Case Study: Medtronic achieves predictable, real-time ablation and optimized probe design with COMSOL Multiphysics

Medtronic Advances Ablation Technology with Multiphysics Simulation

Medtronic, a global leader in RF and microwave tumor ablation and maker of the Emprint™ ablation system with Thermosphere™ technology, faced a core challenge: tissue variability and liquid-to-gas phase changes make ablation size and shape unpredictable, and clinicians lack continuous real-time feedback to monitor procedures. To address this, Medtronic used COMSOL Multiphysics (with the RF Module) to capture coupled electromagnetic, thermal, and phase-change effects and explore integrated sensing approaches.

Using COMSOL simulations, Medtronic optimized probe geometry (adjusting proximal and distal radiating sections), modeled perfusion-dependent bioheat effects, and integrated radiometers into prototype probes to provide real-time feedback. COMSOL-enabled design work produced integrated emitter/receiver prototypes, more predictable spherical ablations, predictive ablation-volume maps for clinicians, and significantly faster, safer design and optimization cycles that make real-time monitoring feasible.

Medtronic

Casey Ladtkow

Principal Engineer