Patents by Inventor Christopher B. ARENA

Christopher B. ARENA has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10117707
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for modeling and for providing a graphical representation of tissue heating and electric field distributions for medical treatment devices that apply electrical treatment energy through one or a plurality of electrodes. In embodiments, methods comprise: providing one or more parameters of a treatment protocol for delivering one or more electrical pulses to tissue through a plurality of electrodes; modeling electric and heat distribution in the tissue based on the parameters; and displaying a graphical representation of the modeled electric and heat distribution. In another embodiment, a treatment planning module is adapted to generate an estimated target ablation zone based on a combination of one or more parameters for an irreversible electroporation protocol and one or more tissue-specific conductivity parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc.
    Inventors: Paulo A. Garcia, Christopher B. Arena, Michael B. Sano, Rafael V. Davalos
  • Publication number: 20170360326
    Abstract: Provided herein are devices, systems, and methods for monitoring lesion or treated area in a tissue during focal ablation or cell membrane disruption therapy. Provided herein are embodiments of an electrical conductivity sensor having an impedance sensor, where the impedance sensor can be configured to measure a low-frequency and a high-frequency impedance and a substrate, where the impedance sensor is coupled to the substrate. The substrate can be flexible. In embodiments, the impedance sensor can contain two or more electrical conductors. The electrical conductors can be in a bipolar configuration. The electrical conductors can be in a tetrapolar configuration. In embodiments, the electrical conductivity sensor can have two impedance sensors that can be coupled to the substrate such that they are orthogonal to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Inventors: RAFAEL V. DAVALOS, MOHAMMAD BONAKDAR, EDUARDO L. LATOUCHE, ROOP L. MAHAJAN, JOHN L. ROBERTSON, CHRISTOPHER B. ARENA, MICHAEL B. SANO
  • Publication number: 20170266438
    Abstract: A system and method for selectively treating aberrant cells such as cancer cells through administration of a train of electrical pulses is described. The pulse length and delay between successive pulses is optimized to produce effects on intracellular membrane potentials. Therapies based on the system and method produce two treatment zones: an ablation zone surrounding the electrodes within which aberrant cells are non-selectively killed and a selective treatment zone surrounding the ablation zone within which target cells are selectively killed through effects on intracellular membrane potentials. As a result, infiltrating tumor cells within a tumor margin can be effectively treated while sparing healthy tissue. The system and method are useful for treating various cancers in which solid tumors form and have a chance of recurrence from microscopic disease surrounding the tumor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2015
    Publication date: September 21, 2017
    Inventors: Michael B. Sano, Christopher B. Arena, Scott S. Verbridge, Rafeal V. Davalos
  • Publication number: 20160287314
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of biomedical engineering and medical treatment of diseases and disorders. Methods, devices, and systems for in vivo treatment of cell proliferative disorders are provided. In embodiments, the methods comprise the delivery of high-frequency bursts of bipolar pulses to achieve the desired modality of cell death. More specifically, embodiments of the invention relate to a device and method for destroying aberrant cells, including tumor tissues, using high-frequency, bipolar electrical pulses having a burst width on the order of microseconds and duration of single polarity on the microsecond to nanosecond scale. In embodiments, the methods rely on conventional electroporation with adjuvant drugs or irreversible electroporation to cause cell death in treated tumors. The invention can be used to treat solid tumors, such as brain tumors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2016
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Inventors: Christopher B. Arena, Rafael V. Davalos, Michael B. Sano
  • Publication number: 20150289923
    Abstract: A method for treating a target tissue in a patient in need thereof is provided. The method includes the steps of identifying one or more characteristics of one or more cells of a target tissue; calculating a threshold electric field for inducing IRE in the target tissue based on the one or more characteristics; constructing a treatment protocol of one or more pulse parameters, wherein the treatment protocol is capable of inducing IRE in the target tissue; and delivering the treatment protocol to the target tissue. Systems for treatment planning for medical therapies involving administering electrical treatment energy are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2015
    Publication date: October 15, 2015
    Inventors: Rafael V. Davalos, Christopher B. Arena
  • Publication number: 20150088120
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for modeling and for providing a graphical representation of tissue heating and electric field distributions for medical treatment devices that apply electrical treatment energy through one or a plurality of electrodes. In embodiments, methods comprise: providing one or more parameters of a treatment protocol for delivering one or more electrical pulses to tissue through a plurality of electrodes; modeling electric and heat distribution in the tissue based on the parameters; and displaying a graphical representation of the modeled electric and heat distribution. In another embodiment, a treatment planning module is adapted to generate an estimated target ablation zone based on a combination of one or more parameters for an irreversible electroporation protocol and one or more tissue-specific conductivity parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventors: Paulo A. Garcia, Christopher B. Arena, Michael B. Sano, Rafael V. Davalos
  • Patent number: 8926606
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods, devices, and systems for in vivo treatment of cell proliferative disorders. The invention can be used to treat solid tumors, such as brain tumors. The methods rely on non-thermal irreversible electroporation (IRE) or supra-poration to cause cell death in treated tumors. In embodiments, the methods comprise the integration of ultra-short electric pulses, both temporally and spatially, to achieve the desired modality of cell death.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc.
    Inventors: Rafael Davalos, Christopher B. Arena, John Caldwell
  • Patent number: 8814860
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods, devices, and systems for in vivo treatment of cell proliferative disorders. The invention can be used to treat solid tumors, such as brain tumors. The methods rely on non-thermal irreversible electroporation (IRE) to cause cell death in treated tumors. In embodiments, the methods comprise the use of high aspect ratio nanoparticles with or without modified surface chemistry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc.
    Inventors: Rafael V. Davalos, Marissa N. Rylander, Christopher B. Arena, Yong Woo Lee
  • Publication number: 20130345697
    Abstract: The invention provides for a system for estimating a 3-dimensional treatment volume for a device that applies treatment energy through a plurality of electrodes defining a treatment area, the system comprising a memory, a display device, a processor coupled to the memory and the display device, and a treatment planning module stored in the memory and executable by the processor. In one embodiment, the treatment planning module is adapted to generate an estimated first 3-dimensional treatment volume for display in the display device based on the ratio of a maximum conductivity of the treatment area to a baseline conductivity of the treatment area. The invention also provides for a method for estimating 3-dimensional treatment volume, the steps of which are executable through the processor. In embodiments, the system and method are based on a numerical model which may be implemented in computer readable code which is executable through a processor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Inventors: Paulo A. Garcia, Christopher B. Arena, Rafael V. Davalos
  • Publication number: 20130281968
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods, devices, and systems for in vivo treatment of cell proliferative disorders. The invention can be used to treat solid tumors, such as brain tumors. The methods rely on non-thermal irreversible electroporation (IRE) to cause cell death in treated tumors. In embodiments, the methods comprise the use of high aspect ratio nanoparticles with or without modified surface chemistry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2013
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Inventors: Rafael V. DAVALOS, Marissa N. RYLANDER, Christopher B. ARENA
  • Patent number: 8465484
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods, devices, and systems for in vivo treatment of cell proliferative disorders. The invention can be used to treat solid tumors, such as brain tumors. The methods rely on non-thermal irreversible electroporation (IRE) to cause cell death in treated tumors. In embodiments, the methods comprise the use of high aspect ratio nanoparticles with or without modified surface chemistry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc.
    Inventors: Rafael V. Davalos, Marissa N. Rylander, Christopher B. Arena
  • Publication number: 20130096485
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods, devices, and systems for in vivo treatment of cell proliferative disorders. The invention can be used to treat solid tumors, such as brain tumors. The methods rely on non-thermal irreversible electroporation (IRE) to cause cell death in treated tumors. In embodiments, the methods comprise the use of high aspect ratio nanoparticles with or without modified surface chemistry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Inventors: Rafael V. DAVALOS, Marissa N. RYLANDER, Christopher B. ARENA
  • Publication number: 20120109122
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of biomedical engineering and medical treatment of diseases and disorders. Methods, devices, and systems for in vivo treatment of cell proliferative disorders are provided. In embodiments, the methods comprise the delivery of high-frequency bursts of bipolar pulses to achieve the desired modality of cell death. More specifically, embodiments of the invention relate to a device and method for destroying aberrant cells, including tumor tissues, using high-frequency, bipolar electrical pulses having a burst width on the order of microseconds and duration of single polarity on the microsecond to nanosecond scale. In embodiments, the methods rely on conventional electroporation with adjuvant drugs or irreversible electroporation to cause cell death in treated tumors. The invention can be used to treat solid tumors, such as brain tumors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Inventors: Christopher B. ARENA, Rafael V. Davalos, Michael B. Sano
  • Publication number: 20100331758
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods, devices, and systems for in vivo treatment of cell proliferative disorders. The invention can be used to treat solid tumors, such as brain tumors. The methods rely on non-thermal irreversible electroporation (IRE) to cause cell death in treated tumors. In embodiments, the methods comprise the use of high aspect ratio nanoparticles with or without modified surface chemistry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Inventors: Rafael V. DAVALOS, Marissa N. RYLANDER, Christopher B. ARENA
  • Publication number: 20100261994
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods, devices, and systems for in vivo treatment of cell proliferative disorders. The invention can be used to treat solid tumors, such as brain tumors. The methods rely on non-thermal irreversible electroporation (IRE) or supra-poration to cause cell death in treated tumors. In embodiments, the methods comprise the integration of ultra-short electric pulses, both temporally and spatially, to achieve the desired modality of cell death.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2010
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Inventors: Rafael DAVALOS, Christopher B. ARENA, John CALDWELL