Antenna optimization for invasive therapy

The paper describes a coaxial antenna system for treating cancer with catheter-based tissue heating. The performance of an antenna for hyperthermia is characterized by specific absorption rate (SAR) and temperature rise in the tissue of interest. First, we analyze the antenna of a conventional applicator and modify its configuration to improve the heating characteristics. We then calculate the return loss and SAR with a liver-equivalent phantom model at 2.45 GHz. The results of SAR computation are used as the heating source of a bio-heat equation. Optimal dimensions and temperature increase are also presented.