Metamaterial based AMC backed archimedean spiral antenna for in-vitro microwave hyperthermia of skin cancer

ABSTRACT

This research article presents a study that uses microwave frequencies (ISM band) for treatment of skin cancer by heating the malignant cells on skin with a Microwave Hyperthermia (MWHT) applicator. The proposed MWHT applicator has been designed as an Archimedean Spiral Microstrip Patch Antenna (AMSPA) of dimensions 38 × 38 × 1.64 mm3 backed with a Meshed-shaped AMC (48 × 48 × 3.27mm3) reflector, placed at an optimized distance of 12 mm from AMSPA. The proposed AMSPA is designed as a single spiral resonator and fabricated on FR-4 substrate, excited using a feed network. The proposed AMSPA shows a resonance at 2.5 GHz with an impedance BW of 260 MHz (2.37–2.63 GHz) and peak gain of 3.20 dB with a bidirectional radiation pattern. An AMC is placed at its backside that can be exploited as a phase-compensation surface to attain an in-phase profile for directive emission and improve the BW upto 470 MHz, peak gain to 6.8 dB and also enhance the front-to-back ratio of the radiating antenna with radiation efficiency of 80%. The simulated environment for hyperthermia analysis is set up using penne’s Bio-Heat equations to deliver microwave energy to the bio-mimic, that leads to a rise in temperature over the designed bio-mimic in CST MWS in the range of 41–45°C. The validation of MWHT radiation properties and temperature rise inside the malignancy of phantom is carried out by fabricating the bio-mimic using gelatine, vegetable oils and glycerol. This set up enhances the penetration-depth of EM waves inside the tri-layered phantom up-to 29.5 mm with Effective Field Surface of 36 × 36 mm² and SAR of 8 W/Kg.

Plain Language Summery

This article discusses the design and development of a device designed to treat skin cancer, specifically melanoma. This device is called a Microwave Hyperthermia (MWHT) applicator. The applicator sends out focused waves of microwave energy but at a specific frequency of ISM band. These waves heat up a model of human skin, simulating what would happen if this is used on a real person with cancer. The goal is to heat the cancer to around 45°C, which can help treat it. The special thing about this applicator is that it’s designed to be very compact and have good gain. It heats up the cancer without causing harm to the healthy tissues nearby. The researchers tested it extensively and found that it works well. It has a wide range of effectiveness for different tumor sizes and depths within the skin. To make sure it is safe and accurate, a model of a human forearm using materials like gelatin and water has been prepared. Then used the applicator on this model and measured the temperature increase. After about 40 minutes of exposure, there is a temperature rise of about 45 degrees Celsius. Thus this article is about a device that uses special waves to heat up and treat skin cancer. It’s designed to be safe and effective, and the tests show it works on a model of human skin. This could be a useful tool for treating skin cancer in the future.

KEYWORDS:

• Archimedean Spiral Microstrip Patch Antenna (AMSPA)
• Metamaterial reflector
• skin cancer
• Microwave Hyperthermia (MWHT)
• Penetration depth (PD)
• Specific Absorption Rate (SAR)
• Temperature Distribution (TD)
• Electric Field Distribution (EFD)

Acknowledgments

We thank the Antenna research and Laboratory of Thapar institute of engineering and Technology (TIET), India for their support and co-operation in the testing of the applicator.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Correction Statement

This article has been corrected with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.