Miniaturisation of conductivity probe design and acquisition of dielectric properties of tissues for catheter cardiac ablation applications
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2024-04-18Author
Ištuk, Niko
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Abstract
Atrial fibrillation, a prevalent cardiac arrhythmia, requires precise and
effective treatments such as cardiac ablation. The efficacy of these
treatments is closely tied to a comprehensive understanding of the
dielectric properties of the heart, including both blood and cardiac
tissue. Any inaccuracies or gaps in this information can compromise
treatment success, leading to increased health risks and financial bur dens.
This thesis identifies several gaps including limited available data
on the dielectric properties of specific heart regions, inconsistency in
characterising the electrical conductivity of human blood across var ious frequencies, and the lack of specialised instruments for accurate
measurements in small, heterogeneous biological samples. To address
these issues, rigorous characterisations of the dielectric properties of
cardiac tissues at microwave frequencies ranging from 500 MHz to 20
GHz were performed, along with electrical conductivity measurements
of human blood from 100 Hz to 100 kHz.
As well as the contributions to dielectric properties, this research
also includes the development and microfabrication of a miniaturised
four-electrode probe. This innovative probe is designed to measure
the electrical conductivity of biological tissues over a wider frequency
range between 10 Hz and 100 kHz and enables accurate measurements
in small and heterogeneous samples, such as cardiac tissue.
Overall, the thesis advances the field by enhancing the understanding
of the dielectric properties of blood and cardiac tissue. By filling
critical gaps in the existing literature, it contributes to improving the
reliability and safety of cardiac ablation treatments.