INVESTIGATION OF A SLOTTED COAXIAL ANTENNA FOR USE IN HYPERTHERMIA TREATMENT OF CANCER.
The goal of the interstitial microwave antenna array hyperthermia (IMAAH) system is to heat the entire tumor volume to a therapeutic temperature without overheating the surrounding normal tissue. This requires the ability to control the energy deposition pattern along the length of each antenna, as well as that between the antennas. The IMAAH system currently uses microwave antennas made from a flexible coaxial cable. For the 915 MHz system currently used, the sections of the antenna are about 3. 0-cm long, and effective heating occurs over a four to six cm length located about the junction. This sets the upper limit on the tumor size which may be effectively heated by the IMAAH system at this frequency. Increasing the length of effective heating along the axis of the antenna would allow larger tumors to be treated. In addition, the ability to control the heating pattern would allow more irregular-shaped tumors to be effectively treated.
