About Bimodal Electric Tissue Ablation

Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) is an established technique for the treatment of solid tumours in situ. RFA uses Alternating Current to generate radiofrequency (RF) energy, which when delivered to target tissues via a probe, results in localised heating and tissue destruction. However, the heating effect desiccates tissues, increasing their impedance and decreasing their heat conductivity. This leads to charring and the phenomenon of ‘roll-off’ whereby the impendence of the tissue has increased to such an extent that no more RF energy can be deposited and the procedure comes to an end; as such RFA is ultimately self-limiting.

BETA overcomes the limitations of RFA by including a DC element to complement the RF-generating AC. The application of DC to the ablation zone induces electroendosmosis in the target tissue which draws water from surrounding tissues to the ablation probe, thereby preventing tissue desiccation and the increase in impedance that leads to roll-off. The result is substantially greater ablation zones compared to standard RFA and the potential to treat previously untreatable tumours.

BETA is next-generation RFA.