Applicators for local microwave hyperthermia based on metamaterial technology

In this paper we would like to demonstrate that a principle based on zero-order resonant (ZOR) metamaterial (MTM) structure can be used for the development of a novel class of applicators for microwave thermotherapy - e.g. for hyperthermia in cancer treatment or for physiotherapy. The main idea of creating such an applicator is to generate and radiate a plane electromagnetic (EM) wave into the treated biological tissue, at least in a certain extent. The main aim of this paper is to investigate, whether an EM wave generated by an MTM ZOR structure and emitted into the biological tissue can produce a homogeneous SAR distribution in the planes parallel to the applicator aperture. Electromagnetic field and temperature distribution inside a virtual phantom of the treated region generated by the applicator that is based on the proposed MTM ZOR principle, as well as the reflection coefficient of such applicator, are investigated using a well-proven full-wave commercial simulation tool.