ABSTRACT

Electromagnetic eld-based thermal therapies have demonstrated the capability to selectively deposit large amounts of energy in tissue, resulting in localized temperature increases capable of hyperthermia and thermoablation. However, current clinical approaches have met with considerable limitations. Microwaves, radiofrequency (RF) waves, and lasers exhibit signicant absorption at interfaces with diering electrical properties (Wust et al. 1991a). is results in attenuation at surfaces, issues with focusing energy, and unintended hot spots, leading to dif-culty in treating deep-seated tumors. In addition, the geometry of the treated region is limited by the shape of the probe or array (VanSonnenberg, McMullen, and Solbiati 2005), requiring overtreatment of the surrounding areas or skill-and time-intensive repositioning to ensure complete treatment of complex tumors.