Analysis and Optimization of Crucial Factors Affecting Efficacy of Microwave Ablation

Abstract

Microwave Ablation (MA) has emerged as a better and more promising alternative to medicate the primitive stage of cancer. Major advantages of MA include the organ-specific treatment and the prospect of treating ≥ 3 cm diameter tumors with minimal pain and nominal cost. Past studies suggest that tissue properties and input parameters play a vital role during the MA process. Hence, an in-depth study has been made to inspect the influence of these crucial parameters as follows, applied power, perfusion rate of blood, frequency, thermal conductivity, electrical conductivity, and, relative permittivity on the dimension of ablation zone attained while treating with MA on Lungs. The FEM-based analysis with a numerical approach is taken into account to signify the individual impact of the parameters on the ablation volume. Using the statistical tool, a regression equation was formulated and the data derived from the Taguchi L27 orthogonal array helped to get the maximized ablation zone. The results infer that the applied power has a remarkable effect on the response with a positive correlation. Along with the power, frequency, and blood perfusion rate were also observed to influence the treatment process significantly. The following optimal settings Power3, Frequency3, Blood Perfusion Rate3, Electrical Conductivity3, Thermal Conductivity2, and Relative Permittivity2 were found out along with the maximized ablation volume of 14.35 mm3. The results obtained from the present work would be highly helpful for the radiologist and the clinical practitioners to get pre-treatment data during the initial phase.