Spacer-Supported Thermal Ablation to Prevent Carbonisation and Improve Ablation Size: A Proof of Concept Study

Thermal ablation offers a minimally invasive alternative in the treatment of hepatic tumours. Several types of ablation are utilised with different methods and indications. However, to this day, ablation size remains limited due to the formation of a central non-conductive boundary layer. In thermal ablation, this boundary layer is formed by carbonisation. Our goal was to prevent or delay carbonisation, and subsequently increase ablation size. We used bovine liver to compare ablation diameter and volume, created by a stand-alone laser applicator, with those created when utilising a spacer between laser applicator and hepatic tissue. Two spacer variants were developed: one with a closed circulation of cooling fluid and one with an open circulation into hepatic tissue. We found that the presence of a spacer significantly increased ablation volume up to 75.3 cm³, an increase of a factor of 3.19 (closed spacer) and 3.02 (open spacer) when compared to the stand-alone applicator. Statistical significance between spacer variants was also present, with the closed spacer producing a significantly larger ablation volume (p < 0.001, M_Diff = 3.053, 95% CI[1.612, 4.493]) and diameter (p < 0.001, M_Diff = 4.467, 95% CI[2.648, 6.285]) than the open spacer. We conclude that the presence of a spacer has the potential to increase ablation size.