System and method for measuring heat transfer due to local tissue perfusion prior to an ablation procedure

1. A method for performing a radiofrequency (RF) ablation procedure with a cooled RF probe, the method comprising:

determining local perfusion characteristics at an ablation site within a patient by measuring, via one or more sensors including a thermocouple protruding beyond a distal end of the cooled RF probe, a steady-state temperature within the cooled RF probe and a lesion temperature at the ablation site, the local perfusion characteristics comprising i) the steady-state temperature within the cooled RF probe, ii) a temperature of the tissue outside of the ablation site, and iii) the lesion temperature at the ablation site, wherein the lesion temperature at the ablation site is dependent on the steady-state temperature within the cooled RF probe and the temperature of the tissue outside of the ablation site;

generating a temperature response profile by activating a flow of cooling fluid within the cooled RF probe and subsequently monitoring the local perfusion characteristics over a time period, wherein a slope of the temperature response profile defines a rate of heat transfer due to local perfusion at the ablation site;

determining an operating threshold for the cooled RF probe based on the temperature response profile, wherein the operating threshold compensates for heat loss due to the local perfusion based on the slope of the temperature response profile; and

controlling the cooled RF probe to create a lesion at the ablation site within the patient by applying RF energy at the operating threshold.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the lesion temperature is dependent on the steady-state temperature within the cooled RF probe and the temperature of the tissue outside of the ablation site.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the local perfusion at the ablation site actively transfers heat between the thermocouple and the tissue outside of the ablation site.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the ablation site is determined to have low perfusion if the temperature of the tissue at the ablation site equilibrates to the steady state temperature within the cooled RF probe.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the slope of the temperature response profile is determined prior to the temperature of the tissue outside of the ablation site reaching equilibrium.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the operating threshold comprises at least one of a power threshold or a deposited energy threshold.

7. A radiofrequency (RF) ablation system for performing an RF ablation procedure, the RF ablation system comprising:

an energy source for delivering energy to a patient's body;

a cooled RF probe electrically coupled to the energy source;

one or more sensors for measuring local perfusion characteristics at an ablation site within the patient, the local perfusion characteristics including i) a steady-state temperature within the cooled RF probe, ii) a temperature of a tissue outside of the ablation site, and iii) a lesion temperature at the ablation site, the one or more sensors including a thermocouple protruding beyond a distal end of the cooled RF probe; and

at least one processor configured to perform a plurality of operations, the plurality of operations comprising:

generating a temperature response profile by activating a flow of cooling fluid within the cooled RF probe and subsequently monitoring the local perfusion characteristics over a time period, wherein a slope of the temperature response profile defines a heat transfer due to local perfusion at the ablation site;

determining an operating threshold for the cooled RF probe based on the temperature response profile, wherein the operating threshold compensates for heat loss due to the local perfusion based on the slope of the temperature response profile; and

controlling the cooled RF probe to create a lesion at the ablation site within the patient by applying RF energy at the operating threshold.

8. The RF ablation system of claim 7 , wherein the cooled RF probe comprises a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end comprising an active distal tip.

9. The RF ablation system of claim 7 , wherein the ablation site is determined to have low perfusion if the temperature of the tissue outside of the ablation site equilibrates to the steady state temperature within the cooled RF probe.

10. The RF ablation system of claim 7 , wherein the slope of a temperature response profile is determined prior to the temperature of the tissue outside of the ablation site reaching equilibrium.

11. The RF ablation system of claim 7 , wherein the operating threshold comprises at least one of a power threshold or a deposited energy threshold.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the ablation site is determined to have high perfusion if the temperature of the tissue at the ablation site equilibrates to the lesion temperature at the ablation site.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the temperature response profile is generated prior to an application of the RF energy by the cooled RF probe.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the local perfusion characteristics are monitored until the temperature of the tissue at the ablation site reaches an equilibrium.

15. The RF ablation system of claim 7 , wherein the ablation site is determined to have high perfusion if the temperature of the tissue at the ablation site equilibrates to the lesion temperature at the ablation site.

16. The RF ablation system of claim 7 , wherein the temperature response profile is generated prior to an application of the RF energy by the cooled RF probe.

17. The RF ablation system of claim 7 , wherein the local perfusion characteristics are monitored until the temperature of the tissue at the ablation site reaches an equilibrium.