Algorithm to Avoid Normal Tissue Sacrifice and Thermal Injury of Neighbouring Organs During Radiofrequency Ablation of HCC Tumours Treated Using a Multi-Tine Electrode With Separately Controlled Tines

Abstract

Radiofrequency ablation of Hepatocellular Carcinomas lacks electrode level feature to (a) avoid the risk of thermal injury to the neighbouring organs and (b) avoid the sacrifice of normal hepatic tissue. The absence of such a feature causes additional intrusion of the human body to overcome the first problem, while there is no solution for the latter problem. An algorithm has been developed and implemented using an unconventional multi-tine RFA electrode to incur ablations specific to the shape and position of target tumours to solve these problems. Further, this algorithm can suggest the best insertion angle for the trocar, such that minimum normal tissue is sacrificed. This suggestion is made quickly with the help of a pre-simulated database. For verification of the algorithm, pre-segmented tumours have been used as inputs and damages incurred with and without algorithm have been compared.