A numerical study on heat transfer in tissues during hyperthermia

Abstract

A mathematical model describing the process of heat transfer in tissues during high temperature thermal therapy by electromagnetic radiation of organs in human body for different coordinate systems and under different boundary conditions is proposed. The heat transfer in tissues is examined using the modified Pennes' bioheat transfer equation. The boundary value problem governing this process has been solved by Galerkin's method using the Bernstein polynomial as a basis function. The system of ordinary differential equations in an unknown time variable, thus obtained, is solved by the variational iteration method. The whole analysis is presented in a dimensionless form. The dimensionless time to achieve the hyperthermia position is calculated. The effects of variability of Pf, Pm, Pr, Ki and Bi on dimensionless tissue temperature during steady state are shown graphically. It has been observed that during thermal therapy, probe shape, boundary conditions and internal heat source should not be the same and must be changed from organ to organ in the human body. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd.