Method for ablation volume determination and geometric reconstruction

Abstract

A method for determining a volume of ablated tissue is provided. The method includes the steps of: supplying energy to tissue to create an ablation volume therein; excising one or more slices of the tissue having a portion of the ablation volume therein; and subjecting at least a portion of the slice to a first contrast agent for a predetermined period of time, wherein the contrast agent is configured to color dead cells within the ablation volume.

1 - 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A method for determining a volume of ablated tissue comprising:
 inserting an electrode into tissue;   supplying energy to tissue to create an ablation region therein;   excising a plurality of cross-sectional slices of the tissue having at least a portion of the ablation region therein, each of the cross-sectional slices having a thickness, a cross-sectional perimeter, and a trajectory point defined by an insertion path of the electrode;   determining a volume of each of the cross-sectional slices based on the cross-sectional perimeter and the thickness of each of the cross-sectional slices and the trajectory point; and   summing the volume of each of the cross-sectional slices to obtain a volume of the ablation region.   
     
     
         18 . The method according in  claim 17 , wherein supplying the energy includes supplying at least one of radio frequency or microwave energy. 
     
     
         19 . The method according in  claim 17 , further comprising:
 subjecting at least a portion of each of the cross-sectional slices to a contrast agent for a predetermined period of time, wherein the contrast agent is configured to color dead cells of the tissue within the ablation volume.   
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , further comprising:
 forming a solution having the contrast agent; and   submerging at least a portion of each of the cross-sectional slices in the solution.   
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 19 , further comprising:
 rinsing each of the cross-sectional slices with a rinse solution to remove the contrast agent from live cells of the tissue.   
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 21 , further comprising:
 drying each of the cross-sectional slices to remove the rinse solution.   
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the rinse solution is a phosphate buffered saline solution. 
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein the contrast agent is trypan blue. 
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein the predetermined period is from about 1 minute to about 5 minutes. 
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 19 , further comprising:
 imaging the at least one slice after subjecting at least a portion of the slice to the contrast agent.   
     
     
         27 . A method for determining a volume of ablated tissue comprising:
 supplying energy to tissue to create an ablation region therein;   excising a plurality of slices of the tissue having at least a portion of the ablation region therein, each of the slices having a thickness and a perimeter; and   determining a volume of the ablation region based on a volume of each of the slices, wherein the volume of each of the slices is calculated based on the perimeter and the thickness of each of the slices.   
     
     
         28 . The method according in  claim 27 , wherein supplying the energy includes supplying at least one of radio frequency or microwave energy. 
     
     
         29 . The method according in  claim 27 , further comprising:
 subjecting at least a portion of each of the slices to a contrast agent for a predetermined period of time, wherein the contrast agent is configured to color dead cells within the ablation volume.   
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 29 , further comprising:
 forming a solution having the contrast agent; and   submerging at least a portion of each of the slices in the solution.   
     
     
         31 . The method according to  claim 29 , further comprising:
 rinsing each of the slices with a rinse solution to remove the contrast agent from live cells of the tissue.   
     
     
         32 . The method according to  claim 31 , further comprising:
 drying each of the slices to remove the rinse solution.   
     
     
         33 . The method according to  claim 31 , wherein the rinse solution is a phosphate buffered saline solution. 
     
     
         34 . The method according to  claim 29 , wherein the contrast agent is trypan blue. 
     
     
         35 . The method according to  claim 29 , wherein the predetermined period is from about 1 minute to about 5 minutes. 
     
     
         36 . The method according to  claim 29 , further comprising:
 imaging each of the slices after subjecting at least a portion of the slice to the contrast agent.