Performance of Textile-Based Antennas for Magnetic Resonance-Mediated Radiofrequency Ablation at 3 T MRI: An Evaluation in Liver Tissue

Abstract

This study presents a novel approach to magnetic resonance-mediated radiofrequency ablation (MR-RFA) by utilizing a textile-based wire antenna. The antenna is designed to harvest the electromotive force generated by a circularly polarized radiofrequency birdcage coil, enabling the induction of high temperatures at the needle tip. A highly conductive thread was embroidered on a textile substrate to enhance the specific absorption rate (SAR) and induced temperature. Temperature measurements on agarose phantoms and bovine liver tissues were conducted using a 3 T MRI scanner, with temperature increases visualized via the proton resonance frequency shift technique. Simulation results revealed a nearly tenfold increase in SAR and an induced temperature of up to 82 °C at the RFA needle tip. Clear thermal lesions were observed in agarose phantoms and bovine liver tissues with no MR image distortion, alongside temperature maps showing a 73 °C peak at the needle tip. The proposed wearable design has the potential to enhance patient comfort during live ablation procedures with greater flexibility while providing clearer MRI images without distortion. This wearable system, integrated with an MRI scanner, offers a streamlined alternative to traditional bulky ablation setups, enabling real-time, highly precise therapeutic interventions.