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Tom Cronje (PhD)

Room A220
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
University of Canterbury
Private Bag 4800
Christchurch, New Zealand

Phone: +64 (3) 364-2987 ext. 7123
thomas.cronje@pg.canterbury.ac.nz

Research Topic

"Development of a high-voltage high-frequency pulser for biomedical applications"

Details:

This PhD project is to develop a highly specialised apparatus for use in biomedical applications, exceeding currently available commercial equipment in terms of technical capabilities, and offering new possibilities for research and clinical purposes.
Studies have shown that there are exciting opportunities for further research when using both higher frequencies and also bipolar electrical fields, compared to what is widely used at present. This project has a strong focus on application in cancer therapy. Liver cancer is usually treated with radio frequency ablation (RFA) of unresectable tumours. Our vision is to extend this approach to a threefold method - electroporation together with chemotherapy, known as electrochemotherapy (ECT), “extreme” electroporation known as irreversible electroporation (IRE) and RFA. The main thrust to date has been to develop a robust, fast switcher of high voltages that will enable studies in electroporation of biological tissue (for two modes – ECT and IRE) and will also suit development of an RFA apparatus as a third treatment modality against cancer.

Current interests:

• High-speed high-voltage power electronics
• Electroporation (EP), and irreversible electroporation (IRE)
• Electrochemotherapy (ECT)

Publications:

• Cronje, T., and Gaynor, P. (2007). A New Multipurpose Cancer Zapper. 14th Electronics New Zealand Conference (ENZCon 2007). 89-94. Victoria University, Wellington, New Zealand.
• Cronje, T., Gaynor, P., and Lau, G. (2009). Electricity vs Cancer: Punching Holes into Cells. Canterbury Health Research Poster Expo, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand.
• Gaynor, P., and Cronje, T. (2009). Blast those cells. Dept of Electrical & Electronic Engineering, U.C. seminar series. University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand.
• Cronje, T. (2010). A new multipurpose cancer zapper. Health Research Society of Canterbury Seminar Series. Otago School of Medicine, Christchurch, New Zealand.