Temperature Volume Histograms for Predicting Lethal Ablation Isotherms
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current thermal ablation procedures lack the ability to empirically measure actual tissue temperatures during treatment, relying on imaging to estimate lethal isotherms, which are not fully informative of the desired −20 or −40 degrees Celsius isotherms.
Innovation Solution
A control circuit generates a temperature volume histogram based on characterizing information for a thermal ablation apparatus, including thermal fluid, flow rate, and physical dimensions, using stored empirically-sensed temperature information and modeling content to predict isothermic distribution and lethality zones.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple thermal recorders are inserted in and around the target volume to measure actual tissue temperature, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the physical measurement system by using imaging data (CT or ultrasound) to generate a digital model of the target volume and simulate temperature distribution. Instead of inserting multiple physical thermal recorders, the system creates a virtual representation that predicts temperature fields based on the ice ball geometry and thermal properties, thereby achieving temperature measurement capability without the complexity of multiple invasive sensors.
2Ease of operation
If imaging is used to evaluate ice ball size and needle positioning, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary computational layer that bridges imaging data and temperature measurement. The system uses imaging to capture ice ball geometry, then applies thermal modeling algorithms as an intermediary process to translate this visual data into predicted temperature distributions. This intermediary step converts easy-to-obtain imaging information into precise temperature estimates without requiring direct thermal measurements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/physical measurement system (thermal recorders) with a computational/modeling system. Instead of physically measuring temperature with sensors, the system uses mathematical models that simulate heat transfer based on imaging data, substituting complex physical measurement infrastructure with computational analysis.
3Device complexity
If the ice ball is used as the sole indicator of treatment effect, then device complexity is reduced, but loss of information increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the temperature field into distinct isotherm layers (e.g., 0°C ice ball boundary, -20°C lethal isotherm, -40°C lethal isotherm) by applying thermal modeling to imaging data. This segmentation allows the system to extract multiple temperature information layers from a single imaging dataset, providing differentiated views of treatment efficacy without requiring separate physical measurement systems for each temperature level.
Data Source
AI summary
To facilitate administering thermal ablation (such as, but not limited to, cryotherapy) to a patient's target volume, a control circuit can access characterizing information for a particular thermal ablation apparatus and then generate a temperature volume histogram as a function of the characterizing information for that particular thermal ablation apparatus.