An investigation of microwave ablation for bone thermal drilling

Abstract

Bone drilling is an important medical maneuver in a general orthopedic surgery. Hole drilling by using a conventional mechanical rotary drill is avoidable for a tiny bone chip and a corrosion of drill bit. An application of microwave energy to drill a hard cortical bone is even though proposed by some researchers but an investigation of thermal interaction at a drill site is still remain promising especially in a term of simulation. This research investigates a microwave thermal ablation for bone drilling through a 3D FEM solver. Microwave drill applicator was designed as an opened-tip coaxial antenna which inserted into a center of cortical bone model. Temperature pattern at hot spot and estimate drilled hole size was predicted finally. These useful simulation results can be basically applied in a design and development of a practical microwave bone drilling system in a near future.