Controlling bipolar ablation in multi-channel rf ablation devices

Abstract

An ablation system includes multiple electrodes configured to contact body tissue of a patient, including two or more ablation electrodes for contacting respective locations in a target organ and a return electrode. A signal-generating unit includes multiple signal generators, which are configured to apply respective composite signals to respective ones of the ablation electrodes. The composite signals include multiple, respective signal components, including respective ablation signals, having different, respective ablation-signal amplitudes and phases at a common ablation-signal frequency, and respective probe signals having respective probe-signal amplitudes and different respective probe-signal frequencies. A processor is coupled to measure the probe signals received by each of the multiple electrodes, and responsively to the measured probe signals, to control the ablation-signal amplitudes and phases.