Multi-applicator hyperthermia system description using scattering parameters.

Abstract

Hyperthermia systems using electromagnetic phased arrays have often been investigated from a SAR distribution point of view. One of the problems in these systems is that the achieved SAR distribution is different from the intended one because of changes in the generator signals due to mutual coupling between applications. The use of circuit theory and S-parameters in the description of an N-applicator phased array system is introduced in this paper, and a compact matrix equation giving excitation as a function of generator signals is derived. Measurement of the S-parameters is discussed using a phased array deep heating system (Danish Hyperthermia Foundation (DHF)) as an example. In a phantom experiment a significant improvement in the SAR distribution is demonstrated when the developed method is applied.