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Flow patterns and heat convection in a rectangular water bolus for use in superficial hyperthermia.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Birkelund, Y; Jacobsen, S; Arunachalam, K; Maccarini, P; Stauffer, PR
Published in: Physics in medicine and biology
July 2009

This paper investigates both numerically and experimentally the spatio-temporal effects of water flow in a custom-made water bolus used for superficial hyperthermia generated by a 915-MHz, 4 x 3 microwave applicator array. Similar hyperthermia models referenced in the literature use a constant water temperature and uniform heat flux to describe conduction and convection energy exchange within the heating apparatus available to cool the tissue surface. The results presented in this paper show that the spatially varying flow pattern and rate are vital factors for the overall heat control applicability of the 5 mm thick bolus under study. Regions with low flow rates and low heat convection clearly put restrictions on the maximum microwave energy possible within the limits of skin temperature rise under the bolus. Our analysis is illustrated by experimental flow front studies using a contrast liquid set-up monitored by high definition video and complemented by numerical analysis of liquid flow and heat exchange within the rectangular water bolus loaded by malignant tissue. Important factors for the improvement of future bolus designs are also discussed in terms of diameter and configuration of the water input and output tubing network.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Physics in medicine and biology

DOI

EISSN

1361-6560

ISSN

0031-9155

Publication Date

July 2009

Volume

54

Issue

13

Start / End Page

3937 / 3953

Related Subject Headings

  • Water
  • Thermal Conductivity
  • Rheology
  • Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
  • Microwaves
  • Hyperthermia, Induced
  • Hot Temperature
  • Equipment Failure Analysis
  • Equipment Design
  • Energy Transfer
 

Citation

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Birkelund, Y., Jacobsen, S., Arunachalam, K., Maccarini, P., & Stauffer, P. R. (2009). Flow patterns and heat convection in a rectangular water bolus for use in superficial hyperthermia. Physics in Medicine and Biology, 54(13), 3937–3953. https://doi.org/10.1088/0031-9155/54/13/001
Birkelund, Yngve, Svein Jacobsen, Kavitha Arunachalam, Paolo Maccarini, and Paul R. Stauffer. “Flow patterns and heat convection in a rectangular water bolus for use in superficial hyperthermia.Physics in Medicine and Biology 54, no. 13 (July 2009): 3937–53. https://doi.org/10.1088/0031-9155/54/13/001.
Birkelund Y, Jacobsen S, Arunachalam K, Maccarini P, Stauffer PR. Flow patterns and heat convection in a rectangular water bolus for use in superficial hyperthermia. Physics in medicine and biology. 2009 Jul;54(13):3937–53.
Birkelund, Yngve, et al. “Flow patterns and heat convection in a rectangular water bolus for use in superficial hyperthermia.Physics in Medicine and Biology, vol. 54, no. 13, July 2009, pp. 3937–53. Epmc, doi:10.1088/0031-9155/54/13/001.
Birkelund Y, Jacobsen S, Arunachalam K, Maccarini P, Stauffer PR. Flow patterns and heat convection in a rectangular water bolus for use in superficial hyperthermia. Physics in medicine and biology. 2009 Jul;54(13):3937–3953.
Journal cover image

Published In

Physics in medicine and biology

DOI

EISSN

1361-6560

ISSN

0031-9155

Publication Date

July 2009

Volume

54

Issue

13

Start / End Page

3937 / 3953

Related Subject Headings

  • Water
  • Thermal Conductivity
  • Rheology
  • Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
  • Microwaves
  • Hyperthermia, Induced
  • Hot Temperature
  • Equipment Failure Analysis
  • Equipment Design
  • Energy Transfer