Feasibility of microwave radar system for proton emission therapy control.
Abstract
Non-invasive medical procedures are desired in modern medicine because of advantages they provide in patient safety and comfort. A cutting edge, non-invasive medical procedure implemented specifically for cancer treatment is proton therapy. However, to safely implement this procedure on the thorax or abdomen, it is important to monitor lung and heart motion, as these organs displace local tissues. Conventional methods used for measurement of a patient's vital signs become problematic because metal wires or leads of these systems interfere with the proton beam. Metal leads and wires deflect the proton beam, become radioactive as they are bombarded with radiation, and become entangled with other equipment during the procedure. This thesis documents research conducted on the feasibility of a non-intrusive microwave radar system, used to monitor patient's chest displacement, due to lung and heart motion. The feasibility of constructing a stand-alone prototype is also investigated.