Microwave hyperthermia treatment of neck cancer using eight UWB antennas

We analyse the application of an ultra wideband (UWB) balanced antipodal Vivaldi antenna to hyperthermia head and neck cancer treatment in this paper. Balanced antipodal Vivaldi antenna was primary developed for microwave imaging. The shape of isosurface, where specific absorption rate (SAR) decreases to 25% of its maximal value of one antenna, is observed in simple rectangular phantom at frequency 915 MHz for three different distances between antenna and phantom. Two different antenna configurations are then considered. Eight antenna configuration, where eight antennas are equidistantly placed in circle in one plane and three antenna configuration, where only three nearest antennas to the tumour region are placed in smaller circle with centre in the tumour region. Optimization of SAR distribution and thermal simulation was performed after electromagnetic simulation. Although thyroid gland tissue was covered by SAR quite well, its temperature did not rise. It confirms the importance of thermal simulation in treatment planning procedure.