Patent ID: 8348938

Claim:
A system for providing electrical energy to human tissue to treat a tissue condition, said system comprising: a high voltage pulse generator for generating a short high voltage pulse of energy at a pair of output terminals; said pulse generator including a spark gap which contains a pressurized gas and which emits a spark when the voltage across the spark gap exceeds the dielectric strength of the gas in the spark gap; a sensor for sensing the pressure of the gas in the spark gap and for providing a pressure signal related to the sensed pressure; means responsive to the pressure signal for adjusting the pressure in the spark gap to modify the magnitude of the voltage of the short high voltage pulse generated by the pulse generator; a delivery device for receiving the short high voltage pulse of energy from the pulse generator and for applying the short high voltage pulse of energy to said tissue; and at least a pair of needle electrodes disposed in said delivery device for penetrating into the human tissue and for delivering the short high voltage pulse of energy to tissue disposed between the needle electrodes; said spark gap, said sensor and said means for adjusting the pressure in the spark gap all being disposed exterior to said pair of needle electrodes.