de Novo Radio Frequency Ablation Therapy: Application of Unexplored Electromagnetic Spectral Resources of mm-Wave/THz Band in Clinical Ablation Procedures – A Review

Review Focus: General considerations on ablation procedure advocated in clinical contexts using electromagnetic (EM) energy are comprehensively reviewed. Relevant radiofrequency (RF) and/or microwave ablation techniques that have been in vogue and in traditional use across clinical procedures are revisited. Traditionally, RF/microwave ablations have been applied to a variety of pathological states, (in lieuof surgical methods and/or electrocautry procedures) so as to remove unwanted/cancerous tissue layers. Relevantly, new avenues of adopting unexplored electromagnetic (EM) energy falling in the spectral range of mm-wave/THz frequencies for such medical ablation purposes are studied. These higher frequencies for ablation can be considered either to supplant or used in parallel with the existing RF/microwave bands (at 915 MHz and 2.45 GHz). The motivation thereof is to identify certain improved ablation feasibility and derivable merits in clinical sense. Hence, the efficacy of the proposed scheme is identified for two exemplar ablation therapy procedures pertinent to Barrett’s esophagus and menorrhagia. Pertinent pros and cons are discussed and practical ablator designs are indicated.
Study Details: Considering the strategy of using the proposed mm-wave/THz EM energy would amount to a shallow ablation via ‘thermal scouring’ of the tissue-linings intended for ablation and prevent otherwise undesirable hot-spots in deep-tissue media. This is conceivable because the advocated frequency bands would allow a very shallow skin-depth of penetration of EM energy; and hence, tissue-heating will be limited only to superficial linings. Further, the associated super-high frequency will heat the ablation site extremely fast reducing the procedure time considerably.
In a Nut-shell: The study first offers a comprehensive review on classical and projects de novo aspects of EM ablation therapy with unexplored electromagnetic spectral resources of mm-Wave/THz band. Illustrated as examples are feasibility details concerning the ablation of the endometrium and Barrett’s esophagus. Design aspects of ablators are presented.
Place and Duration of Study: The study reported is limited to a review on the subject-matter and provides analytical designs and computational models on the procedure performed (2012-2013) at: Department of Computer and Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, College of Engineering & Computer Science, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida 33431, USA.