AIMOKA

The AIMOKA project team is a joint team between Inria, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, and Sorbonne Paris Nord University. Its goal is to develop applied mathematics research for percutaneous ablations with the ambition of bringing digital developments into the operating room.

Percutaneous ablations (PA) are minimally invasive, image-guided treatments that destroy tumors using energy or chemicals. They are an effective option for patients unable to undergo surgery, with fewer complications. However, challenges like incomplete treatment, collateral damage, and procedural complexity, especially for electrical field techniques, limit their broader use.

AIMOKA project aims to develop advanced numerical strategies to assist the interventional radiologists in their clinical routines, from the treatment planification to the post-procedure follow-up of the patients. The project mainly focuses on ElectroMagnetic Percutaneous Ablations (EMPAs), namely radiofrequency and electroporation-based ablations. The most challenging target organs are liver and pancreas, even though other organs will benefit from the results of the project. Even though direct clinical applications are targeted, the project aims to develop a continuum from the in vitro modeling to the operating room. In particular, we believe that feeding the macroscale models with the knowledge of cell spheroid models will enable us to provide real insight for percutaneous ablations in the clinical routine.