Field analysis of a tape helix with embedded bio-media for microwave hyperthermia

A general field theory has been developed for the EM wave propagation on a tape helix with embedded bone, muscle, fat and skin co-axial biological layers in a multilayered dielectric environment. The electric and magnetic fields in every biological/dielectric layer is formulated in terms of complex modified Bessel functions and complex exponentials, i.e. in terms of complex radial and axial propagation constants for the azimuthally symmetric and higher order spatial harmonics. A complete dispersion relation is derived by substituting the field expressions into as many boundary conditions as there are unknown constants. The dispersion relation is numerically solved for the complex axial propagation constant and hence for the phase velocity and depth of penetration for n = 0 and 1 modes propagating along three dielectric loaded tape helices of different dimensions at several spot frequencies within the range of 300 MHz to 3.00 GHz. The results for variations in normalized phase velocity and depth of penetration with frequency for these modes separately and for the combined mode are presented. The patterns of specific absorption rate (SAR) across the cross-section of the dielectric loaded helices are also computed and presented. The variations with frequency, and cross-sectional dimension of the helix of the normalized phase velocity, axial depth and SAR across the cross-section of each of the helices are discussed for the modes considered. The theoretical results for the propagation constant obtained by using a tape helix model for the azimuthally symmetric mode propagating along a wire helix loaded with a phantom muscle sample of known dielectric constant are compared with experimental results and with those obtained theoretically employing a sheath helix model at 2.45 and 2.55 GHz. The use of a helix for human limb hyperthermia is also discussed.