Development of a 1.8mm Percutaneous Applicator with Closed Cycle Cooking for Microwave Tumour Ablation

Abstract

This thesis reports the development of a novel microwave ablation system for tumour destruction. In addition, a computer model simulating the electromagnetic and thermal behaviour of the designed microwave applicator is presented. Concerning the microwave ablation system development, novelty is seen in four aspects of the work: rstly, in the design of a new percutaneous microwave applicator of 1.8 mm diameter; secondly, in the development of a novel closed-cycle cooling system for the microwave applicator and microwave applicator feed cable; thirdly, in the development of a novel integrated ther mocouple as part of the applicator design; and lastly, in the design and development of the complete microwave ablation system consisting of applicator, feed cable and cooling system. Regarding the computer simulations of the developed microwave applicator, novelty is also seen in the definition of new non-linear temperature-dependent material properties of ex-vivo bovine liver up to 300 ◦C which significantly improved the accuracy of the simulation. Figure 1 displays the latest version of the applicator developed within the scope of this thesis which is currently being developed into a commercial product by Acculis Limited and Runfold Medical Limited.

Date of Award	1 Aug 2009
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	University of Bath
Supervisor	Nigel Cronin (Supervisor)