Experimental study of a novel radiofrequency ablation system

Objective To determine the power-time-ablation scope correlogram of a water-cooled single needle electrode radiofrequency (RF) ablation system and to establish a theoretical basis for its practical application.Methods RF ablations were performed using a water-cooled single needle electrode radiofrequency ablation system developed by the authors using fresh ox liver as well as liver and muscles of healthy adult New Zealand white rabbits.The temperature of the ablation area was monitored using a multichannel thermometric system.The maximum ablation scope was determined by detecting the rim at which the temperature was no less than 50 °C.The specific absorption rate (SAR) of the isolated liver tissue was calculated.Results In the treatment voltage range of 100-130V,the process was smooth and steady.No impedance variation was obvious.The maximum diameter of a single ablation was 51 cm.With the treatment voltage at 140-170 V,a larger ablation area could be reached in less time,but eventually the impedance began to increase while the ablation area was no longer expanded.When the treatment voltage reached the range of 180-200 V the impedance almost always increased rapidly out of limits,and the treatment system stopped automatically.The measured SAR value was consistent with the theoretical value.Pathology confirmed that both liver tissue and muscle tissue manifested typical coagulative necrosis.Conclusions The power amplifier,cooling,thermometric and control sections of the RF ablation system worked stably,and the practical ablation effect met the design and clinical treatment requirements. Key words: Radiofrequency ablation; New Zealand white rabbits; Ablation area; Specific absorption rate