Systems and methods for delivering pulsed electric fields to skin tissue

Abstract

Systems and methods for controlling a tissue of a subject using applied pulsed electric fields. The system includes an electrode assembly configured to engage a skin tissue of a subject to deliver a series of electric field pulses to the skin tissue and a user input configured to receive an operational instruction for the series of electric field pulses. The system also includes at least one processor configured to access the operational instruction received by the user input and, using the operational instruction, create an electric field profile to be generated by the electrode assembly about the skin tissue of the subject to control a fibroblast characteristic while preserving a vascular perfusion in at least a portion of the skin tissue. The processor is also caused to control the electrode assembly using the electric field profile to deliver the series of electric field pulses to control the fibroblast characteristic.

1 . A system for controlling a therapy provided to a tissue of a subject using applied pulsed electric fields, the system comprising:
 an electrode assembly configured to engage a skin tissue of a subject to deliver a series of electric field pulses to the skin tissue;   a user input configured to receive an operational instruction for the series of electric field pulses, the operational instruction defining at least one of a pulse duration, a pulse frequency, a pulse number, and a pulse amplitude;   at least one processor configured to:
 access the operational instruction received by the user input; 
 using the operational instruction, create an electric field profile to be generated by the electrode assembly about the skin tissue of the subject to control a fibroblast characteristic while preserving at least one of a vascular perfusion, an epithelium and an extracellular matrix in at least a portion of the skin tissue; and 
 control the electrode assembly using the electric field profile to deliver the series of electric field pulses to control the fibroblast characteristic. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to create the electric field profile to control the fibroblast characteristic to effectuate a scar therapy process. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the processor is further configured to at least reduce at least one of a fibroblast cell density and an immune cell density. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to create the electric field profile to control the fibroblast characteristic to effectuate a tissue enhancement process. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the processor is further configured to create the electric field profile to increase at least one of a collagen concentration and an ellastin fiber concentration. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to create the electric field profile described by a voltage gradient in a range between 10 and 5000 volts per millimeter. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the processor is further configured to generate, using the series of electric field pulses, non-thermal effects to the tissue of the subject, the non-thermal effects described by temperature changes of up to 40 degrees Celsius 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to create the electric field profile using the pulse duration in a range between 100 nanoseconds and 100 milliseconds. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to create the electric field profile using the pulse frequency in a range between 0.1 and 5000 Hertz. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to create the electric field profile using the pulse number in a range between 1 and 5000. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to create the electric field profile using the pulse amplitude in a range between 1 and 5000 Volts. 
     
     
         12 . A system for controlling a therapy provided to a tissue of a subject using applied pulsed electric fields, the system comprising:
 an electrode assembly configured to engage a wounded skin tissue of a subject to deliver a series of electric field pulses to the wounded skin tissue;   a user input configured to receive an operational instruction for the series of electric field pulses, the operational instruction defining at least one of a pulse duration, a pulse frequency, a pulse number, and a pulse amplitude;   at least one processor configured to:
 access the operational instruction received by the user input; 
 using the operational instruction, create an electric field profile to be generated by the electrode assembly about the wounded skin tissue of the subject to control a biological pathogen concentration while preserving at least one of a vascular perfusion, an epithelium and a extracellular matrix in at least a portion of the wounded skin tissue; and 
 control the electrode assembly using the electric field profile to deliver the series of electric field pulses to control the biological pathogen concentration. 
   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the processor is further configured to create the electric field profile to control the biological pathogen concentration in an antiseptic treatment process. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the processor is further configured to create the electric field profile using at least one of:
 a voltage gradient in a range between 10 and 5000 volts per millimeter;   the pulse duration in a range between 100 nanoseconds and 100 milliseconds;   the pulse frequency in a range between 0.1 and 5000 Hertz;   the pulse number in a range between 1 and 5000; and   the pulse amplitude in a range between 1 and 5000 Volts.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the processor is further configured to generate, using the series of electric field pulses, non-thermal effects to the tissue of the subject, the non-thermal effects described by temperature changes of up to 40 degrees Celsius. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the processor is further configured to deliver a plurality of treatments for achieving a long term control of the biological pathogen concentration.