Bipolar tissue ablation in accordance with a predefined periodic set of time slots

Abstract

A method for applying bipolar ablation pulses, the method includes positioning multiple electrodes of a catheter in contact with tissue of an organ. The tissue is ablated using the multiple electrodes in accordance with a predefined pattern including a periodic set of time slots. Each of the time slots defines (i) an electrode-pair (EP), (ii) a waveform of one or more bipolar ablation pulses (BAPs) applied to the tissue by the EP, and (iii) a duration of the time slot. The time slots are applied sequentially, and the pattern further includes at least one time slot that is empty.

1 . A method for applying bipolar ablation pulses, the method comprising:
 positioning multiple electrodes of a catheter in contact with tissue of an organ; and   ablating the tissue using the multiple electrodes in accordance with a predefined pattern comprising a periodic set of time slots, wherein each of the time slots defines (i) an electrode-pair (EP), (ii) a waveform of one or more bipolar ablation pulses (BAPs) applied to the tissue by the EP, and (iii) a duration of the time slot, wherein the time slots are applied sequentially, and wherein the pattern further comprises at least one time slot that is empty.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein a first electrode of a first EP is positioned between second and third electrodes of a second EP. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the time slots comprises a time gap scheduled before or after the one or more BAPs. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the BAPs comprise irreversible electroporation (IRE) BAPs. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the EPs of the time slots have a same inter-electrode distance. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein a first EP of a first time slot of the predefined pattern comprises a first electrode and a second electrode, and wherein a second EP of a second time slot of the predefined pattern comprises the first electrode and a third electrode. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the predefined pattern comprises at least one time slot positioned between the first and second time slots. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein positioning the catheter comprises positioning a lasso catheter. 
     
     
         9 . A system for applying bipolar ablation pulses, comprising:
 a catheter comprising multiple electrodes, which are configured to make contact with tissue of an organ;   a pulse generator, which is configured to generate one or more bipolar ablation pulses (BAPs); and   a processor, which is configured to ablate the tissue using the multiple electrodes in accordance with a predefined pattern comprising a periodic set of time slots that are applied to the tissue sequentially, wherein each of the time slots defines (i) an electrode-pair (EP) selected from the multiple electrodes, (ii) a waveform of the one or more BAPs applied to the tissue by the EP, and (iii) a duration of the time slot, and wherein the pattern further comprises at least one time slot that is empty.   
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 9 , wherein a first electrode of a first EP is positioned between second and third electrodes of a second EP. 
     
     
         11 . The system according to  claim 9 , wherein each of the time slots comprises a time gap scheduled before or after the one or more BAPs. 
     
     
         12 . The system according to  claim 9 , wherein the BAPs comprise irreversible electroporation (IRE) BAPs. 
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 9 , wherein the EPs have a same inter-electrode distance. 
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 9 , wherein a first EP of a first time slot of the predefined pattern comprises a first electrode and a second electrode, and wherein a second EP of a second time slot of the predefined pattern comprises the first electrode and a third electrode. 
     
     
         15 . The system according to  claim 14 , wherein the predefined pattern comprises at least one time slot positioned between the first and second time slots. 
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 9 , wherein the catheter comprises a lasso catheter.