Design and experimental evaluation of an intracavitary ultrasound phased array system for hyperthermia

For evaluating the feasibility of treating prostate cancer, a 64-element linear ultrasound phased array applicator for intracavitary hyperthermia was designed and constructed. A 64-channel ultrasound driving system including amplifiers, phase shifters, and RF power meters was also developed to drive the array. The design of the array and driving equipment are presented, as are the results of acoustical field measurements and in vitro perfused phantom studies performed with the array. Several techniques for heating realistically sized tumor volumes were also investigated, including single focus scanning and two techniques for producing multiple stationary foci. The results show that the operation of the array correlated closely with the theoretical model. When producing a single stationary focus, the array was able to increase tissue temperature by 12°C in vitro in perfused phantom. With some minor improvements in array design, intracavitary phased arrays could be evaluated in a clinical environment.