# US 2021/0330382 A1 · Thermal accelerant compositions and methods of use > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0330382 A1 - Document ID: US20210330382A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/371,683 - Filed: 2021-07-09 - Published: 2021-10-28 - Earliest claimed: 2015-12-23 - Assignees: Rhode Island Hospital; Brown University - Applicants: Rhode Island Hospital; Brown University - Inventors: William Keun Chan Park; Damian E. Dupuy - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210330382A1 ## CPC - A61B 18/1815: {using microwaves} - A61B 18/14: Probes or electrodes therefor - A61B 18/1477: {Needle-like probes} - A61K 45/06: Mixtures of active ingredients without chemical characterisation, e.g. antiphlogistics and cardiaca - A61B 2018/00095: {high, i.e. heat conducting} - A61B 2018/00577: {Ablation} - A61B 2018/00595: {Cauterization} - A61B 2018/00982: {combined with or comprising means for visual or photographic inspections inside the body, e.g. endoscopes} - A61B 2018/1869: {with an instrument interstitially inserted into the body, e.g. needles} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A61K: PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES (devices or methods specially adapted for bringing pharmaceutical products into particular physical or administering forms A61J3/00; chemical aspects of, or use of materials for deodorisation of air, for disinfection or sterilisation, or for bandages, dressings, absorbent pads or surgical articles A61L; soap compositions C11D) ## Abstract A thermal accelerant is delivered to a tissue site and localized to modulate the shape, extent or other characteristic of RF or microwave-induced hyperthermic tissue ablation. The accelerant may be provided via an image-guided hand piece or via a lumen added to a microwave antenna, and promotes faster heating, more complete ablation and/or a more extensive treatment region to reduce recurrence of treated cancers, overcoming natural limitations, variations in tissue response and drop-off or thermal loss away from the antenna. The accelerant is delivered as a viscous but heat sensitive fluid, and is fixed in place to provide regions of preferential absorption or heating. Shorter exposure times to heat the far field may allow survival of vulnerable tissue such as vessels, and multiple antennae may be used for effective treatment of irregular or large tumors. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of tissue ablation, the method comprising: introducing a first applicator to a target site in a patient; positioning a first thermal accelerant to define a nominal ablation zone for the target site, the thermal accelerant comprising a) polymer configured to become gelatinous or solidify at body temperature or above to become relatively immobilized after positioned within the target site, b) a chaotrope configured to adjust charge distribution within the polymer, and c) an imaging component configured to allow image-guided verification of the thermal accelerant within the body of the patient; and activating the first applicator to excite particles of the first thermal accelerant for heating the first thermal accelerant to a specific temperature to ablate the target site. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first applicator emits one or more of microwave energy, radiofrequency energy, and a pulse of energy of electroporation. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising introducing a second applicator or a second thermal accelerant to the target site, the second applicator and the second thermal accelerant being positioned in a substantially rhombal shape with the first applicator and the first thermal accelerant. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising applying the first thermal accelerant to a surface of a tissue at a target site to cauterize the target site. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein the first thermal accelerant coagulates to become integral with the ablated tissue. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the target site comprises one or more of a tumor and a tissue target in a patient. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first thermal accelerant includes material having a high dipole moment that is configured to convert radiofrequency to thermal energy. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the first thermal accelerant is positioned to enhance heating by applying electric energy in a far field, peripheral drop-off, or tissue variation region to thereby extend ablation effects to said regions. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, further comprising positioning the first thermal accelerant between an ablation site and a heat sink to modulate conduction of heat away from the ablation site. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the dipole moment has a value that ranges from about 7 Debye to about 1,000 Debye. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first thermal accelerant remains substantially stationary within the target site after deposition. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising passing one or more of the first applicator and the first thermal accelerant through the target site under image guidance. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first thermal accelerant is positioned between the first applicator and healthy tissue to prevent healthy tissue from overheating. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the specific temperature is between approximately 60 degrees Celsius to approximately 170 degrees Celsius. ### Claim 15 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the thermal accelerant is delivered from the first applicator. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein positioning comprises positioning the first thermal accelerant at an outer-boundary of the target site. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first applicator comprises an electrode having one or more energy emitting devices thereon. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the thermal accelerant, when exposed to an amount of ablative energy, has values of electrical conductivity and loss factor that are up to 5 times or greater than values of electrical conductivity and loss factor in living tissue when exposed to an equal amount of ablative energy without thermal accelerant. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the viscosity of the first thermal accelerant ranges from approximately 50 centiPoise to approximately 25,000 centiPoise. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the chaotrope is selected from the group consisting of: calcium chloride, cesium chloride, lithium chloride, potassium chloride, rubidium chloride, sodium chloride, sodium citrate, and a combination thereof.