Feedback-based radiofrequency ablation system for user-defined three-dimensional ablation geometries

Abstract: This Small Business Technology Transfer Phase I project aims to develop and test a temperature and local impedance-based ablation system in order to accomplish user-defined three-dimensional radiofrequency ablation (RFA) geometries. An ablation mapping system will provide in situ three-dimensional maps of the ablation progress of tissue using the radiofrequency ablation applicator. This problem is difficult in large volumes of living animals such as the human body due to the low electrode count creating a generally underdetermined system from the multitude of current paths and the electrical noise from the radiofrequency ablation. In addition, in contrast to electrical impedance tomography, this ablation mapping system will not utilize electrodes outside the local ablation area; all electrodes must be contained within the radiofrequency ablation applicator. The research and development of the system will be done in three aims: (1) develop the temperature and impedance-based ablation mapping system; (2) develop the ablation geometry shaping algorithm; (3) integrate and test the ablation mapping system using a functional RFA applicator within ex vivo bovine and porcine livers; and (4) test the feasibility of the system within five in vivo porcine livers.