Compact High-Voltage AC Generator with Pulse Transformer for High-Frequency Irreversible Electroporation (H-FIRE)

Martin Folprecht,Petr Prochazka,Dalibor Cervinka

doi:10.3390/electronics10232898

Martin Folprecht, Petr Prochazka + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics10232898

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Journal: Electronics	Publication Date: Nov 23, 2021
Citations: 4	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Brno University of Technology

Abstract

This paper is focused on a design of a high-voltage (HV) generator, which is proposed for a high-frequency irreversible electroporation (H-FIRE). The generator produces bursts of bipolar symmetrical pulses. Most HV sources used for cell electroporation are based on a controlled discharge of a capacitor into a resistive load. This solution is very simple, but it is associated with a certain risk of an uncontrolled discharge of the capacitor. We present a different type of the generator, where a DC-AC inverter with pulse transformer is used and where the mentioned risk is eliminated. Our generator is able to deliver bursts with variable length from 50 to 150 μs and a gap between bursts can be set from 0.5 to 1.5 s. Pulse frequency can be varied from 65 to 470 kHz and the output voltage is controlled in two ranges from 0 to 1.3 kV or from 0 to 2.5 kV. Results are presented with resistive load and with tissue impedance load.

Highlights

Introduction for HighFrequency IrreversibleA cell electroporation is a modern non-thermal method, which is used in medicine, biotechnology, and industry [1,2,3,4]
There is a certain risk of uncontrolled discharge of the capacitor bank in the case, when the transistor switch is short-circuited
Signal is caused by signal transcription at the flip-flop (4013), which is triggered by rise time of the clock signal (CLK)

Summary

Introduction

Introduction for HighFrequency IrreversibleA cell electroporation is a modern non-thermal method, which is used in medicine, biotechnology, and industry [1,2,3,4]. Reversible electroporation (RE), which does not lead to cell extinction, is usually used in biochemistry for insertion of foreign matters, e.g., chemicals, drugs, and genes into the cell [7,8]. This process is used for release of clogged bile ducts and for urethral stenosis treatment. Higher electric intensity causes a creation of permanent nanopores, which lead to death of the cell. For this reason, IRE is suitable for tissue ablation [9]

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