Characterisation of Ex Vivo Liver Thermal Properties for Electromagnetic-Based Hyperthermic Therapies
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Translational Medical Device Lab, National University of Ireland Galway, H91 TK33 Galway, Ireland
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Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisbon, Portugal
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Instituto de Biofísica e Engenharia Biomédica, Faculdade de Ciências Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisbon, Portugal
4
CÚRAM, SFI Research Centre for Medical Devices, National University of Ireland Galway, H91 W2TY Galway, Ireland
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Sensors 2020, 20(10), 3004; https://doi.org/10.3390/s20103004
Received: 22 April 2020
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Revised: 21 May 2020
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Accepted: 22 May 2020
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Published: 25 May 2020
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Measurements Techniques of Biological Tissues Dielectric Properties, Updated Data and Current Applications)
Electromagnetic-based hyperthermic therapies induce a controlled increase of temperature in a specific tissue target in order to increase the tissue perfusion or metabolism, or even to induce cell necrosis. These therapies require accurate knowledge of dielectric and thermal properties to optimise treatment plans. While dielectric properties have been well investigated, only a few studies have been conducted with the aim of understanding the changes of thermal properties as a function of temperature; i.e., thermal conductivity, volumetric heat capacity and thermal diffusivity. In this study, we experimentally investigate the thermal properties of ex vivo ovine liver in the hyperthermic temperature range, from 25 °C to 97 °C. A significant increase in thermal properties is observed only above 90 °C. An analytical model is developed to model the thermal properties as a function of temperature. Thermal properties are also investigated during the natural cooling of the heated tissue. A reversible phenomenon of the thermal properties is observed; during the cooling, thermal properties followed the same behaviour observed in the heating process. Additionally, tissue density and water content are evaluated at different temperatures. Density does not change with temperature; mass and volume losses change proportionally due to water vaporisation. A 30% water loss was observed above 90 °C.
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Keywords:
electromagnetic-based therapies; thermal properties; hyperthermia; thermal ablation; density; water loss
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MDPI and ACS Style
Silva, N.P.; Bottiglieri, A.; Conceição, R.C.; O’Halloran, M.; Farina, L. Characterisation of Ex Vivo Liver Thermal Properties for Electromagnetic-Based Hyperthermic Therapies. Sensors 2020, 20, 3004. https://doi.org/10.3390/s20103004
AMA Style
Silva NP, Bottiglieri A, Conceição RC, O’Halloran M, Farina L. Characterisation of Ex Vivo Liver Thermal Properties for Electromagnetic-Based Hyperthermic Therapies. Sensors. 2020; 20(10):3004. https://doi.org/10.3390/s20103004
Chicago/Turabian StyleSilva, Nuno P., Anna Bottiglieri, Raquel C. Conceição, Martin O’Halloran, and Laura Farina. 2020. "Characterisation of Ex Vivo Liver Thermal Properties for Electromagnetic-Based Hyperthermic Therapies" Sensors 20, no. 10: 3004. https://doi.org/10.3390/s20103004
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