Metamaterial lens applicator for microwave hyperthermia of breast cancer.

Artificial left-handed metamaterial (LHM) provides a new perspective for microwave hyperthermia. Four flat LHM slab lenses can be used to form a focus-flexible applicator for breast tumour hyperthermia. By adjusting microwave sources behind the four flat LHM lenses, microwaves emitted from the sources can be focused tightly at different points in the breast tissue so that necessary heating depth in breast tissue can be achieved. Numerical simulations with a two-dimensional finite-difference time-domain method indicate that hyperthermia with the proposed four-lens applicator of moderate LHM losses could be effective in achieving desired power deposition in a heterogeneous breast model. Temperature distribution obtained by solving the bio-heat transfer equation demonstrates that temperature above 43 degrees C can be maintained in the tumour volume for specific periods of time. Flat slab LHM lenses offer a feasible alternative to traditional mechanically scanned lens applicator and electronically scanned phased-array applicators.