Cryoheater as a means of cryosurgery control.
A new concept for cryosurgery control is presented in this paper, a concept which has the potential to dramatically change the outcome of cryosurgery. Unlike other cryosurgery control techniques, which are based on controlling the thermal performance of the cryoprobe, this new concept is based on heating the treated tissue as a means of shaping the frozen region. The new controlling heater is termed a 'cryoheater'. The cryoheater is a complementary device to the cryoprobe and can work with any cryosurgery cooling technique. In the current pilot study, the new cryoheater is demonstrated in a gelatin solution and, using heat transfer simulations, it is studied in simulated cases of prostate cryosurgery. It is suggested that cryosurgery planning tools and optimization techniques must be developed before the concept of the cryoheater can be applied in its full capacity.
Rabin
Yoed
Y
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. rabin@cmu.edu
Stahovich
Thomas F
TF
D001831:Body Temperature / Q000528:radiation effects*; D001833:Body Temperature Regulation; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003452:Cryosurgery / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005246:Feedback; D006358:Hot Temperature / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008954:Models, Biological; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014159:Transducers