Abstract
Radio Frequency-Localized Current Field (RF-LCF) technique of interstitial hyperthermia delivery is able to provide volumetric control of power deposition in tissue when segmented electrodes are used. However, in the present form this technique is not practical because it requires two separate implants for the same tumor: one for hyperthermia and the other for radiotherapy delivery (the lumen of RF electrodes if filled with wires necessary to control power to each segment and cannot be used for placement of radioactive sources). A hybrid implant for RF-LCF hyperthermia delivery for RF-LCF hyperthermia delivery was developed and studied theoretically and experimentally. In this implant, each segmented electrode is surrounded by four continuous electrodes that pass through vertices of 1.5/spl times/1.5 cm/sup 2/. These continuous electrodes can be used for placement of radioactive sources. The segmented electrodes pass through the center of each square and are used for volumetric control of power deposition. Thus, the proposed technique circumvents the major deficiency of the conventional volumetrically controlled RF-LCF hyperthermia.