Benign prostate hyperplasia RFA needle placement and puncture path planning based on whale optimization algorithm

Benign prostate hyperplasia RFA needle placement and puncture path planning based on whale optimization algorithm | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Benign prostate hyperplasia RFA needle placement and puncture path planning based on whale optimization algorithm Yupeng Han, Ying Liu, Jiao Mo, Xinjie Wei, Yanyan Liu, Zining Li, and 3 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-9239188/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Objective This study aims to develop a novel preoperative planning model for radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The primary goal is to leverage an intelligent optimization algorithm to automatically determine the optimal ablation needle placement and puncture path, maximizing the ablation zone within prostatic hyperplasia targets of diverse geometries. Methods The proposed methodology formulates the clinical task as a dual-constrained optimization problem. First, the target hyperplasia region is segmented from patients` ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)scans, and its boundary is extracted to define a boundary constraint . Second, based on RFA simulation data, the ablation lesion is modeled as an ellipse with a fixed major-to-minor axis ratio, establishing an elliptical constraint . A nested loop algorithm enumerates all feasible puncture paths by traversing predefined entry points and boundary points. The Whale Optimization Algorithm (WOA), enhanced with an adaptive inertia weight, is then employed to iteratively adjust the ellipse's center and orientation along each path, identifying the configuration that yields the maximum possible ablation area without violating the constraints. Results The proposed model successfully generated the maximum-area elliptical ablation zone for each candidate path. The optimal puncture path was defined as the line collinear with the major axis of this maximized ellipse, with the ellipse center indicating the precise needle insertion point. This approach demonstrated its efficacy in achieving comprehensive coverage of irregularly shaped target areas under the given clinical constraints. Conclusion The integration of the intelligent Whale Optimization Algorithm into the preoperative planning process for BPH RFA provides a rigorous, model-based strategy. It autonomously derives an optimal needle placement and puncture path that maximizes the ablation volume while adhering to critical safety and efficacy boundaries. The feasibility of this method is confirmed, showcasing its potential to support personalized and precise clinical treatment planning. Radiofrequency ablation Benign prostatic hyperplasia Whale optimization algorithm Ablation needle placement strategy Path planning Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-9239188","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":631149885,"identity":"9584ae64-945a-4ba7-a450-1c843e676f66","order_by":0,"name":"Yupeng Han","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Air Force Medical Center,PLA,Air Force Military Medical University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Yupeng","middleName":"","lastName":"Han","suffix":""},{"id":631149886,"identity":"cc985060-df91-4ad2-8fd6-7400f661eae0","order_by":1,"name":"Ying Liu","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Air Force Medicine Center,PLA,Air 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02:38:14","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-9239188/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-9239188/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":108184574,"identity":"a5e61012-9a1c-4e2f-8f26-eb0e62fd157c","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-04-30 09:04:24","extension":"pdf","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":591799,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"manuscript.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-9239188/v1_covered_35238625-dffd-47f1-bc16-64b4eca00c6e.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"Benign prostate hyperplasia RFA needle placement and puncture path planning based on whale optimization algorithm","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":true,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Radiofrequency ablation, Benign prostatic hyperplasia, Whale optimization algorithm, Ablation needle placement strategy, Path planning","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-9239188/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-9239188/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003ch2\u003eObjective\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis study aims to develop a novel preoperative planning model for radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The primary goal is to leverage an intelligent optimization algorithm to automatically determine the optimal ablation needle placement and puncture path, maximizing the ablation zone within prostatic hyperplasia targets of diverse geometries.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eMethods\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe proposed methodology formulates the clinical task as a dual-constrained optimization problem. First, the target hyperplasia region is segmented from patients` ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)scans, and its boundary is extracted to define a \u003cem\u003eboundary constraint\u003c/em\u003e. Second, based on RFA simulation data, the ablation lesion is modeled as an ellipse with a fixed major-to-minor axis ratio, establishing an \u003cem\u003eelliptical constraint\u003c/em\u003e. A nested loop algorithm enumerates all feasible puncture paths by traversing predefined entry points and boundary points. The Whale Optimization Algorithm (WOA), enhanced with an adaptive inertia weight, is then employed to iteratively adjust the ellipse's center and orientation along each path, identifying the configuration that yields the maximum possible ablation area without violating the constraints.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eResults\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe proposed model successfully generated the maximum-area elliptical ablation zone for each candidate path. The optimal puncture path was defined as the line collinear with the major axis of this maximized ellipse, with the ellipse center indicating the precise needle insertion point. This approach demonstrated its efficacy in achieving comprehensive coverage of irregularly shaped target areas under the given clinical constraints.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eConclusion\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe integration of the intelligent Whale Optimization Algorithm into the preoperative planning process for BPH RFA provides a rigorous, model-based strategy. It autonomously derives an optimal needle placement and puncture path that maximizes the ablation volume while adhering to critical safety and efficacy boundaries. The feasibility of this method is confirmed, showcasing its potential to support personalized and precise clinical treatment planning.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Benign prostate hyperplasia RFA needle placement and puncture path planning based on whale optimization algorithm","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2026-04-29 07:05:26","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-9239188/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"ae33a4df-0b08-4897-ad3d-b3e59a4323df","owner":[],"postedDate":"April 29th, 2026","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[{"type":"decision","content":"Rejected","date":"2026-04-29T05:39:10+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"posted","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-04-30T08:59:24+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2026-04-29 07:05:26","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-9239188","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-9239188","identity":"rs-9239188","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"XKTyCvWXoU3ODBz1xrDgd","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}