circuit; and a second transformer coupled to the RC circuit having an input coupled to the output terminal of the RC circuit and an output coupled to the load.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
A circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first resistor is in parallel with the capacitor, and the circuit further comprising: second and third resistors, and a second switching device connected in parallel with one of the second and third resistors.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
68 words
A circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the AC power supply has an output power that is controllable, the circuit further comprising: a controller coupled to the AC power supply and to the RC circuit, the controller adapted to control the AC power supply and the switching of the first and second switching devices, and to measure the voltage drop across at least one of the resistors.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
A circuit as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first switching device is selectively switched to ON and OFF states by the controller to produce the pulse train of RF pulses.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
A circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the AC power supply has an output power that is controllable, the circuit further comprising: a controller for controlling the AC power supply to vary the power output by the AC power supply.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
A circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rectifying circuit is a full-wave bridge rectifier.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
48 words
A circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first switching device is a semiconductor switching device selected from the group consisting of a SCR, a gate turn-off thyristor, a power MOSFET, a transistor, a thyristor, and a hybrid device with a FET input and a bipolar output.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
A circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the capacitor stores up to 600 joules of energy.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
112 words
A high-voltage RF energy pulse circuit for use in an electrophysiological system that supplies stunning or modification energy to tissue, comprising: means for supplying AC power; means for rectifying the AC power connected to the means for supplying AC power; means for storing energy supplied by the means for supplying AC power connected to the means for rectifying the AC power; and means for switching connected to the means for storing energy and to a load, the means for switching being selectively operable in a plurality of operating modes to provide RF energy to the load; wherein amplitudes and cycles of the RF energy vary depending upon which operating mode is employed.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
112 words
A high-voltage RF energy pulse circuit for use in an electrophysiological system that supplies stunning or modification energy to tissue, comprising: means for supplying AC power; means for rectifying the AC power connected to the means for supplying AC power; means for storing energy supplied by the means for supplying AC power connected to the means for rectifying the AC power; and means for switching connected to the means for storing energy and to a load, the means for switching being selectively operable in a plurality of operating modes to provide RF energy to the load; wherein amplitudes and cycles of the RF energy vary depending upon which operating mode is employed.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
87 words
A high-voltage RF energy pulse circuit for use in an electrophysiological system that supplies stunning or modification energy to tissue, comprising: a power supply; a storage device including an input operably connected to the power supply and an output; and a switching device operably connecting the storage device output to a load and selectively operable in a plurality of operating modes; wherein the load is subjected to a pulse train of RF pulses conducive to stunning or modifying tissue in response to switching of the switching device.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
87 words
A high-voltage RF energy pulse circuit for use in an electrophysiological system that supplies stunning or modification energy to tissue, comprising: a power supply; a storage device including an input operably connected to the power supply and an output; and a switching device operably connecting the storage device output to a load and selectively operable in a plurality of operating modes; wherein the load is subjected to a pulse train of RF pulses conducive to stunning or modifying tissue in response to switching of the switching device.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
A circuit as claimed in claim 11, wherein the power supply comprises an AC power supply.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
A circuit as claimed in claim 12, further comprising: a rectifying circuit having an input operably connected to the AC power supply and an output operably connected to the storage device.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
A circuit as claimed in claim 11, wherein the storage device comprises a capacitor.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
A circuit as claimed in claim 11, wherein the power supply comprises a battery.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
A circuit as claimed in claim 12, further comprising: a switching device having an input operably connected to the battery and an output operably connected to the storage device.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
A circuit as claimed in claim 10, wherein the amplitudes and cycles in a first operating mode are conducive to stunning tissue.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
A circuit as claimed in claim 17, wherein the amplitudes and cycles in a second operating mode are conducive to modifying tissue.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
26 words
A circuit as claimed in claim 10, wherein the cycles have a frequency of at least about 100 kHz and no greater than about 100 MHz.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
102 words
A high-voltage RF energy pulse circuit for use in an electrophysiological system that supplies stunning or modification energy to tissue, comprising: a power supply; a storage device including an input operably connected to the power supply and an output, and a switching device operably connecting the storage device output to a load and selectively operable in a plurality of operating modes; wherein the load is subjected to a pulse train of RF pulses conducive to stunning or modifying tissue in response to switching of the switching device; wherein the switching device includes a plurality of switch paths providing different levels of gain.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
102 words
A high-voltage RF energy pulse circuit for use in an electrophysiological system that supplies stunning or modification energy to tissue, comprising: a power supply; a storage device including an input operably connected to the power supply and an output, and a switching device operably connecting the storage device output to a load and selectively operable in a plurality of operating modes; wherein the load is subjected to a pulse train of RF pulses conducive to stunning or modifying tissue in response to switching of the switching device; wherein the switching device includes a plurality of switch paths providing different levels of gain.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-08-22 | 2004-02-21 | 2004-08-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-08-22 | 2008-02-21 | 2008-08-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-08-22 | 2012-02-21 | 2012-08-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |