System and method for estimating a treatment volume for administering electrical-energy based therapies

• US 10,470,822 B2
• Filed: 02/01/2016
• Issued: 11/12/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc.
• Inventors: Garcia, Paulo A., Davalos, Rafael V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peffley, Michael F
• Application Number:
  US15/011,752
• Publication Number:
  US 20160143698A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,380 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1206 Generators therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1477 Needle-like probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/18 by applying electromagnetic radiation, e.g. microwaves radiation therapy A61N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0016 Energy applicators arranged in a two- or three dimensional array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00613 Irreversible electroporation reversible electroporation A61N1/327
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00666 using a threshold value
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00672 lower
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00678 upper
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00767 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00875 Resistance or impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1425 Needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/104 Modelling the effect of the tool, e.g. the effect of an implanted prosthesis or for predicting the effect of ablation or burring
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/10 Computer-aided planning, simulation or modelling of surgical operations
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 13/00 Treatment of microorganisms or enzymes with electrical or wave energy, e.g. magnetism, sonic waves

Abstract

The invention provides for a system for estimating a 3-dimensional treatment volume for a device that applies treatment energy through a plurality of electrodes defining a treatment area, the system comprising a memory, a display device, a processor coupled to the memory and the display device, and a treatment planning module stored in the memory and executable by the processor. In one embodiment, the treatment planning module is adapted to generate an estimated first 3-dimensional treatment volume for display in the display device based on the ratio of a maximum conductivity of the treatment area to a baseline conductivity of the treatment area. The invention also provides for a method for estimating 3-dimensional treatment volume, the steps of which are executable through the processor. In embodiments, the system and method are based on a numerical model which may be implemented in computer readable code which is executable through a processor.

Claims

1. A device for estimating a target ablation zone, the device comprising:

one or more probes with one or more electrodes for delivering electrical energy;

a voltage pulse generator in operable communication with the one or more probes;

a treatment planning module and one or more computer processor, the treatment planning module in operable communication with the voltage pulse generator, the treatment planning module configured to;

receive a first electrical flow characteristic (EFC);

determine a second EFC of a tissue in the target ablation zone based on the first EFC;

estimate the target ablation zone based on the second EFC; and

display the estimated target ablation zone on a display device.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the first EFC includes a baseline electrical conductivity of the tissue in the target ablation zone.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the second EFC includes a maximum conductivity expected during delivery of electrical treatment energy to the target ablation zone;

the estimate of the target ablation zone is based on a ratio of the second EFC to the first EFC.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the second EFC is determined based on W, X and Y, in which:

W=voltage to distance ratio;

X=edge to edge distance between electrodes;

Y=exposure length of electrode.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the estimate of the target ablation zone is based on a set of predetermined ablation zones according to different W, X, and Y values.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the estimate of the target ablation zone is performed by curve fitting:

a mathematical function of x values of the ablation volume as a function of W, X, and Y;

a mathematical function of y values of the ablation volume as a function of W, X, and Y; and

a mathematical function of z values of the ablation volume as a function of W, X, and Y.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the second EFC is based on the first EFC and expected delivery of electrical treatment energy.

8. A method for estimating a target ablation zone, the method comprising:

determining a first electrical flow characteristic (EFC);

determining a second EFC of a tissue in the target ablation zone based on the first EFC;

estimating the target ablation zone based on the second EFC; and

displaying the estimated target ablation zone based on the second EFC.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of determining the first EFC includes determining a baseline electrical conductivity of the tissue in the target ablation zone.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein:

the step of determining a second EFC includes determining an expected maximum electrical conductivity during delivery of electrical treatment energy to the target ablation zone;

the step of estimating includes estimating the target ablation zone based on a ratio of the second EFC to the first EFC.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of determining the second EFC is based on W, X and Y, in which:

W=voltage to distance ratio;

X=edge to edge distance between electrodes;

Y=exposure length of electrode.

12. The method of claim 11 comprising estimating the target ablation zone based on a set of predetermined ablation zones according to different W, X and Y values.

13. The method of claim 12 comprising estimating the target ablation zone by curve fitting:

a mathematical function of x values of the ablation volume as a function of W, X and Y;

a mathematical function of y values of the ablation volume as a function of W, X and Y; and

a mathematical function of z values of the ablation volume as a function of W, X and Y.

14. The method of claim 8 comprising measuring actual maximum tissue conductivity by either:

(i) delivering IRE pulses during delivery of electrical treatment energy;

or

(ii) delivering non-electroporating pulses after delivery of electrical treatment energy.

15. The method of claim 14 comprising performing outcome confirmation of treatment of a subject.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of determining a first EFC includes determining an electrical conductivity.

17. The method of claim 8, wherein the second EFC is based on the first EFC and expected delivery of electrical treatment energy.

18. A device for estimating a target ablation zone, the device comprising:

one or more probes with one or more electrodes for delivering electrical energy;

a voltage pulse generator in operable communication with the one or more probes;

a treatment planning module and one or more computer processor, the treatment planning module in operable communication with the voltage pulse generator, adapted to;

receive a first electrical flow characteristic (EFC);

determine a second EFC based on the first EFC;

estimate the target ablation zone based on the second EFC;

display the estimated target ablation zone on a display device; and

measure actual maximum tissue conductivity by;

(i) delivering IRE pulses during delivery of electrical treatment energy; and

/or

(ii) delivering non-electroporating pulses after delivery of electrical treatment energy.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the device is adapted to provide for outcome confirmation of treatment of a subject.