Current sheet applicators for clinical microwave hyperthermia
Gopal, M.K.; Cetas, T.C.
Microwave Theory and Techniques, IEEE Transactions on
Volume 41, Issue 3, Mar 1993 Page(s):431 - 437
Digital Object Identifier 10.1109/22.223741
Summary:Small lightweight applicators, intended to be operated in array
configurations are described. Their radiative fields are induced by RF
currents in a conducting sheet embedded a few millimeters below the
dielectric covered aperture surface. In arrays, these elements can be
used where conformity to body curvatures is necessary. The clinical
prototypes are tuned to 434 MHZ and have a bandwidth of almost 20 MHZ,
which accommodates the tuning and coupling changes due to different body
movement, and tissue heterogeneities. They are relatively insensitive to
air bubbles in bolus and scar tissue. Their inherent linear polarization
allows easy visualization of the superposition of electric field vectors
of each element of an array and provides deeper penetration on curved
surfaces due to electric field vector addition in the medium. In the
case of a large breast tumor, depth of heating of over 4 cm was achieved
along the central axis of a 2×2 coherent array. Experimental
evaluation of these elements, leading to clinical implementation, is
described along with a clinical example
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