Mapping of the near-field pattern in simulated biological tissues

A simple system for mapping the electric-field pattern created in simulated biological tissue by a microwave applicator is described. The system employs a short probe sensitive to the E-field in one direction, which is driven along a sekcted path by the X-scan of an X-Y recorder while the intensity of the field measured by a diode detector is recorded simultaneously along the Y-coordinate of the recorder. Liquid dielectrics are used to simulate electric properties of the biological tissues. The system provides a viable complementary or alternative technique to the thermographic-camera method in evaluating the performance of microwave applicators for local hyperthermia.