Intracavitary Ultrasound Hyperthermia Applicators for Gynecological Cancer

For evaluating the feasibility of treating recurrent lesions in the vaginal cuff and cervix by hyperthermia, ultrasound applicators were designed, constructed, and characterized. For the treatment A half-cylindrical transducer Cd=1cm, length=lcm) and cylindrical transducer (d=2.5cm, length= 1.5cm) were used to construct ovoid type and cylindrical applicators. For the ovoid type applicator, each element was operated at 1.5MHz and characterized by measuring transducer efficiency and acoustic power distribution. Thermocouple probes were used to measure the temperature rise in phantom. The element sizes used in this study were selected to be comparable for high dose rate brachytherapy colpostat applicator. Each element was powered separately to achieve a desired temperature pattern in a target. The acoustic output power as a function of applied electric power of the element 1 and 2 was linear over this 1 to 40 W range and efficiencies were 32.2${\pm}$3.4% and 46.2${\pm}$0.8%, respectively. The temperature measurements in phantom showed that 6$^{\circ}C$ temperature rise was achieved at 2 cm from the applicator surface. As a conclusion, the ability of the ultrasound colpostat applicator to be used for hyperthermia was demonstrated by measuring acoustic output power, ultrasound field distribution, and temperature rise in phantom. Based on the characteristics of this applicator, it has the potential to be useful for inducing hyperthermnia to the vaginal cuff in clinic.