Numerical Simulations of Freezing Process by Embedding a Cryo-Probe Into Water and Biological Tissue

Abstract

Numerical simulations by finite volume method were performed to investigate the freezing process and growing up of ice ball by embedding a cryo-probe either into a glass tank full of water or biological tissues with and without a tumor. For water tank cases, numerical results of ice-ball size and the temperature history of the ice ball during the freezing process are in good agreement with the experimental measurements as long as the convective heat coefficient is reasonably chosen. In biological tissue cases, numerical simulations performed based on various vascular models indicate the effects of the existence of large blood vessels are not negligible.