Three-dimensional finite element analysis of current density and temperature distributions during radio-frequency ablation

This study analyzed the influence of electrode geometry, tissue-electrode angle, and blood flow on current density and temperature distribution, lesion size, and power requirements during radio-frequency ablation. The authors used validated three-dimensional finite element models to perform these analyses. They found that the use of an electrically insulating layer over the junction between electrode and catheter body reduced the chances of charring and coagulation. The use of a thermistor at the tip of the ablation electrodes did not affect the current density distribution. For longer electrodes, the lateral current density decreased more slowly with distance from the electrode surface. The authors analyzed the effects of three tissue-electrode angles: 0, 45, and 90°. More power was needed to reach a maximal tissue temperature of 95°C after 120 s when the electrode-tissue angle was 45°. Consequently, the lesions were larger and deeper for a tissue-electrode angle of 45° than for 0 and 90°. The lesion depth, volume, and required power increased with blood flow rate regardless of the tissue-electrode angle. The significant changes in power with the tissue-electrode angle suggest that it is safer and more efficient to ablate using temperature-controlled RF generators. The maximal temperature was reached at locations within the tissue, a fraction of a millimeter away from the electrode surface. These locations did not always coincide with the local current density maxima. The locations of these hottest spots and the difference between their temperature and the temperature read by a sensor placed at the electrode tip changed with blood flow rate and tissue-electrode angle.