915 MHz microwave interstitial hyperthermia. Part II: Array of phase-monitored antennas

In order to heat the whole volume of a tumour by microwave interstitial hypertheimia it is necessary to use an antenna array. The antenna modelization and the numerical solution of the bidimensional bioheat transfer equation allow determination of temperature evolution during a heating session. The calculations are taken for four antennas fed in phase and the theory is then proven by experiments on gel and on patients. Results are presented on cross-section heating patterns and their time evolution. Temperature distribution is calculated when feeding one antenna by a feeding current out of phase with the other currents. The phase difference value is optimized and it is then demonstrated that the heated volume is increased by successively feeding each antenna with an out-of-phase current. The time taken to feed each antenna one after the other is optimized.