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MICROWAVE DIATHERMY
Sagar Naik,
PT
1
Microwave Diathermy (Notes)
Sagar Naik,
PT
The microwave frequencies allotted for medical use are as follows:
Frequency(MHz)Wavelength(cm)
2450 12.245915 32.79433.9 69.14
Microwave diathermy is irradiation of the tissues with radiation in the shorter wireless part of the electromagnetic spectrum (Hertzian rays)
, i.e., with awavelength between infrared and short wave diathermic radiation.
The group of electromagnetic radiations known as microwaves occupies that part of theelectromagnetic spectrum extending from wavelength 1 m (frequency 300 MHz) to 1 mm (frequency 300 GHz).
Microwave radiation behaves like other electromagnetic radiation, i.e.,they are reflected and refracted at interfaces depending on the nature of the materials. Italso exhibits rectilinear propagation, a necessary feature for its use as radar. They arealso used in telecommunications and in tracking ships, aircrafts, rockets, and satellitesas radar.
Thus, microwaves can be directed to, and will penetrate, the tissues while being strongly absorbed by water. This makes it an effective method of tissue heating,especially muscles.
Production of Microwaves:
High-frequency oscillating currents will produce electromagnetic radiations of radio frequencies, which can be radiated from suitable antennae as radio and television transmissions.
At higher frequencies it becomes impossible for the electrons in the electric circuit to oscillate sufficiently
rapidly
because of the time needed for them topass through a valve or transistor.
For the higher frequencies of microwave at relatively high power a device calleda
magnetron is used which generates oscillating currents directly from high-velocity electron motion
.
MICROWAVE DIATHERMY
Sagar Naik,
PT
2
These currents are collected and fed along a coaxial cable to the antenna oremitter, which radiates microwaves.
The dimensions of the coaxial cable are arranged to provide a suitable capacitance
, so that microwaves of a given frequency are conveyed to the emitterwith maximum efficiency.
The antenna, which is simply a suitable, sized and shaped piece of wire, ismounted in front of a metal reflector so that a beam of microwaves is emitted inone direction.
Varying the power supplied to the magnetron can control the output of microwave energy.
Machines have an intensity control and the output is indicated on a meter, which,of course, gives no reliable indication of the heating of the tissues.
The frequency of the microwaves produced depends on the structure of the magnetron and is therefore fixed.
There will also be a means of switching the mains power on and off and suitableindicator lights. On some machines a delay switch may be fitted to allow time forthe magnetron to reach its proper working temperature. A standby switch can beprovided. Thus successive treatments may be given or adjustment of the emittermade without having to switch off the magnetron and wait for it to warm upagain.
The emitter, also called a director or applicator, gives out a beam of microwaves which diverges somewhat because it is technically difficult to produce a completely uniform beam.
The effect of this divergence is to reduce the intensity of radiations considerably with distance
(inverse square law)
.
Microwave therapy can be in either continuous or pulsed mode.
[
Inverse Square Law:
The intensity of radiation falling on unit surface areaof the body is inversely proportional to the square of the distance of thesource of energy from the surface.]
Physiological Effects of Microwaves on the Tissues:
When the electromagnetic energy of microwave radiation is absorbed in the tissues it provokes ionic movement, rotation of dipoles and electron orbit distortion, which leads to heating. The amount of heating will be proportional to the amount of radiation.
Since microwaves are being applied from outside thetissues and ‘beamed in’ and are strongly absorbed by water it would be expected thatheating would be greatest at the surface and diminish exponentially with depth.
MICROWAVE DIATHERMY
Sagar Naik,
PT
3
The Pattern of Microwave Absorption in the Tissues:
When any radiation meets the surface of a different medium it may either bereflected or penetrate. Those radiations that do penetrate will only have aneffect if they are absorbed (Grotthus Law); thus they will be ineffective if theypass right through.
In the case of microwaves there is considerable reflection at the air-skin boundary and at skin-fat and fat-muscle boundaries in the tissues.
The percentage of microwave radiation (at 2450 MHz) reflected varies withthickness of fat and skin from 50% to 75%. At the other frequencies intherapeutic use some 60% – 70% of the energy is reflected but it is much lessaffected by variations in skin tissue thickness.
Microwaves at 2450 MHz
Fat Muscle Bone100Rate of heating (%)
5000 1 2 3 4 5 6Depth in tissues (mm)
The relationship between the amount of radiation absorbed and that, which penetrates, is as an exponential relationship in which the half-value depth for microwave is often given as 3 cm (penetration depth 4.3 cm).
Thissmooth change would only be true if the tissues were homogeneous, whichthey are definitely not.
This pattern occurs because absorption of microwaves is much lower in fat(half-value about 3.5 cm) and higher in the vascular muscle tissue (half-value about 0.7 cm).
There is also reflection from the fat-muscle and fat-bone interfaces causing standing waves, which lead to ‘peaks’ in the middle of each tissue layer.
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