Temperature dependence of thermal properties of ex vivo liver tissue up to ablative temperatures
Thermal properties of ex vivo bovine liver were measured as a function of temperature, by heating tissue samples in a temperature-controlled oil bath over a temperature range from about 21 °C to about 113 °C. Results evidenced temperature-dependent non-linear changes of the thermal properties, with the temperature of 100 °C representing a break point: the thermal properties increased with temperature up to 99 °C and then decreased above 100 °C. The rate of increase appeared dramatic between 90 °C and 99 °C, owing to the onset of vaporisation of water contained in the tissue.