Determination of the optimal heating pattern obtained with external planar applicators used for 915 MHz Microwave Hyperthermia

Knowledge of the temperature distribution in the human body in response to electromagnetic field exposure is instrumental in the assessment of the biological effects of electromagnetic waves. Such is the case of microwave hyperthermia when using external planar applicators. The goal of this paper is to determine the optimal thermal therapeutic volume (region where temperatures are in the range 42degC-46degC) using a F.D.T.D.-H.T.E algorithm (Finite Difference Time Domain combined with Heat Transport Equation). The variations of the blood flow coefficient as a function of temperature are taken into account. We can also determine the parameters of the bolus (thickness, temperature of the flowing water, heat exchange coefficients) which allows one to obtain this larger therapeutic volume.