Patent · US Expired

Hyperthermia treatment method and apparatus

US4815479A · kind A · utility

66Cited by
4References
12Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateAug 13, 1986
Grant dateMar 28, 1989
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 13, 2006

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61N5/02
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A system and associated method that combines microwave detection (radiometry) with microwave heating (hyperthermia) for the treatment of cancer with a microwave radiometric detector is operable during a receive mode of operation to establish signal path characteristics and a microwave transmitter is operable during a transmit mode of operation to carry out the hyperthermia treatment. There is provided an antenna array of a plurality antennae disposed over the tumor site. These antennae are coupled to separate signal channels. During the receive mode of operation the separate channel signals are combined for coupling to the microwave radiometric detector to enable adjustment of the phase of the separate antenna signals so as to maximize the signal detected at the microwave radiometric detector. Thereafter, during the transmit mode of operation the microwave transmitter couples signals to the signal channels to provide beam focusing of the microwave energy on to the tumor site.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.