A Minimally Invasive Microwave Interstial Applicator with an Integrated Temperature Sensor

In the field of microwave hyperthermia, the use of minimally invasive applicators is recognized as a very promising technique for the treatment of small tumours because a very thin applicator can be easily introduced inside the body and precisely localized using the most advanced 3D imaging techniques and surgical robots. Minimally invasive hyperthermic applicators (MIHA) have been successfully employed for the treatment of bladder and brain tumours but the accurate temperature monitoring of the heated tissue volume still remains an open problem. In this paper we propose a new minimally invasive applicator, integrating a metallic wired temperature sensor. The proposed MIHA consists of a asymmetric isolated dipole operating at 2.45 GHz. The very slim shape of the radiating element allows to insert it easily into the lesion through a soft plastic tube (catheter) while a temperature sensor, properly embedded in the applicator body, measures the tissue temperature at the interface with the catheter surface.