Radio Frequency Ablation of Liver Tissue Assisted by Saline Infusion: Computational Modeling and Experimental Assessment

Radio frequency ablation (RFA) is a widely assessed technology for minimally invasive tumor treatments. To overcome the RFA limitations in the maximum treatable lesion size, saline infusion during the treatment can be used. In this work, for the first time, the porosity model simulating the effect of saline infusion on RFA performance is integrated and validated with temperature experimental data recorded by fiber Bragg grating sensors (FBGs). The experiments have been performed on ex-vivo liver tissue. The comparison between simulations and measurements confirms consistent results in terms of temperature distribution and ablation margin size. Results show the effectiveness of saline solution to extend ablation margins and mitigate burn risks. The proposed combined approach enables to customize the RFA settings, reducing the need for preliminary in vivo or ex-vivo tests and optimizing therapeutic outcomes in terms of ablation precision and preservation of the adjacent anatomical structures from thermal damage.