Patent ID: 9211155
Filing Date: 2015-12-15
Classification: A61B,A61N

Abstract:
1. A minimally invasive method for treating prostate tissue of a prostate in a body via direct current ablation from a urethra transecting the prostate, comprising: inserting a catheter into the urethra, wherein a portion of the catheter remains outside of the body when the catheter is in a treatment position proximate the prostate; deploying a fixation element associated with the catheter to fix the catheter in the treatment position; deploying a plurality of electrodes through the catheter into the prostate, wherein at least one of the plurality of electrodes is deployed into at least one of a lateral posterior quadrant of the prostate tissue relative to the urethra, a lateral anterior quadrant of the prostate tissue relative to the urethra, or combinations of the prostate tissue relative to the urethra thereof, and wherein the electrodes are separated by an angular spacing; determining input treatment parameters, wherein the input treatment parameters include a quantity of charge to the prostate tissue; inputting the input treatment parameters into at least one of a power source and a processor; using a power source to apply direct current between approximately 10 and 50 mA and a power of less than 3200 mW to each of the plurality of electrodes to deliver the quantity of charge, wherein the direct current applied is based on the input treatment parameters; wherein upon application of the direct current, at least one of the plurality of electrodes imparts at least one of a high pH and a low pH in a treatment zone proximate to each electrode of the plurality of electrodes to create a necrotic zone in the treatment zone, wherein the application of the direct current is substantially non-thermal; comparing a measured treatment parameter with at least one of the input treatment parameters; and stopping the application of direct current to the treatment zone once the measured treatment parameter reaches the at least one input treatment parameter, wherein the at least one input treatment parameter is reached and the application of direct current to the plurality of electrodes is stopped between approximately 15 and 45 minutes with the catheter in the treatment position.