Input impedance characteristics of coaxial slot antennas forinterstitial microwave hyperthermia

In this paper, a transmission-line type of input impedance model originally developed by King et al. (1983) for the insulated dipole antenna embedded in a homogeneous dissipative medium is extended to the case of insulated coaxial slot antenna. Physical construction of the latter indicates the presence of additional current path(s) inside the feed line, which shall lead to the shortening of its resonance length. This effect is taken into account in the impedance model and verified by experiments. Furthermore, a simple strategy for optimizing the applicator's impedance-matching performance is also described and verified. Excellent agreements observed between theoretical and measured S₁₁ data indicate that these models can be relied upon when designing an efficient applicator for interstitial microwave hyperthermia     

Theory of the terminated insulated antenna in a conducting medium

The general problem of the insulated antenna in an isotropic homogeneous medium of infinite extent is reviewed under the assumption that the medium is sufficiently conducting to permit the application of coaxial line theory. The currents and associated electromagnetic fields for the completely insulated antenna are obtained and the directional properties of the latter explained by comparison with a collinear array. An antenna in which only a central portion is insulated, while the ends are bare, is analyzed in terms of the theories of the insulated and bare antenna, both when the structure is driven by generators at the junctions of the bare and insulated sections and when it is driven by an internal coaxial feeder in the manner of a sleeve dipole. Finally, the center-driven insulated antenna with bare ends is investigated and its field is compared with that of the antenna driven at the junctions of the bare and insulated sections.     

热疗用微波辐射器长度对其性能影响的理论分析

本文分析了一种带冷却水的用于人体体腔内部热疗的绝缘偶极子微波辐射器的特性。利用辐射器上的电流分布导出辐射阻抗和驻波经与辐射器长度的关系式，探讨了体腔周围被加热生物组织中分布的比吸收率，进而根据热平衡方程得到辐射器长度对温度场分布的影响，为体腔内部热疗用微波辐射器的设计提供了理论依据。     

Numerical computation of fat layer effects on microwave near-fieldradiation to the abdomen of a full-scale human body model

Numerical computation results of fat layer effects on the microwave near field radiation to the abdomen of a three-dimensional (3-D) full-scale human body model are presented. The human body is modeled as a 3-D homogeneous muscle phantom with a fat layer covering the abdomen part. The dipole wire-antenna located proximate to the abdomen is used as the microwave radiation source at 915 MHz. This is to study the effects on hyperthermia heating by using the microwave applicator (at 915 MHz) or the near-field exposure from the proximate handset antenna to the human body at ISM band wireless communication band (902-928 MHz). Coupled integral equations (CIE) and the method of moments (MoM) are employed to numerically compute electromagnetic (EM) energy deposition specific absorption rate (SAR) from the radio frequency (RF) antenna applicator into the proximate fat layer covered abdomen. The antenna input impedance (proximate to the body), return loss (RL), and the resonant antenna length (proximate to the body) will also be numerically determined to increase the microwave power delivered into the body. The study of fat layer effects is important for microwave hyperthermia applications. It is also important for the investigation of the potential health hazard from the near-field radiation of a wireless communication antenna     

Design and analysis of an asymmetrically fed insulated coaxial slotantenna with enhanced tip-heating performance

In this paper, a novel use of an asymmetrically fed insulated coaxial slot antenna (ICSA) type of applicator for interstitial microwave hyperthermia that simultaneously exhibits good impedance matching and enhanced tip-heating performances is presented. Theoretical analysis reveals that by making the distal arm much shorter than the other arm of the antenna, charge densities distributed over the distal arm of the antenna increase significantly. This, in turn, can result in the radial electric-field component becoming the dominant contributor to the specific absorption rate (SAR) over the distal arm side of the heating region and, therefore, the achievement of enhanced tip-heating performance. With the length of the longer arm chosen to be slightly longer than a quarter-wavelength, good impedance matching and enhanced tip-heating performances are achieved when the length of the shorter distal arm is reduced to no more than 25% of that of the longer arm. Good agreements observed between theoretical and measured SAR patterns for two ICSA's designed for operation at 915 and 433 MHz, respectively, confirm the validity of the design method     

Tissue dielectric measurement using an interstitial dipole antenna

The purpose of this study was to develop a technique to measure the dielectric properties of biological tissues with an interstitial dipole antenna based upon previous efforts for open-ended coaxial probes. The primary motivation for this technique is to facilitate treatment monitoring during microwave tumor ablation by utilizing the heating antenna without additional intervention or interruption of the treatment. The complex permittivity of a tissue volume surrounding the antenna was calculated from reflection coefficients measured after high-temperature microwave heating by using a rational function model of the antenna's input admittance. Three referencing liquids were needed for measurement calibration. The dielectric measurement technique was validated ex vivo in normal and ablated bovine livers. Relative permittivity and effective conductivity were lower in the ablation zone when compared to normal tissue, consistent with previous results. The dipole technique demonstrated a mean 10% difference of permittivity values when compared to open-ended coaxial cable measurements in the frequency range of 0.5-20 GHz. Variability in measured permittivities could be smoothed by fitting to a Cole-Cole dispersion model. Further development of this technique may facilitate real-time monitoring of microwave ablation treatments through the treatment applicator.     

Chemical activation using an open-end coaxial applicator.

This article gives an overview of a novel, experimentally simple and versatile method of activation of chemical processes with microwaves without resorting to an oven. It is based on the use of a microwave antenna, namely an open-end coaxial dipole applicator immersed in an ordinary reaction vessel. Accounts of the apparatus at 2450 MHz and of the procedures adopted in reactions of organic synthesis, extraction of essential oils from plants and photo catalytic mineralization of liquid pollutants are given, discussing the necessary safety measures. The method is of practical interest for scientific and industrial applications. Thus this article is meant for a broad audience of scientists, engineers and technicians interested in new technologies for chemistry.     

The Near Field of an Insulated Dipole in a Dissipative Dielectric Medium (Short Paper)

The near field of uninsulated dipole antenna in a dissipative dielectric medium is important in microwave hyperthermia and geophysical applications. In this paper, the electric field near an insulated dipole has been calculated by the direct numerical evaluation of a surface integral over the insulation. The computed results are compared with those previously obtained by an approximate numerical calculation.     

Electromagnetic and thermal models of a water-cooled dipoleradiating in a biological tissue

An insulated, water-cooled dipole, radiating in a biological tissue, is analyzed with a theoretical electromagnetic and thermal model. The SAR and temperature distributions are calculated taking into account the effect of the water flowing inside the applicator. The steady-state temperatures in a dissipative medium, interacting with the dipole, are evaluated for several thicknesses of the external casing, water temperatures and blood perfusions. A correct design of the external casing thickness and a proper choice of the temperature and flow velocity of water allows to control the wall temperature of the applicator within physiological limits. The influence of the blood perfusion on the temperature distribution is investigated.     

A 2 1/4-turn spiral antenna for catheter cardiac ablation

To investigate the delivery of microwave energy by a catheter positioned inside the heart for ablating small abnormal regions producing cardiac arrhythmias, a 2 1/4-turn spiral catheter-based microwave antenna applicator has been developed. The antenna consists of the center conductor with continuous insulating material extending from the coaxial feed cable formed into a spiral antenna. The insulator completely isolates the center conductor from tissue. Phantom experiments were performed on homogeneous tissue equivalent medium. The reflection coefficient of the antenna at different frequencies and for different spiral lengths, the time course and temperature profile of an ablation, and the dosimetry of power versus temperature, all indicate that the high-power heating patterns from this antenna are both wider and deeper than with the other microwave antenna systems and radio-frequency electrodes.     

Computer-aided design of two dimensional electric-type hyperthermiaapplicators using the finite-difference time-domain method

A hyperthermia applicator design tool consisting of a finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) technique in combination with a graphical display of electric fields and normalized linear temperature rise is described. This technique calculates, rather than assumes, antenna current distributions; it includes mutual interactions between the body and the applicator, and it calculates driving-point impedance and power delivered to the applicator. Results show that the fundamental limitation of 2-D electric-type applicators is overheating of the fat by normal components of the electric field, which exist because of near fields and capacitive coupling with the muscle. Two factors which contribute to the capacitance are the muscle conductivity and the small antenna size in air. Two examples of applicators designed to avoid fat overheating are described: a 27-MHz segmented dipole for heating large tumors to 7 cm depth, and a 100-MHz dipole for small tumors to 5 cm depth. The first uses a water bolus, and the second uses a water bolus with low-permittivity strips to reduce normal fields at the antenna ends. The results of this study describe fundamental limitations of electric field applicators, and illustrate the use of a powerful applicator design tool that allows rapid evaluation of a wide range of ideas for applicators which would require months and years to test experimentally.     

水冷式微波偶极子辐射器在生物介质中的SAR分布计算

本文从电磁场理论模型出发，分析地腔内水冷式微波偶极子辐射器在生物介质中的近场辐射特性，计算得到有水冷时的比吸收率（ＳＡＲ）分布形态。与无水冷时的ＳＡＲ分布比较表明，水冷可改善热区分布，增加治疗深度。该结果与工程经验和临床实际基本相符。     

一种新型探地雷达天线的设计分析

该文研究了一种近似椭圆结构的超宽带偶极子天线。通过设计沿着振子向末端方向渐变的导体臂,可以有效地减小天线末端电流的反射,改善天线的输入阻抗特性,拓宽天线的带宽。由于没有采用任何加载措施,此天线相比电阻加载宽带天线具有更高的效率。采用三维电磁仿真软件对天线进行了分析和设计,根据设计结果实际制作了一副天线样机,并对其电压驻波比和辐射特性进行了测试,测试结果与仿真设计结果吻合良好。仿真结果和实验测试结果表明,该天线在很宽的工作频带内具有良好的阻抗特性和辐射特性。     

Theoretical and experimental analysis of air cooling forintracavitary microwave hyperthermia applicators

An intracavitary microwave antenna array system has been developed and tested for the hyperthermia treatment of prostate cancer at Thayer School of Engineering and Dartmouth-Witchcock Medical Center. The antenna array consists of a choked dipole antenna inserted into the urethra and a choked dipole antenna eccentrically embedded in a Teflon obturator inserted into the rectum. To prevent unnecessary heating of the healthy tissue that surrounds each applicator, an air cooling system has been incorporated into the rectal applicator. The air cooling system was designed and modeled theoretically using a numerical solution of heat and momentum equations within the applicator, and an analytical solution of the Pennes bioheat equation in tissue surrounding the applicator. The 3D temperature distribution produced by the air-cooled rectal applicator was measured in a perfused canine prostate     

The many faces of the insulated antenna

The development of the insulated antenna is outlined from its beginnings as an ocean cable. The generalization of the theory from that applicable only to coaxial lines with an outer conductor of infinite extent to an insulated antenna embedded in a relatively dense medium that may be a dielectric or a conductor is described. The properties of the eccentrically insulated antenna and their usefulness in traveling-wave directional arrays for lateral-wave transmisson are reviewed. The diagnostic applications of the insulated antenna are considered with special reference to the measurement of the electric field in an ambient medium independent of its permittivity and to a study of the properties of a plasma-filled tube.     

A floating sleeve antenna yields localized hepatic microwave ablation

We report a novel coaxial antenna for hepatic microwave ablation. This device uses a floating sleeve, that is, a metal conductor electrically isolated from the outer connector of the antenna coaxial body, to achieve a highly localized specific absorption rate pattern that is independent of insertion depth. This floating sleeve coaxial dipole antenna has low power reflection in the 2.4-GHz IMS band. Ex vivo experiments confirm our numerical simulation results. Index Terms-Ablation, coaxial aperture antennas, finite element methods, floating sleeve, microwave heating.     

FDTD electromagnetic and thermal analysis of interstitialhyperthermic applicators

The electromagnetic and thermal behavior of interstitial applicators was analyzed by using the finite-difference time-domain method. Two configurations were considered: a simple insulated dipole antenna radiating in a layered tissue, and an air cooled applicator radiating in a tissue-equivalent phantom. The proposed approach allows a detailed modeling of the complete structure of the applicator. Furthermore, specific absorption rate and temperature distributions can be determined considering real clinical or experimental conditions. The temperature distribution for the air cooled applicator has been compared with experimental results     

Radio frequency coupling between an antenna and two unshieldedparallel wires above a metal sheet-measurement precautions

An unshielded 1 m transmission line, made of two parallel wires suspended 0.1 m above a plane metal sheet, is illuminated in the VHF and UHF bands by a log-periodic dipole array (LPDA). A network analyzer is used to measure the voltage induced at one end of the line. The measured signal is compared to the predictions of a moment method numerical analysis, using the NEC code. The measured and predicted coupling are in reasonable agreement only once two measurement precautions are taken. First, the illuminating antenna has to be well-balanced to suppress common mode radiation from the coaxial cable connecting the transmitter to the antenna. Second, an output balun must be inserted between the unshielded transmission line and the coaxial cable to the network analyzer. This is needed to prevent common mode signals on the coaxial cable from contaminating the measurements. Besides these practical steps, it is also necessary to use physical insight and high frequency circuit theory to develop a good equivalent circuit of the output balun for use in the computational model     

A 915-MHz antenna for microwave thermal ablation treatment: physical design, computer modeling and experimental measurement

A 915-MHz antenna design that produces specific absorption rate distributions with preferential power deposition in tissues surrounding and including the distal end of the catheter antenna is described. The design features minimal reflected microwave current from the antenna flowing up the transmission line. This cap-choke antenna consists of an annular cap and a coaxial choke which matches the antenna to the coaxial transmission line. The design minimizes heating of the coaxial cable and its performance is not affected by the depth of insertion of the antenna into tissue. The paper provides a comparison of results obtained from computer modeling and experimental measurements made in tissue equivalent phantom materials. There is excellent agreement between numerical modeling and experimental measurement. The cap-choke, matched-dipole type antenna is suitable for intracavitary microwave thermal ablation therapy.     

Development of a wide-band short backfire antenna excited by an unbalance-fed H-shaped slot

The short backfire antenna (SBA) has been widely used for mobile satellite communications, tracking, telemetry, and wireless local-area network applications due to its compact structure and excellent radiation characteristics. The most common excitation topology for the SBA is a balance-fed wire dipole, which has the disadvantage of a narrow frequency bandwidth for the input impedance. In this paper, an H-shaped slot is employed to excite the SBA for the first time. The H-shaped slot is unbalance-fed from a coaxial line. It is demonstrated that the H-shaped slot-excited SBA can achieve a bandwidth for input impedance of more than 20% (VSWR<2) while maintaining good radiation performance. The antenna structure is described and the simulation and experimental results are presented. The operating principle is investigated to explain why the slot-excited SBA can result in good impedance and radiation characteristics. A parametric study is conducted for the use of practical engineering design.