Apparatus and method for radio frequency ablation of a liver tumor in liver tissues

Abstract

A method for detecting death process of a cell or tissue of a living subject. In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of illuminating the cell or tissue of the living subject with a coherent light, collecting fluorescent light returned from the illuminated cell or tissue of the living subject, identifying a NAD(P)H peak of a spectrum of the collected fluorescent light with a wavelength, λ peak , and obtaining the intensity of the NAD(P)H peak of the spectrum of the collected fluorescent light substantially corresponding to the wavelength λ peak . These steps are repeated at sequential stages until the intensity of the NAD(P)H peak of the spectrum at a current stage is less than the intensity of the NAD(P)H peak of the spectrum at an earlier stage immediately prior to the current stage so as to detect death process of the cell of the living subject at the current stage using the intensity of the NAD(P)H peak of the spectrum.

1 - 44 . (canceled) 
     
     
         45 . A method of optimal placement of a radio frequency probe for a radio frequency ablation of a liver tumor in liver tissues of a living subject, wherein the radio frequency probe has a plurality of electrodes, each electrode adapted for transmitting a radio frequency energy applied to an area of the liver tissues in which a working end of the electrode is located, and a plurality of optical fibers adapted such that when the radio frequency probe is placed into the liver tissues, each optical fiber is adapted for an optical spectrum measurement in an area of the liver tissues in which a working end of the optical fiber is located, comprising the steps of:
 (a) placing the radio frequency probe into the liver tissues at an initially selected position;   (b) acquiring optical spectra from each area of the liver tissues in which a working end of the plurality of optical fibers is located, respectively;   (c) identifying a type of the liver tissues in each area from the acquired optical spectra corresponding to the area, respectively;   (d) adjusting the position of the radio frequency probe from the initially selected position so as to find a new position if a normal liver tissue is identified in at least one area in which a working end of the plurality of optical fibers is located;   (e) repeating steps (b)-(d) until no normal liver tissue is identified in any area in which a working end of the plurality of optical fibers is located in a current position of the radio frequency probe; and   (f) choosing the current position as an optimal position of the radio frequency probe for a radio frequency ablation of a liver tumor in liver tissues.   
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the optical spectra include a fluorescence spectrum and a diffused reflectance spectrum. 
     
     
         47 . An apparatus of optimal placement of a radio frequency probe for a radio frequency ablation of a liver tumor in liver tissues of a living subject, comprising:
 (a) a first light source adapted for emitting a coherent light;   (b) a second light source adapted for emitting a white light;   (c) a radio frequency probe coupled with the first light source and the second light source and placed at an initially selected position in the liver tissues, wherein the radio frequency probe have a plurality of electrodes, each electrode adapted for transmitting a radio frequency energy applied to an area of the liver tumor in which a working end of the electrode is located, and a plurality of optical fibers is adapted such that when the radio frequency probe is placed into the liver tissues, each optical fiber is adapted for an optical spectrum measurement in an area of the predetermined margin in which a working end of the optical fiber is located;   (d) a detector coupled with the radio frequency probe so as to acquire optical spectra from each area of the liver tissues in which a working end of the plurality of optical fibers is located, respectively; and   (e) a controller coupled with the detector and programmed to identify a liver tissue type in each area of the liver tissues from the acquired optical spectra corresponding to each area, respectively, so as to determine if the placement of the radio frequency probe in the initially selected position is optimal.   
     
     
         48 . The apparatus of  claim 47 , further comprising a radio frequency energy source coupled with the radio frequency probe for providing the radio frequency energy. 
     
     
         49 . The apparatus of  claim 47 , wherein the detector comprises a spectrometer. 
     
     
         50 . The apparatus of  claim 47 , wherein the controller is associated with a computer. 
     
     
         51 . A method for controlling a volume of a radio frequency ablation of a liver tumor in liver tissues of a living subject intra-operatively, comprising the steps of:
 (a) placing a radio frequency probe into a volumetic center of a liver tumor to be ablated, wherein the radio frequency probe has a plurality of electrodes, each electrode adapted for transmitting a radio frequency energy applied to an area of the liver tumor in which a working end of the electrode is located, and a plurality of optical fibers adapted such that when the radio frequency probe is placed into the volumetic center of the liver tumor, working ends of the plurality of optical fibers are positioned at a predetermined margin of the liver tumor, each optical fiber adapted for an optical spectrum measurement in an area of the predetermined margin in which a working end of the optical fiber is located;   (b) conducting a radio frequency ablation of the liver tumor with the radio frequency probe;   (c) acquiring optical spectra from each area of the predetermined margin of the liver tumor in which a working end of the plurality of optical fibers is located;   (d) monitoring liver tissue coagulation in each area of the predetermined margin from the acquired optical spectra corresponding to each area; and   (e) terminating the radio frequency ablation when the liver tissue coagulation in the predetermined margin appears in all monitored areas.   
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the optical spectra include a fluorescence spectrum and a diffused reflectance spectrum. 
     
     
         53 . An apparatus for monitoring a volume of a radio frequency ablation of a liver tumor in liver tissues of a living subject intra-operatively, comprising:
 (a) at least one light source adapted for emitting a light;   (b) a radio frequency energy source adapted for providing a radio frequency energy;   (c) a radio frequency probe coupled with the radio frequency energy source and the at least one light source and placed at a volumetic center of a liver tumor to be ablated, wherein the radio frequency probe has a plurality of electrodes, each electrode adapted for transmitting a radio frequency energy applied to an area of the liver tumor in which a working end of the electrode is located, and a plurality of optical fibers adapted such that when the radio frequency probe is placed into the volumetic center of the liver tumor, working ends of the plurality of optical fibers are positioned at a predetermined margin of the liver tumor, each optical fiber adapted for an optical spectrum measurement in an area of the predetermined margin in which a working end of the optical fiber is located;   (d) a detector coupled with the radio frequency probe so as to acquire optical spectra from each area of the predetermined margin of the liver tumor in which a working end of the plurality of optical fibers is located; and   (e) a controller coupled with the detector and programmed to intra-operatively monitor liver tissue coagulation in each area of the predetermined margin from the acquired optical spectra corresponding to each area.   
     
     
         54 . The apparatus of  claim 53 , wherein the at least one light source comprises a coherent light source. 
     
     
         55 . The apparatus of  claim 53 , wherein the at least one light source comprises a white light source. 
     
     
         56 . The apparatus of  claim 53 , wherein the detector comprises a spectrometer. 
     
     
         57 . The apparatus of  claim 53 , wherein the controller is associated with a computer. 
     
     
         58 . A probe for ablation of a tumor in tissues of a living subject, comprising:
 (a) a plurality of first electrodes, each electrode adapted for transmitting a radio frequency energy to an area of the tissues where a working end of a corresponding first electrode is located; and   (b) at least one second electrode adapted for acquiring an optical spectrum measurement in an area of the tissues where a working end of the second electrode is located.   
     
     
         59 . The probe of  claim 58 , wherein the working ends of the plurality of first electrodes are at staggered length aligned to be implanted in the tissues. 
     
     
         60 . The probe of  claim 58 , wherein the second electrode comprises a working end, and an optical fiber connected to the working end.