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A Thermochromic Dispersive Electrode Can Measure the Underlying Skin Temperature and Prevent Burns During Radiofrequency Ablation
Author(s) -
THIAGALINGAM ARAVINDA,
POULIOPOULOS JIM,
BARRY MICHAEL ANTHONY TONY,
SALISBURY ELIZABETH,
PATHMANATHAN NIRMALA,
BOYD ANITA,
ROSS DAVID L.,
KOVOOR PRAMESH
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
journal of cardiovascular electrophysiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.193
H-Index - 138
eISSN - 1540-8167
pISSN - 1045-3873
DOI - 10.1111/j.1540-8167.2005.40747.x
Subject(s) - medicine , ablation , measure (data warehouse) , radiofrequency ablation , electrode , thermochromism , skin temperature , biomedical engineering , cardiology , data mining , chemistry , organic chemistry , computer science
Burns at the dispersive electrode are serious complications of diathermy and radiofrequency (RF) ablation procedures. We aimed to create a new methodology to reduce the incidence of dispersive electrode related skin burns. We hypothesized that a dispersive electrode incorporating a thermochromic liquid crystal (TLC) layer could accurately measure underlying skin temperatures and help prevent burns. Methods and Results: The TLC electrode was compared with a standard dispersive electrode in 12 male sheep. RF current was delivered with the dispersive electrode fully applied or partially detached to simulate different clinical scenarios. The temperature of the TLC layer, calculated from the hue (color) every 15 seconds, was compared with fluoroptic skin temperature probes. TLC electrodes with a temperature range of 45–58°C were used in six sheep to assess the correlation of TLC temperature distribution with skin temperature and burns. TLC electrodes with a temperature range of 40–50°C were used in another 6 sheep to simulate clinical conditions in which the ablation was stopped if the TLC temperature was >42°C. The TLC measured temperatures correlated well with fluoroptic probes at the skin surface (r = 0.94 ± 0.05, mean of the absolute difference in temperature difference 0.9 ± 0.58°C). Ablations with partial application of standard dispersive electrodes consistently caused skin burns. There were no burns under the TLC electrode when ablations were ceased for temperatures >42°C. Conclusions: TLC‐equipped dispersive electrodes were able to accurately measure skin temperature under the electrode. This technology is likely to prevent dispersive electrode related burns.