First used
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Shealy 1975
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Sluijter and others 1998
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Application
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Continuous RF energy for 90 s
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RF energy in pulses of 20 ms with wash-out period of 480 ms
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Needle tip
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Parallel and by the side of target
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Perpendicular, pointing at the target
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Tissue temperature achieved
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Up to 80°C
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Up to 42°C
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Proposed mechanism of action
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Non-selective thermal destruction
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Neurobiological - by strong electrical fields
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Side effects
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Deafferentation syndrome
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No side effects observed so far
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Duration of effect
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Potentially long lasting (months)
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? Relatively short duration
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Use on peripheral nerves
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Cannot be used -contraindicated
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Has been effectively used in peripheral mono-neuropathies
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