title: Electrical-thermal performance of a cooled RF applicator for hepatic ablation with additional distant infusion of hypertonic saline: in vivo study and preliminary computer modeling.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The Cool-tip electrode is one of the most widely employed applicators in radiofrequency (RF) hepatic ablation. Previous research demonstrated that it is possible to enlarge coagulation volume when the single cooled electrode is associated with distant infusion of saline (hybrid applicator). The aim of this study was to compare the electrical-thermal behaviour of the Cool-tip electrode with that of the hybrid applicator.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-two RF ablations were performed on a total of 10 pigs: 22 with the Cool-tip electrode and 20 with the hybrid applicator (low infused saline volumetric flow rate of 6 mL/h at 2 mm distance). We compared both electrical performance (delivered power and number of roll-offs, i.e. sudden rises in impedance that interrupt the power delivery) and coagulation zone characteristics. In addition, we built a one-dimensional model to provide a basic physical explanation of the difference in performance between the different applicators.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The experimental results showed that the number of roll-offs with the Cool-tip electrode was higher (24.3 ± 3.1 versus 6.7 ± 7.0). The hybrid applicator created larger coagulation volumes (19.7 ± 9.5 cm(3) versus 9.5 ± 5.8 cm(3)) with larger transverse diameters (2.5 ± 0.6 versus 1.9 ± 0.5 cm). The one-dimensional model confirmed the delay in the incidence of the first roll-off, but not the heterogeneity of the hybrid applicator's electrical performance in the experiments.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The hybrid applicator produces fewer roll-off episodes than the Cool-tip electrode and creates larger coagulation volumes with larger transverse diameters.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Engineeríng, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Mexico.
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Romero-Méndez
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tobajas
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Burdío
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gonzalez
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Navarro
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Grande
authors.forename: Enrique
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Berjano
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004564:Electrocoagulation / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D004566:Electrodes; D036502:Infusions, Intralesional; D008099:Liver / Q000601:surgery*; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D012462:Saline Solution, Hypertonic / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013552:Swine; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D012462:Saline Solution, Hypertonic