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A thermochromic tissue-mimicking phantom for catheter-based radiofrequency ablation of heterogenous lesions
Ruizhe Hou1, Quanshu Han1, Jincheng Zou1
1School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, P.R. China.
Background:
In catheter-based radiofrequency ablation (RFA), energy is delivered to heterogeneous thin-walled tissues to induce therapeutic heating. Variations in electrical and mechanical properties of tissue contents have a great effect on outcomes.
Purpose:
The objective of this study is to develop models that replicate tissue heterogeneity and visualize ablation zones for effective evaluation and optimization.
Methods:
A tunable thermochromic phantom formulation was developed, consisting of deionized water, acrylamide aqueous solution (Acr/Bis), thermochromic microcapsule powder, Tris-HCl buffer, ammonium persulfate solution, and N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine. The color-change temperature threshold, electrical conductivity, and elastic modulus were characterized with different formulation compositions. A dual-parameter inverse design method based on concentration-property regression models was proposed to match the electrical and mechanical properties of tissues simultaneously, which was validated through RFA experiments on phantoms.
Results:
The phantoms exhibited an immediate and irreversible color change from indigo to deep pink at 60°C, clearly delineating ablation margins. Electrical conductivity ranged from 0.1892 to 0.5958 S/m and elastic modulus from 6.70 to 138 kPa, effectively encompassing the characteristic properties of diverse lesion tissues. RFA experiments on phantoms mimicking porcine myocardium and chicken breast demonstrated strong agreement with ex vivo results. Ablation of heterogeneous phantoms mimicking atherosclerotic structures revealed significant differences compared to homogeneous models.
Conclusions:
A tunable thermochromic phantom formulation was developed, exhibiting a precise color change at 60°C while replicating the electrical and mechanical properties of heterogeneous tissues, enabling direct visualization of ablation boundaries. The phantom offers a robust platform for evaluating catheter-based RFA in clinically relevant complex tissues, supporting the development of personalized and optimized treatment strategies.
