Electroporation Pulse Generator for Biomedical Applications With Improved Output Voltage Ripple and Reduced Bus Capacitor

Abstract

Electroporation is a promising cancer treatment based on applying short electric field pulses. In this context, highly versatile pulse generators are required to generate high-voltage low-ripple pulses in the µs range. In the past, several multi-level converters have been proposed to achieve this aim. Achieving constant output voltage and, consequently, electric field is essential to obtain predictable treatments and minimize the risks of tumor relapse. However, significant bus capacitance is required to achieve the required performance, leading to bulky equipment with serious safety implications due to the stored energy. In this letter, a high-performance pulse generator for electroporation is proposed that takes advantage of a multi-level structure with linear voltage regulation to achieve the desired performance with reduced bus capacitance. The proposed converter has been designed and tested experimentally during both laboratory and operation room treatments.