Patent ID: 8556888

Claim:
A method of performing a thermal ablation procedure within a Volume Of Interest (VOI) in a patient comprising the steps of: (a) capturing a baseline digital image with an x-ray system of a VOI in a patient, wherein said baseline digital image is comprised of a first set of detected image signal data corresponding with an array of spatial locations substantially throughout said VOI, wherein said capturing a baseline digital image step comprises producing x-ray beams at first and second kV levels, wherein said first set of detected image signal data comprises data collected at said first and second kV levels; (b) performing thermal ablation on at least a first sub-volume of said VOI according to at least a portion of a first thermal ablation plan, wherein said plan comprises expected temperature changes at substantially each spatial location within said array as a function of time during said thermal ablation; (c) capturing a first temperature differential digital image with said x-ray system of said VOI, wherein said first temperature differential digital image is comprised of a second set of detected image signal data substantially corresponding with said array of spatial locations, wherein said capturing a first temperature differential digital image step comprises producing x-ray beams at first and second kV levels, wherein said second set of detected image signal data comprises data collected at said first and second kV levels; (d) registering said first temperature differential digital image to said baseline digital image; (e) inferring, based at least in part on said baseline digital image and said first temperature differential digital image, an amount of temperature change at substantially each spatial location within said array of spatial locations; and (f) comparing said inferred temperature changes at substantially each spatial location within said array to expected temperature changes at substantially each spatial location within said array from said first thermal ablation plan.