Authors: Robert E Neal Helen Kavnoudias Kenneth R Thomson
Publish Date: 2014/08/27
Volume: 38, Issue: 3, Pages: 736-741
Abstract
Irreversible electroporation IRE ablation uses a series of brief electric pulses to create nanoscale defects in cell membranes killing the cells It has shown promise in numerous softtissue tumor applications Larger voltages between electrodes will increase ablation volume but exceeding electrical limits may risk damage to the patient cause ineffective therapy delivery or require generator restart Monitoring electrical current for these conditions in realtime enables managing these risks This capacity is not presently available in clinical IRE generatorsWe describe a system using a Tektronix TCP305 AC/DC Current Probe connected to a TCPA300 AC/DC Current Probe Amplifier which is read on a computer using a Protek DSO2090 USB computerinterfacing oscilloscope Accuracy of the system was tested with a resistor circuit and by comparing measured currents with final outputs from the NanoKnife clinical electroporation pulse generatorAccuracy of measured currents was 164 ± 24 relative to calculations for the resistor circuit and averaged 0371 ± 0977 deviation from the NanoKnife During clinical pulse delivery the system offers realtime evaluation of IRE procedure progress and enables a number of methods for identifying approaching issues from electrical behavior of therapy delivery facilitating protocol changes before encountering therapy delivery issuesThis system can monitor electrical currents in realtime without altering the electric pulses or modifying the pulse generator This facilitates delivering electric pulse protocols that remain within the optimal range of electrical currents—sufficient strength for clinically relevant ablation volumes without the risk of exceeding safe electric currents or causing inadequate ablationRobert Neal holds pending patents in the field of irreversible electroporation including royalty payments from AngioDynamics Inc and has previously served an advisory role for AngioDynamics Inc Helen Kavnoudias and Kenneth Thomson received donated research materials for unrelated IRE studiesAll procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards
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