Abstract: Techniques for High-Frequency Irreversible Electroporation (HFIRE) using a single-pole tine-style internal device communicating with an external surface electrode are described. In an embodiment, a system for ablating tissue cells in a treatment region of a patient's body by irreversible electroporation without thermally damaging the tissue cells is described. The system includes at least one single-pole electrode probe for insertion into the treatment region, the single-pole electrode probe including one or more tines. The system further includes at least one external surface electrode for placement outside the patient's body and configured to complete a circuit with the single-pole electrode probe. The system also includes a control device for controlling HFIRE pulses to the single-pole tine-style electrode and the skin-surface electrode for the delivery of electric energy to the treatment region. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: System for increasing a target zone for electrical ablation includes a treatment control module executable by a processor. The control module directs a pulse generator to apply pre-conditioning pulses to subject tissue cells in a pre-conditioning zone to electroporation, the pre-conditioning zone being smaller than a target ablation zone. After the pre-conditioning pulses have been applied, the control module directs the pulse generator to apply treatment pulses to electrically ablate the tissue cells in the target ablation zone. The pre-conditioning pulses cause the pre-conditioning zone to have a much higher conductivity so that the zone acts as a larger electrode area when the treatment pulses are applied, which results in a much larger target ablation zone than otherwise possible.