Mathematical Modeling of Thawing Problem in Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue

Thawing is the reverse process of freezing during cryosurgery. It is considered to be the other important phase of cryosurgery that causes tissue injury. During the thawing process small crystals merge together to form large crystals, which readily disrupt cellular membranes. This re-crystallization may enhance tissue destruction induced by the preceding freezing. Further, knowing the thawing front and the transient temperature are critical for adjusting the heating power to reduce healthy cell destruction.

In the present study a mathematical model is developed to study the transient temperature profile and ice-ball formation during the thawing process of skin and subcutaneous tissues. Non-ideal property of Biological tissues, blood perfusion and metabolic heat generation is taken into account. Resulting Mathematical model is solved numerically to obtain transient temperature profile and position of freezing and thawing interface in tissue.