Using liquid dielectrics to obtain spatial thermal distributions.
A liquid dielectric has been used to determine thermal distributions for several clinically useful waveguide applicators as used in microwave hyperthermia. The system uses a saline/ethanol filled compartment placed within a temperature controlled water bath set to 37.5 degrees C. Thermal distributions are taken with a thermistor probe placed perpendicular to the electric field. In this way longitudinal and transverse cross sections of the heat deposition due to microwave interaction with the liquid dielectric can be elicited. A similar arrangement was carried out using phantom material and an infrared camera as described by Guy. Comparison of the central axis data and cross-sectional thermal distribution of these two systems shows good agreement.
D003972:Diathermy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D013817:Thermography; D013821:Thermometers