Miniaturisation of conductivity probe design and acquisition of dielectric properties of tissues for catheter cardiac ablation applications
Ištuk, Niko
Ištuk, Niko
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Identifiers
http://hdl.handle.net/10379/18165
https://doi.org/10.13025/17387
https://doi.org/10.13025/17387
Repository DOI
Publication Date
2024-04-18
Type
Thesis
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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.
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Publisher
NUI Galway