3D ablation zone preview for electrosurgical planning
This technology is a software-based treatment planning system for electrical energy therapies — such as irreversible electroporation (IRE), used to ablate tumors — that calculates in real time the 3D volume of tissue that will actually be destroyed by the electrical pulses. Before delivering the main treatment pulses, the system sends small AC voltage pulses to measure the tissue's electrical conductivity, then uses that data to build a numerical model predicting exactly how large the treatment zone will be. The clinician sees a 3D visualization of the expected ablation volume on a display, allowing them to adjust electrode placement before committing to the full treatment. This closes a critical gap in existing ablation systems, which rely on generic tissue assumptions rather than patient-specific, real-time tissue measurements.
What you could build
A treatment planning software module integrated into electroporation or RF/IRE ablation systems that gives interventional oncologists and surgeons a real-time, patient-specific 3D ablation zone preview before they deliver therapy; hospitals, interventional radiology suites, and medical device OEMs building electroporation platforms would be the buyers.
Who in Virginia should care
Virginia-based hospital systems (Inova, VCU Health, UVA Health) with interventional oncology programs, and medical device companies in the Northern Virginia/DC corridor with surgical planning software portfolios.
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
- March 21, 2023
- Status
- Granted patent
- Patent number
- 11607271
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.