Optimering av kylanordning för behandling med hypertermi

Abstract

An optimization algorithm for a cooling system, created for cancer treatment with hyperthermia was developed. An optimization problem restricted by a partial differential equation — the time independent heat equation -u = f — was formulated over the variables describing the geometry of two cooling channels. The heat equation was solved in a domain that represents part of the hyperthermia applicator. The objective functional to minimize is the average temperature of the patients skin, R 􀀀1 u dS where 􀀀1 is the part of that represents the patients skin. This algorithm was implemented with a gradient projection method and a finite difference solver. The algorithm was also verified, both numerically and experimentally with good results. The results demonstrate a functioning optimization algorithm, but with limitations. With the simplifications made we found a method to optimize cooling channels for an improved cooling. However, the algorithm needs to be further developed to better reflect reality and possible treatment cases should be investigated. With a fully functioning optimization algorithm without limitations, hyperthermia treatment can be used with reduced risk for burns.