Design, evaluation and validation of planar antenna array for breast hyperthermia treatment

Abstract

In this contribution we described a special modular type of a planar applicator intended to heat superficially large areas. The main goal of this proposal is to use this applicator for advanced breast cancer treatment. The applicator has an octagonal shape and operates at frequency 434 MHz. We design and optimize dimensions, source positions through electromagnetic simulations, namely one, four, six and eight elements array. These applicator arrays were mutually compared and analyzed in changes of areas enclosing by 75%, 50 % and 25 % SAR contours. The surface enclosed by 50 % SAR contour were 12 cm2 by one applicator, 14.3 cm2 by four applicators array, 36 cm2 by six applicators array and 64 cm2 by eight applicators array. For experiments we constructed one and four element array and measured reflection coefficient (-10.2 dB) and temperature distribution to the agar phantom. The surface cover by 50 % SAR contour deducted from thermograms is 15 cm2 in one applicator case and 23 cm2 in four applicators case.