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BMEGS Midwest Speaker Exchange
Thursday, February 28, 2019, 4-5pm
Tech L361
University of Wisconsin-Madison
One Step Forward: Increasing the Predictability of Microwave Ablation
Microwave ablation is a minimally-invasive thermal ablation technique that is used to eradicate localized tumors, i.e. liver and lung tumors, for patients who are not eligible for surgery. It is also an alternative to radiation therapy. Microwave ablation is most commonly used in liver tumors, but it has gained more interest in recent years for lung and kidney tumors as well.
Our research revolves around optimization of microwave ablation treatment, where we focus on developing efficient instruments and treatment planning approaches via image guidance and modelling. Interactions of microwaves with tissues induces changes in tissue properties (thermal and dielectric) and this dynamic process determines the treatment outcome. In this talk I will overview microwave antenna optimization techniques with simulations. The presentation will include new dielectric property models as a function of water content for microwave ablation simulations and approaches to implement these models toward treatment planning.