Rapid estimation of electroporation-dependent tissue properties in canine lung tumors using a deep neural network

The efficiency of electroporation treatments depends on the application of a critical electric field over the targeted tissue volume. Both the electric field and temperature distribution strongly depend on the tissue-specific electrical properties, which both differ between patients in healthy and malignant tissues and change in an electric field-dependent manner from the electroporation process itself. Therefore, tissue property estimations are paramount for treatment planning with electroporation therapies. Ex vivo methods to find electrical tissue properties often misrepresent the targeted tissue, especially when translating results to tumors. A voltage ramp is an in situ method that applies a series of increasing electric potentials across treatment electrodes and measures the resulting current. Here, we develop a robust deep neural network, trained on finite element model simulations, to directly predict tissue properties from a measured voltage ramp. There was minimal test error (R-2>0.94;p<0.0001) in three important electric tissue properties. Further, our model was validated to correctly predict the complete dynamic conductivity curve in a previously characterized ex vivo liver model (R-2>0.93;p<0.0001) within 100 s from probe insertion, showing great utility for a clinical application. Lastly, we characterize the first reported electrical tissue properties of lung tumors from five canine patients (R-2>0.99;p<0.0001). We believe this platform can be incorporated prior to treatment to quickly ascertain patient-specific tissue properties required for electroporation treatment planning models or real-time treatment prediction algorithms. Further, this method can be used over traditional ex vivo methods for in situ tissue characterization with clinically relevant geometries.

Automated summary

The efficiency of electroporation treatments depends on the application of a critical electric field over the targeted tissue volume. A deep neural network trained on finite element model simulations was developed to predict tissue properties from a measured voltage ramp, showing minimal test error and great utility in clinical applications. The platform can quickly ascertain patient-specific tissue properties required for treatment planning.