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Design and experimental study of novel plasma ablation electrodes

Siqi Zhao1, Lin Mao1, Chengli Song1, Zhuotianhao Wang2


1Shanghai Institute for Minimally Invasive Therapy, School of Health Science and Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China. 2Department of Biology, Shenzhen MSU-BIT University, Shenzhen 518000, Guangdong Province, China.


Address correspondence to: Lin Mao, Shanghai Institute for Minimally Invasive Therapy, School of Health Science and Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, NO.516 Jungong Road, Yangpu District, Shanghai 200093, China. Tel: +86-21-55572159. E-mail: linmao@usst.edu.cn.


DOI: https://doi.org/10.61189/409228vdbtgj


Received October 23, 2024; Accepted January 21, 2025; Published June 30, 2025


Highlights

● Three different electrode structures, including ring-needle electrode, needle electrode, and cylinder electrode, were designed to accommodate diverse surgical requirements.

● A novel low-temperature plasma ablation electrode features interchangeable tips, enabling surgeons to select appropriate tips based on specific operative situations.

● With increased electric field strength, ring-needle electrodes facilitates liquid medium breakdown, thereby optimizing plasma generation and ablation efficacy.

Abstract

Objective: This study utilizes finite element modeling to investigate the coupled electric-thermal field distributions for three novel electrode designs, assessing their ability to induce electric breakdown in saline for plasma generation. Furthermore, the ablation effects of various electrode shapes were validated through ex vivo tissue ablation experiments, ensuring both the safety and feasibility of the electrodes. Methods: Three electrode structures were designed: the ring-needle electrode, the needle electrode, and the cylinder electrode. A COMSOL Multiphysics finite element model simulated their behavior in saline. This modeling approach enabled a detailed analysis of the spatial variations in both the electric and temperature fields. Furthermore, the electrodes were tested at four voltages (180 V, 220 V, 260 V, and 300 V) and a frequency of 100 kHz on porcine liver tissue to evaluate ablation performance. Results: Simulations showed temperatures of 25-70 °C at 0.3 mm above the three electrodes, with electric field strength exceeding 1 *10^6 V/m, which are sufficient to trigger electric breakdown and plasma formation. Ex vivo experiments confirmed ablation efficacy, with the ring-needle electrode exhibited the best performance at a voltage of 300 V, achieving a 2.3 mm ablation depth and 0.72 mm² thermal damage area. Conclusion: Finite element simulation and ex vivo experiments demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed electrodes, highlighting their potential as an innovative solution for plasma-based ablation technologies.

Keywords: Low-temperature plasma, ablation electrode, structural design, Multiphysics simulation

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Zhao SQ, Mao L, Song CL, Wang ZT. Design and experimental study of novel plasma ablation electrodes. Prog in Med Devices 2025 Jun; 3 (2): 115-126. doi: 10.61189/409228vdbtgj

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