A constrained optimization approach to the control of a phased array radiofrequency hyperthermia system

Hyperthermia is an antitumoral therapeutic treatment used together with other oncological preparations to provoke regressions in tumours. It consists of selective heating of tumours to temperatures of 43–45°C. For a proper hyperthermic treatment, it is necessary to ensure high and uniform temperatures in the neoplastic tissue and to safeguard all tissues and organs surrounding the tumour. In this paper the optimization of hyperthermic treatment will be considered when the heating equipment is a phased array radiofrequency hyperthermic system. A constrained optimization approach will be applied and the resulting nonlinear optimization problem will be solved by the algorithm G.O.AL.