Microwave Ablation Planning With Simulated Probe Placement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ablation systems face limitations with radio frequency energy, such as shallow tissue penetration, eschar formation, and the need for grounding, while microwave energy offers deeper penetration and more reliable energy deposition, but lacks effective planning and simulation tools for precise probe placement.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for simulating and planning the placement of microwave ablation probes using a control system with a graphical user interface, allowing for the creation of a simulated ablation treatment plan, including the depiction of planned ablation zones, and transferring these parameters to actual probes for precise tissue ablation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If radio frequency energy is used for ablation, then the ablation system can treat certain tissues, but the energy dissipates rapidly in surface tissues resulting in shallow burns and failure to access deeper tissues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental energy delivery parameter from radio frequency to microwave energy. Microwave energy operates at higher frequencies (2.45 GHz vs. traditional RF frequencies), which fundamentally alters the penetration characteristics and energy deposition patterns in tissue, enabling deeper penetration while maintaining controlled energy delivery.
2Reliability
If radio frequency ablation is used, then tissue can be ablated, but eschar and clot formation occurs on the energy emitting electrodes which limits further deposition of electrical energy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes the mechanical/electrical contact-based RF energy delivery system with a microwave electromagnetic field-based system. This substitution eliminates the need for direct electrode-tissue contact, thereby preventing eschar and clot formation on electrodes that would otherwise limit further energy deposition.
3Measurement precision
If microwave energy is used for ablation, then deeper penetration and more reliable energy deposition are achieved, but effective planning and simulation tools for precise probe placement are lacking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by providing planning and simulation tools that allow physicians to pre-determine the optimal placement of microwave ablation probes before the actual procedure. The system simulates the ablation zones that would be created by proposed probe placements, allowing optimization of probe positions to ensure complete tumor coverage while avoiding critical structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a virtual copy or simulation of the patient's anatomy and the expected ablation zones. By generating simulated images that replicate what the actual ablation will produce, the system allows physicians to evaluate and optimize probe placement plans before committing to the physical procedure, thereby improving precision without adding significant operational complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables accurate and efficient microwave ablation procedures by allowing pre-planning and simulation of probe placement, ensuring deeper tissue penetration and more reliable energy deposition, thereby improving the effectiveness and precision of ablation treatments.
Implementation Method 1
Microwave energy is an effective energy source for heating biological tissues
Implementation Method 2
estimating a simulated thermal damage zone in the subject patient's anatomy based on a proposed simulated ablation probe placement and simulated ablation treatment parameters
Data Source
AI summary
A method of planning a microwave ablation procedure includes uploading a pretreatment scan to a control system of an energy delivery system, displaying the pretreatment scan on a display of the control system, and analyzing the pretreatment scan and identifying a target tissue region that includes a disorder. The method further includes creating and graphically displaying a digital target area on the pretreatment scan, planning and graphically depicting on the pretreatment scan a target path for one or more planned ablation probes, and creating a planned ablation zone for each planned ablation probe based on user-selected parameters. The method further includes placing one or more actual ablation probes in the subject patient, obtaining a probe scan of the subject patient that detects the actual ablation probes, and assigning the planned ablation zone for the planned ablation probes to the actual probes.