Transmission-Based Dielectric Probes for Surgical Applications

Paper in proceeding, 2019

We have developed a new type of transmission-based dielectric probe that is idea for certain surgical applications - most notably spinal fusion surgery. It utilizes small-diameter open-ended coaxial cables, but exploits the fact that for the vertebrae surgery, the surgeon has access to both sides of the bone. While the space separation needs to be small (<2 cm), it is sufficiently large to get a signal across. The mathematics is dramatically simplified since it operates in the far field for which a number of simplifications can be employed. The penetration depth is effectively the full span between the two probes which is dramatically larger than that for open-ended coaxial reflection-based probes. Because it operates in the transmission mode, the effects from cable bending and such are minimal and subsequently lends itself to hand held operation which will be critical for a surgical setting.