• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.296-303
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• 2017

Background: To achieve a prolonged therapeutic effect in patients with lumbar facet joint syndrome, radiofrequency medial branch neurotomy (RF-MB) is commonly performed. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of paravertebral muscle twitching when performing RF-MB in patients with lumbar facet joint syndrome. Methods: We collected and analyzed data from 68 patients with confirmed facet joint syndrome. Sensory stimulation was performed at 50 Hz with a 0.5 V cut-off value. Patients were divided into 3 groups according to the twitching of the paravertebral muscle during 2 Hz motor stimulation: 'Complete', when twitching was observed at all needles; 'Partial', when twitching was present at 1 or 2 needles; and 'None', when no twitching was observed. The relationship between the long-term effects of RF-MB and paravertebral muscle twitching was analyzed. Results: The mean effect duration of RF-MB was 4.6, 5.8, and 7.0 months in the None, Partial, and Complete groups, respectively (P = 0.47). Although the mean effect duration of RF-MB did not increase significantly in proportion to the paravertebral muscle twitching, the Complete group had prolonged effect duration (> 6 months) than the None group in subgroup analysis. (P = 0.03). Conclusions: Paravertebral muscle twitching while performing lumbar RF-MB may be a reliable predictor of long-term efficacy when sensory provocation under 0.5 V is achieved. However, further investigation may be necessary for clarifying its clinical significance.

• Journal of the Korean Vacuum Society
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.307-312
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• 2011

As a technique for removing cancerous tumors from normal tissue, radio-frequency electromagnetic waves were employed to heating target cells up to the critical temperature, which kills the cancerous cells. However, its use in treating tumors in soft organs is limited by inconvenient factors, which are use of high-currents and long time operation. In this work, the feasibility of the localized heating by inserting four conducting electrodes with tiny direct current is investigated. The heat source is resulting from the electric field as known as resistive heating. We have investigated the temperature distribution as a function of applying DC voltages ranging from 10 V to 30 V with 10 V step. From the simulation results, the mushroom-like lesion shape by applying 20 V is generated by four electrodes within a few minutes, that is proper to the clinical application.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2011.02a
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• pp.198-198
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• 2011

단분산 결정질 실리콘 나노입자 (<10 nm)는 양자점 효과로 인한 선택적 파장 흡수가 가능하므로 태양전지 분야에 응용 가능성이 크다. 특히 입경의 크기가 작아지면 부피대비 표면적이 넓어지기 때문에 태양빛 흡수 면적이 증가한다. 따라서 입자의 크기는 태양전지에서 효율을 결정하는 중요한 요소 중 하나이다. 이러한 이유에서 plasma arc synthesis, laser ablation, pyrolysis 그리고 PECVD (Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition) 등이 실리콘 나노입자를 합성하는데 연구되어 왔으며, 특히 PECVD는 입자 생성과 동시에 균일한 증착이 이루어질 수 있기 때문에 태양전지 제작 시 공정 효율을 높일 수 있다. PECVD를 이용한 나노입자 합성에서 입경을 제어하는데 중요한 전구물질은 Ar과 SiH4가스이다. Ar 가스는 ICP (Inductively Coupled Plasma) 챔버 내부에 가해준 전력을 통해 가속됨으로써 분해되어 Ar plasma가 생성된다. 이는 공급되는 SiH4가스를 분해시켜 핵생성을 유도하고, 그 주위로 성장시킴으로써 실리콘 나노입자가 합성된다. 이때 중요한 변수 중 하나는 핵생성과 입자성장시간의 조절을 통한 입경제어 이다. 또한 공급되는 가스의 유량은 입자가 생성될 때 필요한 화학적 구성비를 결정하므로 입경에 중요한 요소가 된다. 마지막으로 공정압력은 챔버내부의 plasma 구성 요소들의 평균 자유 행로를 결정하여 SiH4가 분해되어 입자가 생성되는 속도와 양을 제어한다. PECVD를 이용한 실리콘 나노입자 형성의 주요 변수는 RF pulse, 가스(Ar, SiH4, H2)의 유량, Plasma power, 공정압력 등이 있다. 본 연구에서는 RF (Radio Frequency) PECVD방법을 이용하여 실리콘 나노입자를 만드는데 필요한 여러 변수들을 제어함으로써 이에 따른 입경분포 차이를 연구하였다. 또한 SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy)과 SMPS (Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer)를 이용하여 각 변수에 따라 생성된 나노입자의 입경과 농도를 분석하였다. 이 중 plasma power에 따른 입경분포 측정 결과 600W에서 합성된 실리콘 나노입자가 상당히 단분산 된 형태로 나타남을 확인할 수 있었고 향후 다른 변수의 제어, 특히 DC bias 전압과 열을 가함으로써 나노입자의 결정성을 확인하는 추가 연구를 통해 태양전지 제작에 응용 할 수 있을 것으로 예상된다.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.238-243
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• 2009

Background: Radiofrequency obliteration and endovenous laser therapy of the greater saphenous vein have recently been introduced as alternative, minimally invasive techniques for the treatment of saphenous vein incompetence. The 7 Fr. VNUS $ClosureFAST^{(R)}$ radiofrequency obliteration system was introduced in Gwang-Ju Veterans hospital. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and complications of radiofrequency obliteration using the 7 Fr. VNUS $ClosureFAST^{(R)}$ system. Material and Method: Between May 2, 2007 and May 31, 2008, we performed radiofrequency obliteration on 90 patients. The number of males was 67 and their mean age was $57.9{\pm}11.0$ (range: $23{\sim}78$) years old. The patients underwent follow up exams at 3 weeks after the procedures and then every 3 months. The effects of treatment and the complications were reviewed. Result: The postoperative complications were ecchymosis (94.4%), pain (27.8%), paresthesia (25.6%), bullous formation (8.9%), edema (6.7%) and phlebitis (2.2%). One patient showed good blood flow after 3 weeks and one patient showed good blood flow after 3 months. The one-year success rate of radiofrequency obliteration in varicose veins was 97.6%. Conclusion: Our data showed acceptable operative results and short-term clinical results for treating varicose veins with radio frequency obliteration. Long-term follow-up and comparison of radio frequency obliteration with high ligation and stripping, previous radiofrequency ablation and endovenous laser therapy are needed in the future.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.102-110
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• 2018

Debridement is a crucial component of wound management. Recent technologies such as hydrosurgery (Versajet), ultrasound therapy (the MIST therapy device), or plasma-mediated bipolar radio-frequency ablation therapy (Coblation) seem to represent interesting alternatives for wound debridement. The purpose of this systematic review was to describe, evaluate, and compare these three recently developed methods for the management of chronic wounds. In January 2016, an electronic database search was conducted of MEDLINE, PubMed Central, and Embase for articles concerning these three innovative methods for the management of chronic wounds. A total of 389 references were identified by our search strategy, and 15 articles were included. We extracted data regarding the number and age of patients, indications, operating time, number of procedures, costs, wound healing time, decrease in exudation, perioperative blood loss, bacterial load, and the occurrence of complications. The 15 articles included studies that involved 563 patients who underwent hydrosurgery (7 studies), ultrasound therapy (6 studies), or Coblation (2 studies). Six randomized controlled trials were included that compared the use of a scalpel or curette to hydrosurgery (2 studies) or ultrasound therapy (6 studies). Hydrosurgery, in addition to being a very precise and selective tool, allows significantly faster debridement. Ultrasound therapy provides a significant reduction of exudation, and improves the wound healing time. No comparative study dedicated to Coblation was identified. Despite the obvious clinical interest of the topic, our review of the current literature revealed a lack of prospective randomized studies comparing these devices with each other or with standard techniques, particularly for Coblation and hydrosurgery.

• The Journal of the Korean bone and joint tumor society
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.88-95
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• 2004

Purpose: Current treatment for osteoid osteomas is usually surgical excision of the nidus. Various minimal invasive techniques have been reported to overcome the invasiveness of the surgical excision. We treated 22 patients with osteoid osteoma by percutaneous thermoablation of the nidus under computed-tomography guidance. Materials and Methods: Twenty two consecutive patients underwent CT-guided percutaneous radio-frequency thermoablation between April 1999 and May 2004. The mean age was 26.5(7~55) years. In three cases, the diagnosis was confirmed pathologically before the prodedure while the others clinically and radiologically. Computed tomography (CT)-guided percutaneous RF ablation was performed with general or spinal anesthesia. With an RF electrode, the lesion was heated to 80 or 90 degrees C for 6(3~8) minutes. Clinical success was assessed at a mean of 30(4~62) months after the procedure at out patient clinic or by telephone interview. Results: The procedure was technically successful in all cases except a complication. Patients were discharged on 1.9 days after the procedure and resumed normal activities immediately. All patients but three (86%) remained pain free during follow-up (range 4~62 months). A second thermoablation treatment relieved the recurrent symptoms in 2 patients and the remained had persistent pain without a second prodedure. Conclusion: Percutaneous thermoablation appears to be safe and effective for osteoid osteomas, and is a minimally invasive procedure alternative to surgical resection.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.429-435
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• 2009

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the prognostic value of preoperative FDG-PET in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients with hepatic metastasis (HM). Materials and Methods: 24 CRC patients (M:F=14:10; age, $63{\pm}10$ yrs) with HM who had undergone preoperative FDG PET were included. Cure-intent surgery was performed in all the patients and HMs were controlled using resection (n=13), radio-frequency ablation (RFA) (n=7), and resection plus RFA (n=4). Potential prognostic markers tested were maxSUV of primary tumor, maxSUV of HM, maxSUV ratio of HM over primary tumor (M/P ratio), histologic grade, CEA level, venous/lymphatic/nerve invasion, T stage, N stage, no. of HM, no. of lymph node metastasis, and treatment modality of HM. Results: 14 CRC patients developed a recurrence with a median follow-up duration of 244 days, whereas 10 patients did not develop recurrence with a median follow-up duration of 504 days. M/P ratios but other potential prognostic markers were significantly higher in the recurrent patients ($0.72{\pm}0.14$) than recurrence-free patients ($0.54{\pm}0.23$) (p=0.038). M/P ratio only was found to predict recurrence by Cox multivariate analysis (hazard ratio 37.7, 95% confidence interval 2.01-706.1, p=0.016). The 11 patients with lower M/P ratio of <0.61 had significantly better disease-free survival rate than the 13 patients with higher M/P ratio (${\geq}0.61$) (p=0.026). Conclusion: maxSUV ratio of HM over primary tumor (M/P ratio) may be useful for prognosis prediction of CRC patients with HM. Higher FDG uptake of HM than that of primary tumor may indicate a more advanced status in stage IV CRC.