Mark C. Converse

Dielectric properties of human normal, malignant and cirrhotic liver tissue : in vivo and ex vivo measurements from 0.5 to 20 GHz using a precision open-ended coaxial probe

Hepatic malignancies have historically been treated with surgical resection. Due to the shortcomings of this technique, there is interest in other, less invasive, treatment modalities, such as microwave hepatic ablation. Crucial to the development of this technique is the accurate knowledge of the dielectric properties of human liver tissue at microwave frequencies. To this end, we characterized the dielectric properties of in vivo and ex vivo normal, malignant and cirrhotic human liver tissues from 0.5 to 20 GHz. Analysis of our data at 915 MHz and 2.45 GHz indicates that the dielectric properties of ex vivo malignant liver tissue are 19 to 30% higher than normal tissue. The differences in the dielectric properties of in vivo malignant and normal liver tissue are not statistically significant (with the exception of effective conductivity at 915 MHz, where malignant tissue properties are 16% higher than normal). Also, the dielectric properties of in vivo normal liver tissue at 915 MHz and 2.45 GHz are 16 to 43% higher than ex vivo. No statistically significant differences were found between the dielectric properties of in vivo and ex vivo malignant tissue (with the exception of effective conductivity at 915 MHz, where malignant tissue properties are 28% higher than normal). We report the one-pole Cole-Cole parameters for ex vivo normal, malignant and cirrhotic liver tissue in this frequency range. We observe that wideband dielectric properties of in vivo liver tissue are different from the wideband dielectric properties of ex vivo liver tissue, and that the in vivo data cannot be represented in terms of a Cole-Cole model. Further work is needed to uncover the mechanisms responsible for the observed wideband trends in the in vivo liver data.

Accurate parametric modeling of folded waveguide circuits for millimeter-wave traveling wave tubes

In this paper, results of different models are compared for calculating effective, cold-circuit (beam-free) phase velocities and interaction impedances of folded waveguide (FW) slow wave circuits for use in millimeter-wave traveling wave tubes (TWT). These parameters are needed for one-dimensional (1-D) parametric model simulations of FW traveling wave tubes (FWTWTs). The models investigated include approximate analytic expressions, equivalent circuit, three-dimensional (3-D) finite difference, and 3-D finite element. The phase velocity predictions are compared with experimental measurements of a representative FW circuit. The various model results are incorporated into the CHRISTINE1D code to obtain predictions of small signal gain in a 40-55 GHz FWTWT. Comparing simulated and measured frequency-dependent gain provides a sensitive, confirming assessment of the accuracy of the simulation tools. It is determined that the use of parametric 1-D TWT models for accurate, full band predictions of small signal gain in FWTWTs requires knowledge of phase velocity and impedance functions that are accurate to <0.5% and <10%, respectively. Saturated gain predictions, being approximately half as sensitive to these parameters, appear to require correct specification of phase velocity and interaction impedance to within /spl sim/1% and 20%, respectively. Although all models generate sufficiently accurate predictions of the interaction impedance, not all generate sufficiently accurate predictions of the effective axial phase velocity.

Expanding the Bioheat Equation to Include Tissue Internal Water Evaporation During Heating

We propose a new method to study high temperature tissue ablation using an expanded bioheat diffusion equation. An extra term added to the bioheat equation is combined with the specific heat into an effective (temperature dependent) specific heat. It replaces the normal specific heat term in the modified bioheat equation, which can then be used at temperatures where water evaporation is expected to occur. This new equation is used to numerically simulate the microwave ablation of bovine liver and is compared to experimental ex vivo results.

Measurement and Analysis of Tissue Temperature During Microwave Liver Ablation

We measured tissue temperature changes during ex vivo microwave ablation (MWA) procedures for bovine liver tissue. Tissue temperature increased rapidly at the beginning of the MW power application. It came to a plateau at 100 degC to 104 degC before it increased again. We split the changes of tissue temperature versus time into four phases. This suggests that tissue temperature changes may be directly related to tissue water related phenomena during MWA, including evaporation, diffusion, condensation and tissue water composition. An additional analysis indicated the lesion boundary at ~50 degC to 60 degC temperature. We also measured the water content of ablated tissue lesions and examined the relationship of tissue water content and tissue temperature by mapping temperature to remaining tissue water after ablation. The results demonstrate significant tissue water content changes and lead to a better understanding of tissue water movement

A floating sleeve antenna yields localized hepatic microwave ablation

We report a novel coaxial antenna for hepatic microwave ablation. This device uses a floating sleeve, that is, a metal conductor electrically isolated from the outer connector of the antenna coaxial body, to achieve a highly localized specific absorption rate pattern that is independent of insertion depth. This floating sleeve coaxial dipole antenna has low power reflection in the 2.4-GHz IMS band. Ex vivo experiments confirm our numerical simulation results.

Ultrawideband temperature-dependent dielectric properties of animal liver tissue in the microwave frequency range

The development of ultrawideband (UWB) microwave diagnostic and therapeutic technologies, such as UWB microwave breast cancer detection and hyperthermia treatment, is facilitated by accurate knowledge of the temperature- and frequency-dependent dielectric properties of biological tissues. To this end, we characterize the temperature-dependent dielectric properties of a representative tissue type-animal liver-from 0.5 to 20 GHz. Since discrete-frequency linear temperature coefficients are impractical and inappropriate for applications spanning wide frequency and temperature ranges, we propose a novel and compact data representation technique. A single-pole Cole-Cole model is used to fit the dielectric properties data as a function of frequency, and a second-order polynomial is used to fit the Cole-Cole parameters as a function of temperature. This approach permits rapid estimation of tissue dielectric properties at any temperature and frequency.

Current status of liver tumor ablation devices

The liver is a common site of disease for both primary and metastatic cancer. Since most patients have a disease that is not amenable to surgical resection, tumor ablation modalities are increasingly being used for treatment of liver cancer. This review describes the current status of ablative technologies used as alternatives for resection, clinical experience with these technologies, currently available devices and design rules for the development of new devices and the improvement of existing ones. It focuses on probe design for radiofrequency ablation, microwave ablation and cryoablation, and compares the advantages and disadvantages of each ablation modality.

Antenna design for microwave hepatic ablation using an axisymmetric electromagnetic model

BackgroundAn axisymmetric finite element method (FEM) model was employed to demonstrate important techniques used in the design of antennas for hepatic microwave ablation (MWA). To effectively treat deep-seated hepatic tumors, these antennas should produce a highly localized specific absorption rate (SAR) pattern and be efficient radiators at approved generator frequencies.Methods and resultsAs an example, a double slot choked antenna for hepatic MWA was designed and implemented using FEMLAB™ 3.0.DiscussionThis paper emphasizes the importance of factors that can affect simulation accuracy, which include boundary conditions, the dielectric properties of liver tissue, and mesh resolution.

Design optimization of a robust sleeve antenna for hepatic microwave ablation.

We describe the application of a Bayesian variable-number sample-path (VNSP) optimization algorithm to yield a robust design for a floating sleeve antenna for hepatic microwave ablation. Finite element models are used to generate the electromagnetic (EM) field and thermal distribution in liver given a particular design. Dielectric properties of the tissue are assumed to vary within +/- 10% of average properties to simulate the variation among individuals. The Bayesian VNSP algorithm yields an optimal design that is a 14.3% improvement over the original design and is more robust in terms of lesion size, shape and efficiency. Moreover, the Bayesian VNSP algorithm finds an optimal solution saving 68.2% simulation of the evaluations compared to the standard sample-path optimization method.

An Optimal Sliding Choke Antenna for Hepatic Microwave Ablation

Microwave ablation (MWA) is a minimally invasive technique increasingly used for thermal therapy of liver tumors. Effective MWA requires efficient interstitial antennas that destroy tumors and a margin of healthy tissue, in situ, while minimizing damage to the rest of the organ. Previously, we presented a method for optimizing MWA antenna designs by coupling finite element method models of antennas with a real-coded, multiobjective genetic algorithm. We utilized this procedure to optimize the design of a minimally invasive choke antenna that can be used to create near-spherical ablation zones of adjustable size (radius 1-2 cm) by adjusting treatment durations and a sliding structure of the antenna. Computational results were validated with experiments in ex vivo bovine liver. The optimization procedure yielded antennas with reflection coefficients below -30 dB, which were capable of creating spherical ablation zones up to 2 cm in radius using 100 W input power at 2.45 GHz with treatment durations under 2 min.