Schemes for pulsation protocols with different doses.

Schemes for pulsation protocols with different doses.</p

Comparison of ablation regions with the same pulse number subjected to HVP1, LVP1 and SHLVP-4 kV (HVP+LVP) pulsation.

A: Images of the ablated regions. B: The mean ablated regions (dark areas) depicted in A. Parameters: HVP1 (4 kV/cm, 2 μs, 80 pulses); LVP1 (0.6 kV/cm, 100 μs, 80 pulses); and SHLVP-4 kV (4 kV/cm, 2 μs, 20 pulses+0.6 kV/cm, 100 μs, 60 pulses). Data are shown as the average ± SD (**, pTable 5.</p

For the similar dose, the mean ablated region (dark area) resulting from SHLVP is larger than that of LVP1.

<p>Note that 80 LVPs were used in the LVP1 protocol. The duration of the HVPs was adjusted to yield approximately the same dose for the SHLVP and LVP1 protocols. Therefore, the doses shown in Fig 2A, B, C and D produced in the three groups (LVP1, SHLVP-a and SHLVP-b) were the similar dose. All detailed protocol parameters are shown in <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0173181#pone.0173181.t001" target="_blank">Table 1</a>. Data are shown as the average ± SD; (*, p<0.05), (**, p<0.01), and (***, p<0.001).</p

Schemes for SHLVPs with different sequences.

<p>Schemes for SHLVPs with different sequences.</p

Schemes for pulsation protocols with different LVP electric fields.

Schemes for pulsation protocols with different LVP electric fields.</p

For both a lower dose and applied energy, the mean ablated region by SHLVP is still larger than that of LVP1.

<p>Parameters: LVP1 (1 kV/cm, 100 μs, 80 pulses) and SHLVP-4 kV (4 kV/cm, 2 μs, 20 pulses+1 kV/cm, 100 μs, 60 pulses). Data are shown as the average ± SD; (**, p<0.01). Detailed protocol parameters are shown in <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0173181#pone.0173181.t003" target="_blank">Table 3</a>.</p

Schemes for pulsation protocols with the same pulse number.

<p>Schemes for pulsation protocols with the same pulse number.</p

Irreversible electroporation ablation area enhanced by synergistic high- and low-voltage pulses - Fig 10

<p>A: Model of a spherical electroporated cell exposed to an external electric field <i>E</i>. B: Model of potato tissue exposed to an external electric field <i>E</i>; the red section represents the electroporated area, where <i>E</i>><i>E</i>_<i>c</i> when HVPs are applied.</p

Increased electric field strength of the LVP component of SHLVPs augments the ablation area.

The parameters were as follows: LVP2: 0.4–1 kV/cm, 100 μs, 60 pulses; SHLVP-4 kV, including HVPs (4 kV/cm, 2 μs, 20 pulses) and LVPs (0.4–1 kV/cm, 100 μs, 60 pulses). Data are shown as the average ± SD; (***, pTable 4.</p

Real-time temperature changes at points 1 and 2 as a function of the number of pulsations in LVP1 and SHLVP-4 kV.

LVP1: 1 kV/cm, 100 μs, 80 pulses; SHLVP-4 kV: HVPs (4 kV/cm, 2 μs, 20 pulses)+LVPs (1 kV/cm, 100 μs, 80 pulses). Note that the inclusion of 80 error data points in the figure would make it difficult to differentiate different protocols. Therefore, partial error data are provided in Fig 9. Data are shown as the average ± SD.</p