Patient-specific pulse protocol optimizer for irreversible
This technology improves a cancer-treatment technique called irreversible electroporation (IRE), which uses electrical pulses to destroy tumor cells without heat. The system builds a 3D digital model of the patient's specific tumor from medical images, then calculates a customized pulse protocol to target just that tumor. A key innovation is delivering biphasic (alternating polarity) pulses at high frequency, which reduces the unwanted charge buildup in tissue that can cause collateral damage in conventional IRE. The result is more precise, patient-tailored ablation with fewer side effects than standard electroporation approaches.
What you could build
A software-guided ablation system—integrated with existing IRE hardware—that generates patient-specific pulse protocols from pre-procedure imaging; primary buyers would be interventional oncology centers and the companies (e.g., AngioDynamics, Medtronic) that sell IRE capital equipment and seek differentiated next-generation platforms.
Who in Virginia should care
Virginia-based health systems with interventional oncology programs (Inova, VCU Health, UVA Health) and defense-adjacent bioelectrics contractors in the Northern Virginia corridor could be relevant partners or early adopters.
Readiness: Prototype likely
Concept — described but not yet demonstrated. Lab validated — supported by experimental results in the patent. Prototype likely — the text describes a built, working embodiment.
Readiness is inferred from the patent text, not from a lab visit.
The record
- Inventors
- Robert E. Neal II, Paulo A. Garcia, Rafael V. Davalos, John H. Rossmeisl, John L. Robertson
- Granted
- December 24, 2024
- Status
- Granted patent
- Patent number
- 12173280
Ready to talk?
Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties handles licensing for this technology.
Prosim summaries are generated from public patent text and are not legal advice.