An array of several small, curved electrodes are deployed from the end of the probe into the tissue. The generator is turned on and target temperatures are input. The radiofrequency energy flows through the electrodes, causing ionic agitation, and therefore friction, in the nearby tissue. This friction creates heat, and once sufficient temperatures have been reached, the heat kills the target tissue within a few minutes. Ultrasound is typically used to monitor the treatment process.
Heat is a very effective means of killing tissue.
The process is rapid, typically requiring less than 10-15 minutes exposure time for a 3 cm ablation. Depending on the power applied and the resistance of the tissues, heat decreases rapidly at a specific distance from the electrode tip, limiting the ablation size. The size of the ablated area is determined largely by the size of the probe, the temperature of the tissue, and the duration of time the energy is applied. There is a sharp boundary between dead tissue and unaffected surrounding tissue. Thus unwanted tissue can be ablated without much sacrifice of surrounding normal tissue.