How Multi-Electrode Systems Precisely Control Tissue Heating for Ablation
This patent describes a method for starting a medical ablation procedure using multiple electrodes, carefully controlling the temperature and how fast it rises at each electrode to safely treat tissue.
Original patent title: “Ablation system, methods, and controllers”
This patent describes a method for starting a medical ablation procedure using multiple electrodes, carefully controlling the temperature and how fast it rises at each electrode to safely treat tissue. Granted in 2026.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
The patent details a method for beginning an ablation procedure using a system with multiple electrodes. It works by first picking one electrode and connecting it to a power supply. The system then increases the temperature at this chosen electrode until it reaches a specific target temperature, called a "first temperature set-point." Crucially, the system also limits how quickly that temperature can rise, ensuring it does not exceed a "predetermined first rate." This precise control helps ensure the tissue is heated safely and effectively.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover ablation systems that use only a single electrode, as it specifies a "multi-electrode ablation system" and a "first electrode of a plurality of electrodes."
- Does not cover ablation methods that do not control the rate at which tissue temperature increases, as it explicitly requires limiting a "rate of increase of the temperature."
- Does not cover ablation procedures that do not target a specific temperature set-point for the tissue, as it specifies increasing temperature "to a first temperature set-point."
- Does not cover non-thermal ablation techniques, such as cryoablation (freezing) or chemical ablation, focusing instead on heating to increase temperature.
- Does not cover the full duration of an ablation procedure, only the steps involved in "beginning an ablation procedure."
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The noveltynoveltyThe requirement that an invention be different from anything publicly known before its priority date.Read more → lies in the precise, two-pronged control mechanism: not only bringing a specific electrode to a target temperature but also strictly limiting the *speed* at which that temperature rises. This allows for very controlled and localized tissue heating, which is vital for safety and effectiveness in medical procedures.
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Radiofrequency ablation systems for cardiac arrhythmias
Microwave ablation systems for liver or lung tumors
High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) systems that incorporate thermal control
Electrosurgical units used in various medical fields
Why it matters
The bigger picture
Ablation is a common medical procedure used to destroy unwanted tissue, such as tumors or cardiac tissue causing irregular heartbeats. Precise control over temperature and heating rate is critical to ensure the target tissue is destroyed effectively while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue. This technology aims to make these procedures safer and more predictable, improving patient outcomes.
Filed
July 9, 2024
Granted
September 15, 2026
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Major medical device companies like Medtronic, Johnson & Johnson (through its Biosense Webster division), Boston Scientific, and Abbott Laboratories are actively developing and refining ablation systems. These companies continuously innovate in electrode design, power delivery, and control algorithms to improve the safety and efficacy of thermal ablation procedures.
Market impact
This type of technology contributes to the ongoing evolution of medical ablation, a significant market for treating conditions ranging from cardiac arrhythmias to various cancers. By offering more precise and safer control over tissue destruction, such advancements can expand the range of treatable conditions, reduce complications, and potentially shorten recovery times for patients. It supports the development of next-generation ablation platforms that prioritize patient safety and procedural predictability.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
The patent details a method for beginning an ablation procedure using a system with multiple electrodes. It works by first picking one electrode and connecting it to a power supply. The system then increases the temperature at this chosen electrode until it reaches a specific target temperature, called a "first temperature set-point." Crucially, the system also limits how quickly that temperature can rise, ensuring it does not exceed a "predetermined first rate." This precise control helps ensure the tissue is heated safely and effectively.
The clever bit
The novelty lies in the precise, two-pronged control mechanism: not only bringing a specific electrode to a target temperature but also strictly limiting the *speed* at which that temperature rises. This allows for very controlled and localized tissue heating, which is vital for safety and effectiveness in medical procedures.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover ablation systems that use only a single electrode, as it specifies a "multi-electrode ablation system" and a "first electrode of a plurality of electrodes."
- Does not cover ablation methods that do not control the rate at which tissue temperature increases, as it explicitly requires limiting a "rate of increase of the temperature."
- Does not cover ablation procedures that do not target a specific temperature set-point for the tissue, as it specifies increasing temperature "to a first temperature set-point."
- Does not cover non-thermal ablation techniques, such as cryoablation (freezing) or chemical ablation, focusing instead on heating to increase temperature.
- Does not cover the full duration of an ablation procedure, only the steps involved in "beginning an ablation procedure."
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
0/40
No citations yet
Claim breadth
0/20
Narrow claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
20/20
Granted within 5 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$26K – $84K
Midpoint $53K · 17.8 yr remaining · industry ×2.2
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Claim text not yet imported for this patent
Concepts involved
Cite this patent
(2026). How Multi-Electrode Systems Precisely Control Tissue Heating for Ablation (U.S. Patent No. 12,733,969). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12733969/ablation-system-methods-and-controllers
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
Embed
Add this patent to your site
Drop this plain-English patent card into any blog post or article — free, no signup. It always links back to the full breakdown here.
<div data-patentlens-widget data-patent-number="US12733969"></div> <script src="https://patentbrief.org/embed.js" async></script>
Stay in the loop
Get a weekly digest of new patents.
One email per week. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Keep exploring
Related patents you should know
US 4683195 · 1987
How to Make Billions of Copies of a DNA Segment
This patent describes the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), a method to rapidly create many copies of a specific piece of DNA or RNA, enabling its detection and analysis.
Cetus Corp
US 8697359 · 2014
How to Edit Genes in Human Cells Using an Engineered CRISPR System
This patent describes an engineered CRISPR-Cas9 system for precisely cutting DNA in eukaryotic cells to change how genes work, opening the door for gene editing in complex organisms.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
US 7657849 · 2010
How the iPhone's Slide-to-Unlock Gesture Works
Apple's 2010 patent describes unlocking a device by dragging a specific graphical image across the touchscreen along a predefined path, a gesture that became iconic with the original iPhone.
Apple Inc
US 4733665 · 1988
How Doctors Implant a Permanent Stent Using a Balloon
This patent describes the method for placing a permanent, expandable wire mesh tube inside a blood vessel or other body tube using a balloon-tipped catheter to widen it and keep it open.
Expandable Grafts Partnership
US 4965188 · 1990
How to Make Many Copies of a DNA Piece with Heat
This patent describes the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) method, a technique to make millions of copies of a specific DNA segment using a heat-resistant enzyme and repeated temperature changes.
Cetus Corp
US 4235871 · 1980
How to Encapsulate Active Materials in Lipid Bubbles Efficiently
This patent describes a method for trapping biologically active substances inside tiny, multi-layered fat bubbles called liposomes, using a specific water-in-oil emulsion and gel-forming process to improve how much material gets captured.
Individual
More to explore
More in Biotech & Medicine
US 4683195 · 1987 · Cetus Corp
How to Make Billions of Copies of a DNA Segment
US 8697359 · 2014 · Massachusetts Institute of Technology
How to Edit Genes in Human Cells Using an Engineered CRISPR System
US 4733665 · 1988 · Expandable Grafts Partnership
How Doctors Implant a Permanent Stent Using a Balloon
US 4965188 · 1990 · Cetus Corp
How to Make Many Copies of a DNA Piece with Heat
New to patents?
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How Multi-Electrode Systems Precisely Control Tissue Heating for Ablation cover?
This patent describes a method for starting a medical ablation procedure using multiple electrodes, carefully controlling the temperature and how fast it rises at each electrode to safely treat tissue.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on September 15, 2046, when the invention enters the public domain.
What problem does this patent solve?
Ablation is a common medical procedure used to destroy unwanted tissue, such as tumors or cardiac tissue causing irregular heartbeats. Precise control over temperature and heating rate is critical to ensure the target tissue is destroyed effectively while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue. This technology aims to make these procedures safer and more predictable, improving patient outcomes.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover ablation systems that use only a single electrode, as it specifies a "multi-electrode ablation system" and a "first electrode of a plurality of electrodes."
Patent monitoring