Design of an uncooled microwave monopole antenna for tissue ablation at 2.45 GHz

This study investigates the use of microwave electric fields for treating tumours, as an alternative to surgical therapies, potentially reducing morbidity and invasiveness. An uncooled coaxial-based monopole antenna was designed for percutaneous microwave ablation (MWA) cancer treatment in liver. The antenna was optimised to provide an optimal match with liver tissue, at 2.45GHz. The designed antenna's diameter was kept at a minimum by using an RG405 coaxial cable, thus keeping the treatment minimally invasive. A simulation model of the antenna using Computer Simulation Technology (CST) Studio software was developed and validated methodologically by experiments. During the latter, the designed coaxial based monopole antenna was excited with a power signal of between 30W and 50W while immersed in a porcine liver specimen. Under power conditions, the proposed antenna's performance, while embedded in the liver specimen, showed promising results, considering that an uncooled monopole without added impedance-matching networks was utilised.