title: Theoretical analysis of AC electric field transmission into biological tissue through frozen saline for electroporation.
abstract: An analytical model was used to explore the feasibility of sinusoidal electric field transmission across a frozen saline layer into biological tissue. The study is relevant to electroporation and permeabilization of the cell membrane by electric fields. The concept was analyzed for frequencies in the range of conventional electroporation frequencies and electric field intensity. Theoretical analysis for a variety of tissues show that the transmission of electroporation type electric fields through a layer of frozen saline into tissue is feasible and the behavior of this composite system depends on tissue type, frozen domain temperature, and frequency. Freezing could become a valuable method for adherence of electroporation electrodes to moving tissue surfaces, such as the heart in the treatment of atrial fibrillation or blood vessels for the treatment of restenosis.
authors.affiliation: School of Automation Science and Electrical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Chunyan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: Boris
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rubinsky
mesh_terms: D003452:Cryosurgery; D004560:Electricity; D018274:Electroporation; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D007053:Ice; D008954:Models, Biological; D009928:Organ Specificity
chemical_list: D007053:Ice
keywords: AC electric field; arrhythmias treatment; electroporation; frozen saline; plate electrodes