Biothermal engineering applications impose thermal excursions on tissues with an ensuing biological outcome (i.e., life or death) that is tied to the molecular state of water and protein in the system. The accuracy of heat transfer models used to predict these important processes in turn depends on the kinetics and energy absorption of molecular transitions for both water and protein and the underlying temperature dependence of the tissue thermal properties. Unfortunately, a lack of tissue thermal property data in the literature results in an overreliance on property estimates. This work addresses these thermal property limitations in liver, a platform tissue upon which hyperthermic engineering applications are routinely performed and a test bed that will allow extension to further tissue property measurement in the future. Specifically, we report on the thermal properties of cadaveric human and porcine liver in the suprazero range between 25 °C to 80 °C for thermal conductivity and 25 °C to 85 °C for apparent specific heat. Denaturation and water vaporization are shown to reduce thermal conductivity and apparent specific heat within the samples by up to 20% during heating. These changes in thermal properties significantly altered thermal histories during heating compared to conditions when properties were assumed to remain constant. These differences are expected to alter the biological outcome from heating as well.
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Thermal Processing of Biological Tissue at High Temperatures: Impact of Protein Denaturation and Water Loss on the Thermal Properties of Human and Porcine Liver in the Range 25–80 °C
John C. Bischof
John C. Bischof
1
e-mail: bischof@umn.edu
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Minneapolis,
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
University of Minnesota
,Minneapolis,
MN 55455
1Corresponding author.
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John C. Bischof
e-mail: bischof@umn.edu
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Minneapolis,
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
University of Minnesota
,Minneapolis,
MN 55455
1Corresponding author.
Manuscript received October 15, 2012; final manuscript received January 26, 2013; published online May 16, 2013. Assoc. Editor: Leslie Phinney.
J. Heat Transfer. Jun 2013, 135(6): 061302 (7 pages)
Published Online: May 16, 2013
Article history
Received:
October 15, 2012
Revision Received:
January 26, 2013
Citation
Choi, J., Morrissey, M., and Bischof, J. C. (May 16, 2013). "Thermal Processing of Biological Tissue at High Temperatures: Impact of Protein Denaturation and Water Loss on the Thermal Properties of Human and Porcine Liver in the Range 25–80 °C." ASME. J. Heat Transfer. June 2013; 135(6): 061302. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4023570
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