Abstract: Heating pattern uniformity is provided in a coaxial microwave hyperthermia probe by varying the open area in the outer conductor in an axial direction such that there is a maximum open area in the axial center portion. The variations may be provided by winding an outer conductor in a helical pattern with a variable pitch or by cutting openings of axially varying size in a solid outer conductor. The invention is applicable to both flexible and rigid probes.

Abstract: An isolator for insertion in a coaxial cable between an RF generator and a device employing RF energy provides isolation against DC and low frequency (60 Hz) AC while passing the RF energy with low attenuation and a low reflection ratio. The isolator has a longitudinally extending central conductor spacedly surrounded by an inner conductor. The central conductor and inner conductor are connectable to the ends of the center conductor of the coaxial RF cable. A first outer conductor of the isolator spacedly surrounds the inner conductor and a second outer conductor spacedly surrounds the first outer conductor. Insulators are provided between the central and inner conductors, between the inner conductor and the first outer conductor and between the two outer conductors. The outer conductors of the isolator are connectable to the sheath of the coaxial RF cable.

Abstract: A system for controlling a hyperthermia treatment device having energy applicators for heating a portion of a patient's body to attain a predetermined temperature protocol for therapeutic treatment of patient tumors. The system monitors energy application and displays a video presentation of correlative temperature data to an operator who responds by adjusting the energy application to achieve the desired treatment protocol. The system further accumulates a hyperthermia treatment data base, and predetermined temperature protocols for the patient are prepared by comparison with data base protocols for similar tumor conditions. Various figures of merit are also determined and stored in the data base and ongoing treatments are comparerd with the data base to characterize the most effective treatment protocol.