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

• US 9,283,051 B2
• Filed: 08/28/2013
• Issued: 03/15/2016
• 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:
  US14/012,832
• Publication Number:
  US 20130345697A1
• Time in Patent Office: 930 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 system for estimating a target ablation zone for a medical treatment device that applies electrical treatment energy through a plurality of electrodes defining a target 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, the treatment planning module adapted to;

receive a baseline electrical flow characteristic (EFC) in response to delivery of a test signal to tissue of a subject to be treated;

determine, based on the baseline EFC, a second EFC representing an expected EFC during delivery of the electrical treatment energy to the target treatment area;

estimate the target ablation zone for display in the display device based on the second EFC.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the baseline EFC includes an electrical conductivity.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein:

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

the treatment planning module estimates the target ablation zone based on the ratio of the second EFC to the baseline EFC.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the treatment planning module determines the second EFC 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 system of claim 1, wherein the treatment planning module estimates the target ablation zone based on a set of predetermined ablation zones according to different W, X, and Y values.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the treatment planning module estimates 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.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the treatment planning module is adapted to measure actual maximum tissue conductivity based on either:

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

or

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

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the treatment planning module is adapted to provide for outcome confirmation of treatment of the subject.

9. A method for estimating a target ablation zone for a medical treatment device that applies electrical treatment energy through a plurality of electrodes defining a target treatment area, the method comprising:

determining a baseline electrical flow characteristic (EFC) in response to delivery of a test signal to tissue of a subject to be treated;

determining, based on the baseline EFC, a second EFC representing an expected EFC during delivery of the electrical treatment energy to the target treatment area;

estimating the target ablation zone for display in the display device based on the second EFC.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of determining a baseline EFC includes determining an electrical conductivity.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein:

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

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

12. The method of claim 9, 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.

13. The method of claim 9 comprising estimating the target ablation zone based on a set of predetermined ablation zones according to different W, X and Y values.

14. The method of claim 13 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.

15. The method of claim 9 comprising measuring actual maximum tissue conductivity by either:

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

or

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

16. The method of claim 15 comprising performing outcome confirmation of treatment of the subject.