3D ablation zone planning software for electrical therapies
This technology is a software-based treatment planning system that helps physicians predict exactly how much tissue will be destroyed during electrical ablation procedures — such as irreversible electroporation (IRE), used to kill tumors. Before delivering energy through electrodes inserted into a patient, the system measures the electrical conductivity of the target tissue, runs a numerical model, and generates a real-time 3D map showing the expected treatment zone. This allows clinicians to see in advance whether the ablation will fully cover a tumor without damaging surrounding healthy tissue, and to adjust electrode placement accordingly. The core insight is using the ratio of maximum to baseline tissue conductivity to calibrate the size and shape of the ablation zone.
What you could build
A treatment planning software module integrated into ablation systems (e.g., IRE or RF ablation platforms) that displays a patient-specific 3D ablation zone estimate before energy delivery; target buyers are medical device companies selling ablation capital equipment and hospital interventional radiology or oncology departments.
Who in Virginia should care
Virginia-based hospitals and health systems (e.g., Inova, VCU Health, UVA Health) with interventional oncology programs, as well as medtech companies or contractors in the Northern Virginia/DC corridor working on surgical planning software.
Readiness: Prototype likely
Concept — described but not yet demonstrated. Lab validated — supported by experimental results in the patent. Prototype likely — the text describes a built, working embodiment.
Readiness is inferred from the patent text, not from a lab visit.
The record
- Inventors
- Paulo A. Garcia, Rafael V. Davalos
- Granted
- November 12, 2019
- Status
- Granted patent
- Patent number
- 10470822
Ready to talk?
Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties handles licensing for this technology.
Prosim summaries are generated from public patent text and are not legal advice.