Characterization of Irreversible Electroporation Ablation with a Validated Perfused Organ Model.
OBJECTIVE
To develop and validate a perfused organ model for characterizing ablations for irreversible electroporation (IRE)-based therapies.


METHODS
Eight excised porcine livers were mechanically perfused with a modified phosphate-buffered saline solution to maintain viability during IRE ablation. IRE pulses were delivered using 2 monopolar electrodes over a range of parameters, including voltage (1,875-3,000 V), pulse length (70-100 µsec), number of pulses (50-600), electrode exposure (1.0-2.0 cm), and electrode spacing (1.5-2.0 cm). Organs were dissected, and treatment zones were stained with triphenyl tetrazolium chloride to demonstrate viability and highlight the area of ablation. Results were compared with 17 in vivo ablations performed in canine livers and 35 previously published ablations performed in porcine livers.


RESULTS
Ablation dimensions in the perfused model correlated well with corresponding in vivo ablations (R2= 0.9098) with a 95% confidence interval of < 2.2 mm. Additionally, the validated perfused model showed that the IRE ablation zone grew logarithmically with increasing pulse numbers, showing small difference in ablation size over 200-600 pulses (3.2 mm ± 3.8 width and 5.2 mm ± 3.9 height).


CONCLUSIONS
The perfused organ model provides an alternative to animal trials for investigation of IRE treatments. It may have an important role in the future development of new devices, algorithms, and techniques for this therapy.
Virginia Tech Wake Forest School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences, Blacksburg, VA 24061; The Bradley Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Blacksburg, VA 24061.
Suyashree
S
Bhonsle
Virginia Tech Wake Forest School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences, Blacksburg, VA 24061; Department of Mechanical Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 329 ICTAS Stanger Street (MC0298), Blacksburg, VA 24061.
Mohammad
M
Bonakdar
Department of Radiology, The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Australia; AngioDynamics Inc, Latham, New York.
Robert E
RE
Neal
Virginia Tech Wake Forest School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences, Blacksburg, VA 24061.
Charles
C
Aardema
Virginia Tech Wake Forest School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences, Blacksburg, VA 24061.
John L
JL
Robertson
Virginia Tech Wake Forest School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences, Blacksburg, VA 24061.
Jonathon
J
Howarth
Department of Radiology, The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Australia.
Helen
H
Kavnoudias
Department of Radiology, The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Australia.
Kenneth R
KR
Thomson
Department of Radiology, Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Center, Ein Karem, Jerusalem, Israel.
S Nahum
SN
Goldberg
Virginia Tech Wake Forest School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences, Blacksburg, VA 24061; Department of Mechanical Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 329 ICTAS Stanger Street (MC0298), Blacksburg, VA 24061. Electronic address: davalos@vt.edu.
Rafael V
RV
Davalos
D055011:Ablation Techniques / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation; D000818:Animals; D004285:Dogs; D004566:Electrodes; D018274:Electroporation / Q000295:instrumentation; D004867:Equipment Design; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D016014:Linear Models; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D010477:Perfusion; D013045:Species Specificity; D013552:Swine; D014022:Tissue Survival