Patent ID: 7871406

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 each spatial location in an array of spatial locations throughout said VOI; (b) performing a thermal ablation procedure on at least a first sub-volume of said VOI according to a first thermal ablation plan, wherein said first thermal ablation plan comprises expected temperature changes at each said spatial location within said array of spatial locations as a function of time during said thermal ablation procedure; (c) capturing a first temperature differential digital image with said x-ray system of said VOI multiple times during said thermal ablation procedure, wherein each said first temperature differential digital image is comprised of a corresponding second set of detected image signal data corresponding with each said spatial location in said array of spatial locations throughout said VOI; (d) registering each said first temperature differential digital image to said baseline digital image; (e) inferring, based at least in part on said baseline digital image and each said first temperature differential digital image, an amount of temperature change at each of said multiple times at each said spatial location within said array of spatial locations throughout said VOI; and (f) comparing said inferred temperature changes at said multiple times at each said spatial location within said array to said expected temperature changes at each said spatial location within said array as a function of time during said thermal ablation.