Methods and Systems for Treating BPH Using Electroporation

Abstract

A system for treating benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) of a prostate. At least first and second mono-polar electrodes are configured to be introduced at or near a BPH tissue site of the prostate gland of the patient. A voltage pulse generator is coupled to the first and second mono-polar electrodes. The voltage pulse generator is configured to apply sufficient electrical pulses between the first and second mono-polar electrodes to induce electroporation of cells in the BPH tissue site, to create necrosis of cells of the BPH tissue site, but insufficient to create a thermal damaging effect to a majority of the BPH tissue site.

1 . A system for treating benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) of a prostate, comprising:
 at least two electrodes configured to be introduced near a BPH tissue site of a patient;   a voltage pulse generator coupled to the electrodes and configured to apply a plurality of electrical pulses through the electrodes in an amount sufficient to produce irreversible electroporation of cells in the BPH tissue site to create necrosis of cells of the BPH tissue site but insufficient to create thermal damage to a majority of the BPH tissue site; and   a switching device coupled to the electrodes and the voltage pulse generator, and configured to activate the electrodes in a selected pattern.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the switching device is capable of individually controlling each of the electrodes. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a monitoring electrode configured to measure a test voltage delivered to cells in the BPH tissue site. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the voltage pulse generator is adapted to generate a test voltage for application to cells of the BPH tissue site through at least one of the electrodes. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the electrodes include at least one bipolar electrode. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the electroporation is performed in a controlled manner with monitoring of electrical impedance. 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the electroporation is performed in a controlled manner with a proper selection of voltage magnitude, voltage application time or both. 
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the voltage pulse generator is configured to generate each pulse having a duration of about 5 microseconds to about 110 microseconds. 
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the voltage pulse generator is configured to apply a set of about 1 to 15 pulses. 
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the voltage pulse generator is configured to produce a voltage gradient at the BPH tissue site in a range of from about 50 volt/cm to about 8000 volt/cm. 
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the voltage pulse generator monitors a temperature of the BPH tissue site and adjusts the pulses to maintain a temperature of 50 degrees Celsius or less at the BPH tissue site based on the monitoring. 
   
   
       12 . A system for treating benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) of a prostate, comprising:
 at least two electrodes configured to be introduced near a BPH tissue site of a patient;   a voltage pulse generator coupled to the electrodes and configured to apply a plurality of electrical pulses through the electrodes in an amount sufficient to produce irreversible electroporation of cells in the BPH tissue site to create necrosis of cells of the BPH tissue site but insufficient to create thermal damage to a majority of the BPH tissue site;   a switching device coupled to the electrodes and the voltage pulse generator;   a controller containing software to control the switching device, the controller and the switching device together being configured to activate the electrodes in a selected pattern; and   a user interface coupled to the controller for inputting the selected pattern.   
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the switching device is capable of individually controlling each of the electrodes. 
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a monitoring electrode configured to measure a test voltage delivered to cells in the BPH tissue site. 
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the voltage pulse generator is adapted to generate a test voltage for application to cells of the BPH tissue site through at least one of the electrodes. 
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the electrodes include at least one bipolar electrode. 
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the electroporation is performed in a controlled manner with monitoring of electrical impedance. 
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the electroporation is performed in a controlled manner with a proper selection of voltage magnitude, voltage application time or both. 
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the voltage pulse generator is configured to generate each pulse having a duration of about 5 microseconds to about 110 microseconds. 
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the voltage pulse generator is configured to apply a set of about 1 to 15 pulses. 
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the voltage pulse generator is configured to produce a voltage gradient at the BPH tissue site in a range of from about 50 volt/cm to about 8000 volt/cm. 
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the voltage pulse generator monitors a temperature of the BPH tissue site and adjusts the pulses to maintain a temperature of 50 degrees Celsius or less at the BPH tissue site based on the monitoring.