System and method for estimating a treatment volume for administering electrical-energy based therapies
View Patent ↗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.
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.