Title: Finite element thermal modelling of the human body under hyperthermia treatment for cancer

Authors: Indira Chatterjee, Roy E. Adams

Addresses: Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557, USA. ' Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 841 12, USA

Abstract: A two-dimensional finite element model of the prostrate region of the human body has been generated using the automatic mesh generation capabilities of the software package ANSYS. The tissue types included are skin, fat, muscle, bone, intestine, nerve, prostate and tumour tissue. The thermal response of the model undergoing hyperthermia treatment for cancer is obtained by solving the bioheat transfer equation using the method of finite elements. Variation of blood flow rates due to increasing temperatures during hyperthermia are included. Transient temperature profiles as well as constant temperature contours are displayed using the extensive post processing and graphics capabilities of ANSYS. The results show how selective heating can be obtained in the tumour region and the effects of varying blood flow rates. The limitations of using a commercial software package for modelling the thermal behaviour of the human body are discussed.

Keywords: bioheat transfer equation; finite element analysis; FEA; human body; hyperthermia; prostate cancer; finite element method; FEM; mesh generation; ANSYS; computer software modelling; post-processing; human thermal system; blood flow rate.

DOI: 10.1504/IJCAT.1994.062519

International Journal of Computer Applications in Technology, 1994 Vol.7 No.3/4/5/6, pp.151 - 159

Published online: 09 Jun 2014 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article