Abstract: An apparatus for providing hyperthermia treatment for enhancing cancer therapy includes an applicator body and a plurality of antennas operatively associated with the applicator body. The applicator body has a concave profile extending from an aperture and defines an open cavity for receiving RF standing waves. The antennas are arrayed for transmitting RF standing waves at respective selected amplitudes and relative phases into the cavity and generally toward a tumor-containing tissue disposed in operative alignment with the antennas. In use, the tissue such as a breast or chest wall is immersed in the cavity or supported on a pillow mounted to the cavity. The cavity contains a fluid such as deionized water through which the RF energy is transmitted to heat the tissue. The hyperthermia treatment can be used to enhance the effects of a cancer-related therapy such as radiotherapy or chemotherapy.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing hyperthermia treatment for enhancing cancer therapy includes an applicator body and a plurality of antennas operatively associated with the applicator body. The applicator body has a concave profile extending from an aperture and defines an open cavity for receiving RF standing waves. The antennas are arrayed for transmitting RF standing waves at respective selected amplitudes and relative phases into the cavity and generally toward a tumor-containing tissue disposed in operative alignment with the antennas. In use, the tissue such as a breast or chest wall is immersed in the cavity or supported on a pillow mounted to the cavity. The cavity contains a fluid such as deionized water through which the RF energy is transmitted to heat the tissue. The hyperthermia treatment can be used to enhance the effects of a cancer-related therapy such as radiotherapy or chemotherapy.

Abstract: A thermometry system utilizes the thermally sensitive time dependent emission properties of luminescent materials. In one embodiment the system includes a probe constructed with an optic fiber bundle for conducting light both toward and away from the temperature sensitive luminescent element located at one end of the optic fiber bundle, a source for transient and/or modulated excitation of the temperature sensitive element, and a light responsive detection element located at the output end of the optic fiber bundle for detecting the transient and/or modulated light emissions by the luminescent temperature sensitive element. The emission signal received by the light responsive detector can be analyzed in a well defined manner to determine the temperature of the luminescent element and of any materials in thermal equilibrium with the luminescent material.

Abstract: A temperature probe measures temperature changes within biological material while the tissue is being irradiated with microwaves. In order to measure tissue temperatures accurately a probe must be designed to function in a microwave field while causing minimum perturbation to the microwave field. This generally requires a probe being constructed of dielectric (non-metallic) material which utilizes physical phenomena which are thermally dependent yet unaffected by electromagnetic fields at the field strength and frequencies of interest. In one embodiment the structure of the probe basically includes an optical fiber bundle for conducting light both toward and away from a temperature sensitive luminescent element located at one end of the optical fiber bundle, the source for exciting the temperature sensitive element and a light responsive detection element located at the output end of the optical fiber bundle for detecting light emitted from the temperature sensitive element which is temperature dependent.

Abstract: A temperature probe measures temperature changes within biological material while the tissue is being irradiated with microwaves. In order to measure tissue temperatures accurately a probe must be designed to function in a microwave field while causing minimum perturbation to the microwave field. This generally requires a probe being constructed of dielectric (non-metallic) material which utilizes physical phenomena which are thermally dependent yet unaffected by electromagnetic fields at the field strength and frequencies of interest. In one embodiment the structure of the probe basically includes an optical fiber bundle for conducting light both toward and away from a temperature sensitive luminescent element located at one end of the optical fiber bundle, the source for exciting the temperature sensitive element and a light responsive detection element located at the output end of the optical fiber bundle for detecting light emitted from the temperature sensitive element which is temperature dependent.