Planning apparatus for determining an ablation probe parameter for a single ablation probe or for multiple ablation probes

A method for determining an ablation probe parameter describing an operation of an ablation probe during an ablation procedure for ablating a part of a subject, the method comprising:

• providing a first thermal energy function defining a relation between a first thermal energy distribution to be calculated and a spatial temperature distribution and to provide a temperature-based condition being indicative of a desired treatment outcome for the subject including an ablation of the part of the subject,
• determining the first thermal energy distribution by using the thermal energy function such that the temperature-based condition is fulfilled, the first thermal energy distribution being independent of a type of ablation procedure to be used for ablating the part of the subject,
• providing, prior to ablating the part of the subject, a second thermal energy function providing a relation between a) a second thermal energy distribution to be calculated and to be caused by the ablation probe and b) the ablation probe parameter,
• determining, prior to ablating the part of the subject, the ablation probe parameter by using the second thermal energy function such that a deviation between the first thermal energy distribution and the second thermal energy distribution fulfills a predefined deviation criterion, and
• controlling the ablation probe in accordance with the ablation probe parameter during the ablation procedure and ablating the part of the subject without damaging a structure at risk.

A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon a planning computer program for determining an ablation probe parameter describing an operation of an ablation probe during an ablation procedure for ablating a part of a subject, wherein the planning computer program comprises program code means for causing a planning apparatus to:

• providing a first thermal energy function defining a relation between a first thermal energy distribution to be calculated and a spatial temperature distribution and to provide a temperature-based condition being indicative of a desired treatment outcome for the subject including an ablation of the part of the subject,
• determining the first thermal energy distribution by using the thermal energy function such that the temperature-based condition is fulfilled, the first thermal energy distribution being independent of a type of ablation procedure to be used for ablating the part of the subject,
• providing, prior to ablating the part of the subject, a second thermal energy function providing a relation between a) a second thermal energy distribution to be calculated and to be caused by the ablation probe and b) the ablation probe parameter,
• determining, prior to ablating the part of the subject, the ablation probe parameter by using the second thermal energy function such that a deviation between the first thermal energy distribution and the second thermal energy distribution fulfills a predefined deviation criterion, and
• outputting the ablation probe parameter to an ablation controller;
• and
• controlling the ablation controller to output power to the ablation probe in accordance with the ablation probe parameter and ablating the part of the subject without damaging a structure at risk.