Mémoire numérisé par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal.

Master of Science / Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering / Punit Prakash / Microwave ablation is a minimally invasive therapeutic modality used for the treatment of cancer in various organs. In this procedure, microwave energy is sent through a thin antenna placed inside the tumor. The microwave energy radiated from the antenna generates heat which kills the tumor cells by necrosis. During multiple-applicator microwave ablation, geometric estimates of treatment outcome are typically obtained by assuming parallel insertion of the applicators. This assumption is based on the guidelines provided in the brochures of antenna manufacturing companies. This assumption is flawed because it is rare to insert the antennas in parallel configuration due to the flexible nature of the antennas and the presence of intervening organs. Furthermore, movement of patients during the treatment procedure alters the position of the antennas. In order to see the effect of non-parallel insertion of antennas, model-based treatment planning may be instructive. Treatment planning can also determine the changes needed to be made for prospective ablation therapy if the antennas are not positioned in their ideal parallel configuration. This thesis provides a detailed computational comparison of the skewed configurations of microwave antennas to their closest parallel configurations. The metric used for com-paring the similarity between the cases is Dice Similarity Coefficient (DSC). Experimental results to validate the computational data are also discussed. Computations were done by using realistic cases of antenna positions obtained from Rhode Island Hospital.

Através da aplicação de microusinagem com laser de femtossegundos é possível fazer ablação de cavidades com precisão de poucos μm. Se comparado com o processo de litografia, por exemplo, apresenta algumas vantagens como poder ser aplicada em praticamente qualquer tipo de substrato e utilizar tecnologia simples de usinagem assistida por computador para a geração de perfis de duas ou três dimensões. O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar estratégias e parâmetros com laser de femtossegundos para ablação dos polímeros poliestireno e polidimetilsiloxano (PDMS), de forma a afetar o mínimo possível as características das regiões adjacentes à usinagem. Como exemplos de aplicações, temos o primeiro material que tem sido texturizado para cultura controlada de células do coração e o segundo que faz parte da estrutura de certos circuitos microfluídicos. A fim de se fazer um levantamento dos limiares de ablação destes materiais, foram utilizadas as técnicas D-Scan e regressão de diâmetro. Diversos traços foram realizados variando-se as velocidades de deslocamento da amostra. Com isso, foram analisados os efeitos de incubação e a relação da sobreposição de pulsos com a largura dos traços criados. Por fim foram incluídos incrementos laterais entre os traços, obtendo-se uma área ablacionada. Procurou-se variar a frequência dos pulsos nos experimentos para investigar o aparecimento de um possível efeito térmico com diferentes intervalos de tempo entre pulsos consecutivos. Foram conseguidos parâmetros em que é possível realizar a ablação de pontos, traços e superfícies sem aparente fusão do material. Porém observou-se que o aspecto do perfil ablacionado não tem a tendência de ficar liso e uniforme. Os resultados demonstram a enorme variedade de combinações e parâmetros que podem ser obtidos com a técnica de microusinagem com laser de femtossegundos e favorecem o estudo do processamento destes polímeros. / Through the use of femtosecond laser micromachining, it is possible to ablate cavities with accuracy in the order of a few micrometers. Compared with lithography process, for example, it has some advantages such as being able to be applied to virtually any type of substrate and using simple computer assisted machining technology for the generation of two or three dimensional profiles. The objective of this work was to study strategies and parameters with femtosecond lasers for the ablation of polystyrene and PDMS polymers, in order to affect, as little as possible, the characteristics of these materials. As examples of applications, the first material has been textured for controlled culture of heart cells and the second is used in microfluidic circuits. In order to find out the ablation thresholds of these materials, the D-Scan technique and diameter regression were used. Several traces were performed by varying the sample displacement velocities. Thus, the effects of incubation and the relation of the overlapping of pulses with the width of the traces created were analyzed. Finally, lateral increments were included between the traces, obtaining an ablated area. It was attempted to vary the pulse frequency in the experiments to investigate the appearance of a possible thermal effect with different time intervals between consecutive pulses. Parameters were obtained in which it is possible to perform the ablation of points, traces and surfaces without apparent melting of the material. However, it has been observed that the aspect of the ablated profile does not tend to be smooth and uniform. The results demonstrate the enormous variety of combinations and parameters that can be obtained with the femtosecond laser micromachining technique and favor the study of the processing of these polymers.

Cette thèse visait à développer des techniques d'ablation au laser et de fragmentation dans des liquides pour la synthèse de nouveaux NPs ayant des fonctionnalités utiles. L’approche de la thèse est axée sur l’élaboration de la technique ablative au laser pour la synthèse de matériaux conventionnels avec des paramètres pour des applications biomédicales sélectionnées, ainsi que sur le développement de cette technique pour la synthèse de nouveaux nanomatériaux destinés à des applications biomédicales. En particulier, il comprend:1. Nous avons élaboré un régime de fragmentation laser fs à partir de colloïdes de Si pour la synthèse de NPs de Si ayant une taille, une cristallinité et un état d'oxydation contrôlables.Nous avons testé un certain nombre d’applications biomédiales particulières de Si Si préparés de cette manière.2. Nous avons développé une technique d'ablation et de fragmentation au laser fs pour fabriquer des noyaux Au NPs et des carottes en Au-Si nus pour SERSapplications. Une approche est basée sur l'ablation au laser de la cible Au dans une solution colloïdale de NP Si.3. Pour la première fois, nous avons synthétisé de nouveaux NP plasmoniques à base de nitrure de titane. Nous avons également montré qu’une étape supplémentaire de fragmentation du laser fs entraînait une diminution de la taille des NP à 5 nm. En outre, nous avons constaté que ces NP ont un très large pic d'extinction dans le proche IR.4. Pour la première fois, nous avons démontré la synthèse de NPs organiques fluorescentes d'un luminophore à émission induite par agrégation spécialement conçu (AIE LP). La luminosité de ces NP a été jugée comparable à celle des points quantiques. / This thesis as aimed at the development of techniques of fs laser ablation and fragmentation in liquids for the synthesis of novel NPs having useful functionalities. The approach of the thesis is focused on the elaboration of the laser ablative technique for the synthesis of conventional materials with parameters for selected biomedical applications, as well as the development of this technique for the synthesis of novel nanomaterials for biomedical applications. In particular it includes:1. We elaborated a regime of fs laser fragmentation from Si colloids for the synthesis of Si NPs having controllable size, crystallinity and oxidation state. We tested so-prepared Si NPs a number of particular biomedial applications.2. We elaborated a technique of fs laser ablation and fragmentation to fabricate bare Au NPs and Au-Si core-shells for SERSapplications. One approache is based on laser ablation of Au target in colloidal solution of Si NPs. 3. For the first time we synthesized novel plasmonic NPs based on titanium nitride. We also showed that an additional fs laser fragmentation step leads to the decrease of NPs size to 5 nm. Besides, we found that such NPs have a very broad extinction peak in the near IR.4. For the first time we demonstrated the synthesis of fluorescent organic NPs of specially designed aggregation-induced emission luminophore (AIE LP). The brightness of such NPs was determined to be comparable to that of quantum dots.

Objective: The objective of this study was to study recurrence in patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma who after initial therapy consisting of total thyroidectomy and I-131 ablation, were cured defined as a negative TSH-stimulated Tg-levels and a negative I-131 whole body scan (WBS) at the first follow-up after ablation. Methods: Retrospective data for differentiated thyroid carcinoma patients from three university hospitals were pooled. Out of 1993 patients, 526 cured patients were included. All patients received at least one more TSH-stimulated WBS and Tg-measurement within 5 years after initial treatment. Results: 12 patients (2.1%) developed a recurrence after an average interval of 35 months (range: 12-59 months) following administration I-131 ablation. Overall disease-free survival according to the method of Kaplan-Meier was 96.6%. There was no difference in disease-free survival between high- and low-risk patients (p=0.61). Recurrence was first discovered by Tg-measurement during levothyroxin therapy in 7 patients, and by TSH-stimulated Tg-measurement in 5 patients. I-131 WBS did not contribute to the detection of recurrences. Multivariate analysis showed that age TNM-stage (p=0.015) and histology (p=0.032) were independent predictors of disease-free survival. Conclusion: Recurrence is a rare event in patients with DTC who received total thyroidectomy with subsequent I-131 ablation, and who had a negative first follow-up TSH-stimulated I-131 WBS and negative concurrent Tg. In the study population there were no recurrences after more than 5 years of follow-up. / Ziel: Das Ziel dieser Studie war es, die Rezidivrate zu untersuchen bei Patienten mit einem differenziertem Schilddrüsen-Karzinom (DTC), die nach der ersten Behandlung, bestehend aus totaler Thyreoidektomie und I-131 Ablation, geheilt wurden. Heilung wurde definiert als eine negative TSH-stimulierte Tg-Messung und eine negative I-131 Ganzkörperszintigrafie (GKS) im ersten Follow-up nach der Ablation. Methoden: Retrospektive Daten für Patienten mit einem differenziertem Schilddrüsen-Karzinom aus drei Universitätskliniken wurden gemeinsam analysiert. 526 von 1993 Patienten wurden geheilt. Alle Patienten erhielten mindestens eine weitere TSH-stimulierte GKS und TG-Messung innerhalb von 5 Jahren nach der ersten Behandlung. Ergebnisse: 12 Patienten (2,1%) entwickelten ein Rezidiv nach einer durchschnittlichen Zeitdauer von 35 Monaten (Bereich: 12-59 Monate) nach der I-131-Ablation. Das rezidiv-freie Überleben berechnet mit der Methode von Kaplan-Meier lag bei 96,6%. Es gab keinen Unterschied im rezidiv-freien Überleben zwischen Hoch- und Niedrig-Risiko-Patienten (p = 0,61). Ein Rezidiv wurde zum ersten Mal entdeckt mittels Tg-Messung während Thyreosuppressiver Levothyroxin-Einnahme bei 7 Patienten, und mittels TSH-stimulierter Tg-Messung bei 5 Patienten. Die I-131-GKS führte nicht zur Erkennung von Rezidiven. Multivariate Analysen zeigten, dass TNM-Stadium (p = 0,015) und Histologie (p = 0,032) unabhängige Prädiktoren für das Rezidiv-freies Überleben waren. Fazit: Ein Rezidiv ist ein seltenes Ereignis bei Patienten mit DTC, die nach totaler Thyreoidektomie mit anschließender I-131-Ablation einen negativen ersten Follow-up bestehend aus TSH-stimulierter I-131 GKS und gleichzeitiger TG-Messung hatten. In der untersuchten Patientengruppe ergaben sich keine Rezidive nach mehr als 5 Jahren Nachsorge.

Sharp leading edges required for hypersonic vehicles improve the maneuverability as well as reduce aerodynamic drag. However, due to the sharp design, increased surface temperatures require materials that can withstand these extreme conditions. Ultra-high temperature ceramics are a material group being considered for the leading-edge material, specifically ZrB₂/SiC (ZBS) which has a high thermal shock resistance, melting temperature, and thermal conductivity. Studies done by Tan et. al. has shown that adding samarium (Sm) as a dopant to ZBS has an emittance of 0.9 at 1600^oC and develop oxide scales that have excellent ablation performance. However, it remained unknown how the Sm doped oxide scale formed as well as how the emittance and ablation performance are affected by the microstructure. This study investigates the oxide scale development of 3 mol% doped Sm-ZBS billets as well as how differences in microstructure affect the emittance and ablation performance. Samples were prepared via chemical infiltration of samarium nitrate into spray-dried powders of 80 vol.% ZrB₂/20 vol.% SiC; powders were then pressed into billets and pressureless sintered. Samples cut and polished from these billets were then oxidized for 10, 60, or 300 s, respectively, using an oxyacetylene torch. X-ray diffraction was used to determine the sequence of oxidation of Sm-ZBS, beginning with the formation of ZrO₂ and Sm₂O₃. The final oxide scale was determined to be c₁-Sm_0.2Zr_0.8O_1.9, with a melting temperature exceeding 2500^oC. SEM and EDS were also used to investigate the microstructural formation that occurs from the bursting of convection cells. Samples with different microstructures revealed similar topographical microstructures post-ablation due to the sequence of the oxide formation. However, samples with rougher surfaces and higher porosities had a higher concentration of trapped glass in the cross-sectional oxide scale. It was also found that due to differences in heating the sample during emittance testing compared to ablation testing, the oxide developed was identical for all the samples. It was also found that variances in microstructure had no effect on the spectral emittance of Sm-ZBS at ultra-high temperatures. The fabrication of c₁-Sm_0.2Zr_0.8O_1.9 (SZO) as a bulk billet was also investigated to use as a thermal barrier coating (TBC) in replacement of Sm-ZBS.

BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia, and previous studies have focused on the epidemiology, mechanisms and risk factors for this global disease (Ryder and Benjamin 1999). Various studies have examined the mechanism, epidemiology, and risk factors for AF. One of the most common triggers for AF is believed to be premature atrial contractions (PACs) usually arising from the pulmonary veins of the left atrium, but the relationship between AF and premature ventricular complexes (PVCs) is not well understood. Studies investigating the triggers of premature beats in both the atria and ventricles are similar, so it is possible that treatment for one arrhythmia may affect the incidence of another. It is hypothesized that due to commonly shared mechanisms of triggered activity or automaticity between PACs and PVCs, and shared risk factors, that patients with AF undergoing treatment with catheter ablation may be prone to develop PVCs. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the incidence of clinically detected PVCs among patients undergoing catheter ablation for AF, and clinical predictors of PVC development in this cohort of patients. We also aim to evaluate if incident PVC detection is associated with recurrent AF following AF ablation in a cohort of 317 patients receiving treatment at a single academic medical center. METHODS: A total of 375 patients undergoing AF ablation from 2009-2012 were reviewed, and patients that underwent repeat ablations were excluded, yielding 317 patients for analysis. T-tests and Chi-squared analyses were used in univariate analyses to test for significance between characteristics of AF patients who did and did not develop PVCs. Kaplan-Meier analyses and Cox proportional hazards models were used for univariate and multivariate survival analyses, respectively, to assess the risks of incident PVC development. RESULTS: Of 317 patients with AF undergoing pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) ablation, 36.3% developed clinically detectable PVCs following ablation. A history of clinically evident PVC prior to catheter ablation for AF was associated with an 80% increase in risk of incident PVC development (HR=1.83, 95% CI 1.02-3.26, p=0.041). Additionally, a history of prior angioplasty, stent, or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) was associated with a 73% decreased risk of incident PVCs (HR=0.27, 95% CI 0.08-0.88, p=0.03). In patients with a history of PVC prior to ablation, or who developed PVCs after ablation, there was no significant difference in the risk of AF recurrence (HR=1.01, 95% CI 0.70-1.46, p=0.96; and HR=1.09, 95% CI 0.78-1.53, p=0.60, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Over 1 in 3 patients develop clinically detected PVCs following catheter ablation. Predictors of incident PVC development include a history of PVC, whereas a history of angioplasty, stent, or PCI was associated with less incident PVC development. Furthermore, there was no significant association between both a history of PVC or incident PVC and risk of recurrent AF following ablation.

No description available.

An important step in the more efficient use of PICA (Phenolic Impregnated Carbon Ablator) as a Thermal Protection System (TPS) material for spacecraft is the understanding of its pyrolysis mechanics. The gases released during pyrolysis and their subsequent interaction with the reactive plasma environment is not yet well understood. The surface recession of PICA as it ablates during testing only makes the study and characterization of the chemical reactions more difficult. To this end, a probe has been designed for this study to simulate, in steady state, the pyrolysis gases within the UVM 30kW Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP) Torch Facility. This probe, which is an extension of previous work done at UVM, has been used to inject Carbon Dioxide, Hydrogen, and a mixture of the two into pure Argon and dilute Nitrogen, Oxygen, and air plasmas. During testing, spatially resolved, pointwise, line of sight emission measurements were taken in the boundary layer region. These results were then compared to temporally resolved PICA emission data taken in a previous study. After the correct temporal PICA scan was found the data sets closely matched. This indicates that the gas-injection probe is a viable method to simulate pyrolysis in a steady state environment. The key pyrolysis species of CN, NH, OH, Hydrogen Alpha (Hα), and Hydrogen Beta (Hβ) were spatially traced along the stagnation line for the pure Hydrogen and mixture injection cases. These measurements show evidence of spatial relationships between NH and Hα as well as between OH and Hβ. They also show that all of the molecules tend to follow the same general trend spatially. The work done for this study has both reintegrated gas-injection capability into the UVM facility as well as laid the groundwork for future gas-injection testing within the facility. Spatial emission analysis techniques currently being developed at UVM will provide a more resolved picture of the interactions occurring in the boundary layer once completed.

No description available.