an embodiment of a microwave power generator system for medical applications is illustrated in fig1 the apparatus comprising : — a microwave source for providing microwave energy 1 , connectable to a system controller 2 for controlling at least one property of the microwave radiation provided by the microwave source ; and a monitoring system 3 for monitoring the delivery of energy and an interconnecting cable 4 and an applicator hand piece 5 and a removable applicator means 6 , for example an applicator device , for delivering microwave energy , wherein : — the applicator is configured to deliver precise amounts of microwave energy provided by the source at a single frequency or across a range of frequencies . a typical hpv infection is illustrated in fig2 ( a ), this comprises the normal tissue 7 , the papilloma surface 8 , the capillary feed network 9 . the terminal differentiation pathway of epidermal cells infected by the hpv virus is illustrated in fig2 ( b ) basal cells 10 become infected with the hpv virus leading to viral replication in the stratum spinosum 11 followed by assembly of virus particles in the stratum granulosum and release of virus particles in the in the stratum corneum ( papilloma surface ). fig3 shows the components of an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention , the components shown separately for ease of reference . the apparatus comprises a generator system 14 with a locking microwave connection 15 to a flexible microwave cable 16 connected to a hand piece 17 ( which may have the same type of locking connection ) which accepts an applicator component 19 . the applicator component is designed to match to the tissue properties of the papilloma 20 and not match to the normal tissue 18 . the cable 16 may include both microwave and signal data cables and may be reversible to enable connection to either port . an alternative embodiment of an applicator 21 is illustrated in fig4 with the component having a domed or enclosing surface compatible with raised or curved lesions . the method of inducing a microwave heat shock responses is illustrated in fig5 . in this illustration microwave radiation creates a thermal stress which results in protein denaturation 22 . heat shock proteins ( hsp ) are normally bound to heat shock factors ( hsf ) ( 23 ), but dissociate in the presence of denatured proteins ( pd ). once dissociated , hsps bind to the denatured proteins by rapid release . this requires adenosine triphosphate ( atp ) 24 . further hsps are generated when hsfs phosphorylate ( po4 ) ( 25 ) and trimerize ( 26 ). these trimers bind to heat shock elements ( hse ) 27 that are contained within the promoters of the hsps and generate more protein 28 . newly generated hsps can then free to bind more denatured proteins 29 . the measured dielectric properties for the sample population median versus frequency of plantar verrucae are reported in fig6 ( a ) and 6 ( b ). measured results for er and loss tangent versus frequency from 2 ghz to 20 ghz are reported . the measurements were made using an agilent pna - l network analyzer connected to an agilent 85070e dielectric measurement system with the 85070e performance probe kit ( option 050 ) measuring from 300 khz to 20 ghz . deionised water and air were used as dielectric references for calibration . the measured dielectric properties for the sample population ( median taken across the population ) versus frequency for various plantar tissues are reported in fig7 . measured results for er versus frequency from 2 ghz to 20 ghz are reported illustrating demarcation between each tissue type . statistically analysed dielectric property values taken over a sample population ( using the median of the measurement range 7 . 5 - 8 . 5 ghz taken from each sample ) for verrucae tissue is presented in fig8 . the median er value was measured at 4 . 93 for this dataset . with reference to fig9 a comparison of statistically analysed measurements of the dielectric properties of various plantar tissues over a sample population ( using the median of the measurement range 7 . 5 - 8 . 5 ghz taken from each sample ) is illustrated . it will be understood that embodiments of the present invention have been described above purely by way of example , and modifications of detail can be made within the scope of the invention . each feature disclosed in the description , and ( where appropriate ) the claims and drawings may be provided independently or in any appropriate combination .
the invention provides methods and apparatus for the treatment of dermatological conditions , including , for example , viral infections , microbial infections , cancers , dermatological conditions and particularly infections of the skin caused by human papillomavirus .