Open AccessElectrical conductivity measurement in Thiel‐embalmed tissue model: relevance to radiofrequency ablation
Author(s) -
Wang Zhigang,
Luo Hongyan,
Nick M.,
Gueorguieva M.,
Andre P.,
Baker R.T.,
McLean D.,
Brown S.,
Cuschieri A.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
electronics letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.375
H-Index - 146
ISSN - 1350-911X
DOI - 10.1049/el.2014.1934
Subject(s) - cadaveric spasm , ablation , embalming , biomedical engineering , anatomy , liver tissue , conductivity , radiofrequency ablation , electrical impedance , nuclear medicine , materials science , nuclear magnetic resonance , medicine , chemistry , physics , quantum mechanics
Thiel‐embalmed human cadaveric specimens are used widely for biomedical scientific investigation. This Letter reports electrical impedance measurements of Thiel‐embalming solutions from 1 Hz to 32 MHz. Compared with other solutions studied, Thiel solution has the lowest impedance throughout the test spectrum. The electrical conductivity of a Thiel‐embalmed liver sample exhibited a relatively flat frequency response from 100 to 500 kHz, which is the frequency range used for electro‐surgery and radiofrequency tumour ablation (RFA). It measured 5 Sm −1 compared with 0.22 Sm −1 obtained from ex‐vivo fresh pig liver. Using finite element modelling and experimental evaluation, the ablation zone obtained from the Thiel‐embalmed liver sample was extremely small due to its much higher conductivity. Hence, it is concluded that Thiel‐embalmed tissue cannot be used as a reliable model for RFA evaluation.