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Electromagnetic phased arrays for regional hyperthermia -- optimal frequency and antenna arrangement
(2000)
In this paper we investigate the effects of the three-dimensional arrangement of antennas and frequency on temperature distributions that can be achieved in regional hyperthermia using an electromagnetic phased array. We compare the results of power-based and temperature-based optimization. Thus we are able to explain the discrepancies between previous studies favouring more antenna rings on the one hand and more antennas per ring on the other hand. We analyze the sensitivity of the results with respect to changes in amplitudes and phases as well as patient position. This analysis can be used for different purposes. First, it provides additional criteria for selecting the optimal frequency. Second, it can be used for specifying the required phase and amplitude accuracy for a real phased array system. Furthermore, it may serve as a basis for technological developments in order to reduce both types of sensitivities described above.
Electromagnetic Phased Arrays for Regional Hyperthermia - Optimal Frequency and Antenna Arrangement
(2000)
Our focus is on Maxwell's equations in the low frequency range; two specific applications we aim at are time-stepping schemes for eddy current computations and the stationary double-curl equation for time-harmonic fields. We assume that the computational domain is discretized by triangles or tetrahedrons; for the finite element approximation we choose N\'{e}d\'{e}lec's $H(curl)$-conforming edge elements of the lowest order. For the solution of the arising linear equation systems we devise an algebraic multigrid preconditioner based on a spatial component splitting of the field. Mesh coarsening takes place in an auxiliary subspace, which is constructed with the aid of a nodal vector basis. Within this subspace coarse grids are created by exploiting the matrix graphs. Additionally, we have to cope with the kernel of the $curl$-operator, which comprises a considerable part of the spectral modes on the grid. Fortunately, the kernel modes are accessible via a discrete Helmholtz decomposition of the fields; they are smoothed by additional algebraic multigrid cycles. Numerical experiments are included in order to assess the efficacy of the proposed algorithms.
We present an algebraic multigrid preconditioner which uses only the graphs of system matrices. Some elementary coarsening rules are stated, from which an advancing front algorithm for the selection of coarse grid nodes is derived. This technique can be applied to linear Lagrange-type finite element discretizations; for higher-order elements an extension of the multigrid algorithm is provided. Both two- and three-dimensional second order elliptic problems can be handled. Numerical experiments show that the resulting convergence acceleration is comparable to classical geometric multigrid.
Hyperthermia Treatment Planning in Clinical Cancer Therapy: Modelling, Simulation and Visualization
(1997)
\noindent The speaker and his co-workers in Scientific Computing and Visualization have established a close cooperation with medical doctors at the Rudolf--Virchow--Klinikum of the Humboldt University in Berlin on the topic of regional hyperthermia. In order to permit a patient--specific treatment planning, a special software system ({\sf\small HyperPlan}) has been developed. \noindent A mathematical model of the clinical system ({\it radio frequency applicator with 8 antennas, water bolus, individual patient body}) involves Maxwell's equations in inhomogeneous media and a so--called bio--heat transfer PDE describing the temperature distribution in the human body. The electromagnetic field and the thermal phenomena need to be computed at a speed suitable for the clinical environment. An individual geometric patient model is generated as a quite complicated tetrahedral ``coarse'' grid (several thousands of nodes). Both Maxwell's equations and the bio--heat transfer equation are solved on that 3D--grid by means of {\em adaptive} multilevel finite element methods, which automatically refine the grid where necessary in view of the required accuracy. Finally optimal antenna parameters for the applicator are determined . \noindent All steps of the planning process are supported by powerful visualization methods. Medical images, contours, grids, simulated electromagnetic fields and temperature distributions can be displayed in combination. A number of new algorithms and techniques had to be developed and implemented. Special emphasis has been put on advanced 3D interaction methods and user interface issues.
The focus of this paper is on the efficient solution of boundary value problems involving the double-- curl operator. Those arise in the computation of electromagnetic fields in various settings, for instance when solving the electric or magnetic wave equation with implicit timestepping, when tackling time--harmonic problems or in the context of eddy--current computations. Their discretization is based on on N\'ed\'elec's {\bf H(curl}; $\Omega$)--conforming edge elements on unstructured grids. In order to capture local effects and to guarantee a prescribed accuracy of the approximate solution adaptive refinement of the grid controlled by a posteriori error estimators is employed. The hierarchy of meshes created through adaptive refinement forms the foundation for the fast iterative solution of the resulting linear systems by a multigrid method. The guiding principle underlying the design of both the error estimators and the multigrid method is the separate treatment of the kernel of the curl--operator and its orthogonal complement. Only on the latter we have proper ellipticity of the problem. Yet, exploiting the existence of computationally available discrete potentials for edge element spaces, we can switch to an elliptic problem in potential space to deal with nullspace of curl. Thus both cases become amenable to strategies of error estimation and multigrid solution developed for second order elliptic problems. The efficacy of the approach is confirmed by numerical experiments which cover several model problems and an application to waveguide simulation.