title: Low-frequency RF hyperthermia: IV--A 27 MHz hybrid applicator for localized deep tumor heating.
abstract: A 27 MHz dual-device applicator of novel design, which is aimed to heat noninvasively with improved safety tumor masses at depth, is proposed. A substantially localized temperature gain is obtained by superimposing two delocalized low RF frequency and phase-coherent current distributions, which are launched to constructively interfere over a limited region emcompassing the tumor volume. An hybrid applicator (HA) has been developed, integrated one capacitive and one inductive heating device, and has been assessed on a 20 cm diameter cylindrical fat-muscle phantom. The interference pattern is characterized by a deep broad SAR maximum and by the disappearance of the central null SAR value typical of single inductive devices. An 80% SAR useful therapeutic volume (UTV) of a near-cylindrical shape of about 800 cm3 is obtained with a penetration of 6-8 cm for the phantom surface, with a noncritical axial length of approximately 21 cm. The UTV may be somehow controlled in size and penetration. These results are obtained with the tissue-like medium surrounding the UTV heated uniformly and safely to a temperature pedestal below the therapeutic temperature with about half RF power values to each of the heating devices.
authors.affiliation: Medical Physics Laboratory, University of Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Franconi
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Raganella
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Tiberio
mesh_terms: D004867:Equipment Design; D004869:Equipment Safety; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006979:Hyperthermia, Induced / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008961:Models, Structural; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*