thermal ablation

Ablation is defined as the removal of material from the surface of an object by vaporization, chipping, or other erosive processes. The term occurs in space physics associated with atmospheric reentry, in glaciology, medicine and passive fire protection.
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Ablation /ab·la·tion/ 1. separation or detachment; extirpation; eradication. 2. removal or destruction, especially by cutting. ab·la·tion n. [more]Thermal ablation - Community and Resources

A procedure using heat to remove tissue or a part of the body, or destroy its function. For example, to remove the lining of the uterus, a catheter is inserted through the cervix into the uterus, a balloon at the end of the catheter is inflated, and fluid inside the balloon is heated to destroy the lining of the uterus.