Disign and Thermal Distribution of Intra-hyperthermia Microwave Antennas for Utero-cervical Applicators

Chu, Sung Sil; Moon, Sun Rock

Abstract

Intracavitary brachytherapy combined hypertermin for utero-cervical cancer seems to be a promising method for salvage treatments in persistent tumors and inoperable or previously irradiated cervical recurrences. In order to heat the vaginal apex and uterus, powerfull conical antennas which are suitable for afterloading cervical applicator have been designed for use in conjuction with intracavitary radition therapy. The antennas were constructed with conical conductive material to feed line and the effective length were designed proportional to microwave length, Power deposition profiles of 2450 MHz of conical antennas were studied in both phantom models and muscle tissue and compared to those of commonly used dipole antenna. Improvement of the heating pattern was found in both phantom and muscle tissue. The heating pattern produced by the conical antenna resembles an ellipsoid and then the temperature distribution in depth was extended to 2~3cm from the effective antenna axis.