Biomedical subjects

G M Van Leeuwen

Publications and source records attributed to G M Van Leeuwen.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2001

Monitoring of deep brain temperature in infants using multi-frequency microwave radiometry and thermal modelling.

In this study we present a design for a multi-frequency microwave radiometer aimed at prolonged monitoring of deep brain temperature in newborn infants and suitable for use during hypothermic neural rescue therapy. We identify appropriate hardware to measure brightness temperature and evaluate the accuracy of the measurements. We describe a method to estimate the tissue temperature distribution from measured brightness temperatures which uses the results of numerical simulations of the tissue temperature as well as the propagation of the microwaves in a realistic detailed three-dimensional infant head model. The temperature retrieval method is then used to evaluate how the statistical fluctuations in the measured brightness temperatures limit the confidence interval for the estimated temperature: for an 18 degrees C temperature differential between cooled surface and deep brain we found a standard error in the estimated central brain temperature of 0.75 degrees C. Evaluation of the systematic errors arising from inaccuracies in model parameters showed that realistic deviations in tissue parameters have little impact compared to uncertainty in the thickness of the bolus between the receiving antenna and the infant's head or in the skull thickness. This highlights the need to pay particular attention to these latter parameters in future practical implementation of the technique.

Body Temperature↗

PubMed2000

Temperature simulations in tissue with a realistic computer generated vessel network.

The practical use of a discrete vessel thermal model for hyperthermia treatment planning requires a number of choices with respect to the unknown part of the patient's vasculature. This work presents a study of the thermal effects of blood flow in a simple tissue geometry with a detailed artificial vessel network. The simulations presented here demonstrate that an incomplete discrete description of the detailed network results in a better prediction of the temperature distribution than is obtained using the conventional bio-heatsink equation. Therefore, efforts to obtain information on the positions of the large vessels in an individual hyperthermia patient will be rewarded with a more accurate prediction of the temperature distribution.

Arteries↗

PubMed2000

Numerical modeling of temperature distributions within the neonatal head.

Introduction of hypothermia therapy as a neuroprotection therapy after hypoxia-ischemia in newborn infants requires appraisal of cooling methods. In this numerical study thermal simulations were performed to test the hypothesis that cooling of the surface of the cranium by the application of a cooling bonnet significantly reduces deep brain temperature and produces a temperature differential between the deep brain and the body core. A realistic three-dimensional (3-D) computer model of infant head anatomy was used, derived from magnetic resonance data from a newborn infant. Temperature distributions were calculated using the Pennes heatsink model. The cooling bonnet was at a constant temperature of 10 degrees C. When modeling head cooling only, a constant body core temperature of 37 degrees C was imposed. The computed result showed no significant cooling of the deep brain regions, only the very superficial regions of the brain are cooled to temperatures of 33-34 degrees C. Poor efficacy of head cooling was still found after a considerable increase in the modeled thermal conductivities of the skin and skull, or after a decrease in perfusion. The results for the heatsink thermal model of the infant head were confirmed by comparison of results computed for a scaled down adult head, using both the heatsink description and a discrete vessel thermal model with both anatomy and vasculature obtained from MR data. The results indicate that significant reduction in brain temperature will only be achieved if the infant's core temperature is lowered.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Calculation of change in brain temperatures due to exposure to a mobile phone.

In this study we evaluated for a realistic head model the 3D temperature rise induced by a mobile phone. This was done numerically with the consecutive use of an FDTD model to predict the absorbed electromagnetic power distribution, and a thermal model describing bioheat transfer both by conduction and by blood flow. We calculated a maximum rise in brain temperature of 0.11 degrees C for an antenna with an average emitted power of 0.25 W, the maximum value in common mobile phones, and indefinite exposure. Maximum temperature rise is at the skin. The power distributions were characterized by a maximum averaged SAR over an arbitrarily shaped 10 g volume of approximately 1.6 W kg(-1). Although these power distributions are not in compliance with all proposed safety standards, temperature rises are far too small to have lasting effects. We verified our simulations by measuring the skin temperature rise experimentally. Our simulation method can be instrumental in further development of safety standards.

Body Temperature↗

PubMed1998

A flexible algorithm for construction of 3-D vessel networks for use in thermal modeling.

A new algorithm for the construction of artificial blood vessel networks is presented. The algorithm produces three-dimensional (3-D) geometrical representations of both arterial and venous networks. The key ingredient of the algorithm is a 3-D potential function defined in the tissue volume. This potential function controls the paths by which points are connected to existing vessels, thereby producing new vessel segments. The potential function has no physiological interpretation, but, by adjustment of parameters governing the potential, it is possible to produce networks that have physiologically meaningful geometrical properties. If desired, the veins can be generated counter current to the arteries. Furthermore, the potential function allows fashioning of the networks to the presence of bone or air cavities. The resulting networks can be used for thermal simulations of hyperthermia treatment.

Algorithms↗

PubMed1997

Accuracy of geometrical modelling of heat transfer from tissue to blood vessels.

We have developed a thermal model in which blood vessels are described as geometrical objects, 3D curves with associated diameters. Here the behaviour of the model is examined for low resolutions compared with the vessel diameter and for strongly curved vessels. The tests include a single straight vessel and vessels describing the path of a helix embedded in square tissue blocks. The tests show the excellent behaviour of our discrete vessel implementation.

Blood Vessels↗

PubMed1997

Tests of the geometrical description of blood vessels in a thermal model using counter-current geometries.

We have developed a thermal model, for use in hyperthermia treatment planning, in which blood vessels are described as geometrical objects; 3D curves with associated diameters. For the calculation of the heat exchange with the tissue an analytic result is used. To arrive at this result some assumptions were made. One of these assumptions is a cylindrically symmetric temperature distribution. In this paper the behaviour of the model is examined for counter-current vessel geometries for which this assumption is not valid. Counter-current vessel pairs intersecting a circular tissue slice are tested. For these 2D geometries vessel spacing, tissue radius and resolution are varied, as well as the position of the vessel pair with respect to the discretized tissue grid. The simulation results are evaluated by comparison of the different heat flow rates with analytical predictions. The tests show that for a fixed vessel configuration the accuracy is not a simple decreasing function of the voxel dimensions, but is also sensitive to the position of the configuration with respect to the discretized tissue grid.

Blood Vessels↗