The optimal treatment with hyperthermia of superficially located tumors which involve large surface areas requires applicators which can physically conform to body contours, and locally alter their power deposition patterns to adjust for nonuniform temperature caused by tissue inhomogeneities and blood flow variations. A series of 915 MHz microstrip array applicators satisfying these criteria have been developed and clinically tested. Clinical and engineering design tradeoffs for practical devices are discussed. Measurements taken in tissue equivalent phantoms and a summary of our clinical experiences with these microstrip arrays are presented.
In order to better assess temperature distribution patterns in patients, tissue equivalent phantoms, and experimental animals, mechanical devices and automated control systems for positioning temperature probes in implanted catheters and catheters laid on the skin surface have been developed. They employ stepper motor actuated roller and idler wheel drives to move the probes. Two devices incorporate positive positioners in addition to the drive rollers in order to obtain higher positioning accuracy where significant probe to catheter friction is present. Automated systems have been constructed which can simultaneously position, record and display data from up to 10 temperature sensors in a colour-coded position versus temperature format to produce a real time two-dimensional colour-coded pseudo isotherm display. These thermal mapping devices have been used for characterizing the power deposition patterns of several large area microwave applicators (on the surface and at depth within tissue equivalent phantoms), for intraorgan temperature mapping in experimental animals, and for surface and subcutaneous temperature mapping during clinical treatments.
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