BACKGROUND Radiofrequency neurotomies are used to help reduce pain caused by structures innervated by the medial branch of the dorsal spinal nerve. The duration of effect may vary proportionally to the length of nerve coagulated. Techniques used to maximize the length of nerve within the radius of maximal heat include making multiple lesions, using larger needles, positioning the exposed needle...

Previous studies have confirmed the possibility of using an intravascular MR imaging guidewire (MRIG) as a heating source to enhance vascular gene transfection/expression. This motivated us to develop a new intravascular system that can perform MR imaging, radiofrequncy (RF) heating, and MR temperature monitoring simultaneously in an MR scanner. To validate this concept, a series of mathematica...

Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging has become a commonly accepted medical procedure. Manufacturers of medical implant devices are submitting claims that their devices are safe and effective in a MR environment. This paper concentrates on the issue of heating of patients due to the interaction of metallic implants with the strong radiofrequency (RF) magnetic field produced by the MR scanner. The co...

A well-known disadvantage of a radiofrequency-capacitive device for deep-seated tumours is preferential heating of the subcutaneous fat tissue. The authors previously developed the hyperthermia with their own external cooling unit and achieved strong superficial cooling, and reported its usefulness for the reduction of the preferential heating. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate t...

BACKGROUND Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is one treatment option for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) where tumour cells are destroyed by heat. However, there is lack of knowledge about cellular reactions after heating. Therefore, we studied cell death after heat application in a cell-culture setting mimicking HCC. MATERIALS AND METHODS Intracellularly stained hepatic stellate cells (LX-1) and ...

Local hyperthermia therapy for cancer can produce selective heating of solid tumors on the basis of known physical laws. If energy is deposited in the general region of the tumor, temperature tends to develop in the tumor higher than that in surrounding normal tissues. The goal of therapy is to achieve cytotoxic temperature elevations in the tumor for an adequate period of time, without damagin...

This paper reviews the different applicators and electrodes employed to create localized heating in the cornea by means of the application of radiofrequency (RF) currents. Thermokeratoplasty (TKP) is probably the best known of these techniques and is based on the principle that heating corneal tissue (particularly the central part of the corneal tissue, i.e. the central stroma) causes collagen ...