Design and realisation of tissue-equivalent dielectric simulators for dosimetric studies on microwave antennas for interstitial ablation

Characterisation of tissue shrinkage during microwave thermal ablation

“…9% of the water weight), sucrose (1.5 g), and sodium chloride (1.5 g). Sodium chloride was added to ensure an electrical conductivity (s ¼ 2.2 S/m @ 2.45 GHz) approximating that of liver tissue (s ¼ 1.8 S/m @ 2.45 GHz) [18] with the sucrose aiding solidification. The chosen agar concentration gave the most suitable density to maintain the position of the cube of tissue during the whole ablation procedure.…”

Experimental characterisation of the thermal lesion induced by microwave ablation

“…It was positioned orthogonally with respect to the antenna, and placed at a distance of about 10 mm from the antenna tip and about 4 mm from the antenna surface; this position corresponds to the area of tissue where the maximum power deposition is achieved [19].…”

“…In clinical practice, the implementation of MTA treatment planning presents challenging issues, relying on the characterisation of the MW antenna [19], and on the necessity of reproducing the physical processes associated with the heating of the target tissue during treatment. The latter point is particularly challenging in MTA, due to the very high temperatures, up to 100-120 C, reached in the target tissue: in a temperature range of 60-80 C protein denaturation occurs [20,21], while as temperature approaches 100 C tissue water content drops due to the generation of water vapour and to the diffusion of water from the treated cells [22].…”

Dual energy computed tomography thermometry during hepatic microwave ablation in an ex-vivo porcine model

“…A previous study developed liver mimicking phantom for dosimetric studies of MW applicators and characterize applicator performance during interstitial ablation [19]. A temperature change produces detectable difference in HU measurements during RFA and laser ablation on different tissues [20,21].…”