Development of a hybrid microwave-optical deep muscle warming monitor

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

Elevating the temperature in tissue leads to vasodilation and therefore an increase in blood flow to reduce the excessive heat in the region, a physiological mechanism known as thermoregulation. These thermal responses have been used in various clinical applications to monitor the conditions of the spinal cord injury, vascular responses and free flap reconstruction. Currently blood flow measurements such as laser doppler flowmetry (LDF) are restricted to the skin, a rather superficial layer. To allow the investigation into deeper tissue such as the muscle, a new hybrid microwave-optical system has been developed. The deep warming is provided by a novel microwave applicator, which has a microstrip patch design operating at 2.45 GHz with a superstrate interface layer to improve the coupling of electromagnetic (EM) waves into the skin. Its design is based on computer simulations of specific absorption rate (SAR) and thermal distribution of the EM waves in a biological medium. The simulation results show that the applicator is capable of elevating the muscle temperature by 3-4 °C. The thermal response is measured by an integrated optical probe which measures tissue oxygenation changes in deep tissue using the near infrared spectroscopy technique. The hybrid microwave-optical system has been built and tested on human calves in vivo. In the talk, we will present the development of this new type of non-invasive microwave applicator for deep tissue warming.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationConference Proceedings - 2014 IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Workshop Series on
Subtitle of host publicationRF and Wireless Technologies for Biomedical and Healthcare Applications, IMWS-Bio 2014
ISBN (Electronic)9781479954476
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 5 Feb 2015
Externally publishedYes
Event2014 IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Workshop Series on RF and Wireless Technologies for Biomedical and Healthcare Applications, IMWS-Bio 2014 - London, United Kingdom
Duration: 8 Dec 201410 Dec 2014

Publication series

NameConference Proceedings - 2014 IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Workshop Series on: RF and Wireless Technologies for Biomedical and Healthcare Applications, IMWS-Bio 2014

Conference

Conference2014 IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Workshop Series on RF and Wireless Technologies for Biomedical and Healthcare Applications, IMWS-Bio 2014
Country/TerritoryUnited Kingdom
CityLondon
Period8/12/1410/12/14

Keywords

  • Integrated Patch Antennas
  • SAR
  • superstrate hyperthermia
  • thermal distribution

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