Microwave Diathermy

Ditaruni Asrina Utami, dr.

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• Microwave diathermy (MWD), is a form of electromagnetic radiations
(part of electromagnetic spectrum), lying between shortwave and
infrared waves. The microwaves diathermy gives superficial heating
where energy is first absorbed at the surface of the body (skin) and
a part of it penetrate and absorbed in deep tissues.

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Introduction

 The general frequency of microwave is between 300 to

30000MHz with wave length of 10mm to 1 meter.

Frequencies and wavelength for medical used

Frequency Wavelength
(MHz) (cm)
2450 12.245
915 32.79
433.9 69.14
Europe : use all
USA : No 1 & 2

Most widely available, not most satisfactory to achieve

therapeutic muscle heating, because also used for ovens,
telecomunication, tracking, radar.
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Characteristics :
Behaves like other electromagnet radiation :
• Reflected and refracted at interfaces
• Absorb and penetrate to varying degrees
depend on nature of materials
• Exhibit rectilinear propagation
• Strongly absorbed by water  effective methode
of tissue heating

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 Production of Microwave Radiation

• The generator used to produce microwaves has three main

components:
• A multi-cavity magnetron valve.
• A coaxial cable to transmit the high frequency energy to an antenna.
• A director for transmitting the energy (through air) to the patient.

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• The magnetron (a diod valve) produces a high frequency alternating
current which is carried by coaxial cable to the transducer (director).
The coaxial cable transmit the energy to the director where a
radiating system comprising an antenna within a reflector is used to
direct the microwave to the patient.

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Production of microwaves
• High frequency oscilating current  electromagnetic
radiation
• Higher frequency  magnetron (generates oscilating
currents from high velocity electron motion)  collected
& fed along coaxial cable (with certain capacitance) 
antenna/emitter  metal reflector

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Output :
• Controlled by varying power supply to the magnetron.
• The frequency depends o the structure of magnetron
(fixed).
• Delay switch to reach proper working temperature.

Emitter :
• Diverges  to reduce intensity of radiation considerably
with distance.

Theraphy :
• Continous
• Pulsed mode

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 Directors Used in Microwave
Applications
• There are different shapes of directors used in microwave
applications:
• Large circular field director: the effective diameter is 200mm. The
heating pattern is more intense around the outer portion than the
centre. The power output range is up to 250 watts.

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• Small circular field director: the effective diameter is 100 mm. the
heating pattern is more intense around the outer portion than in the
center. The power output is up to 25 watts

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• Longitudinal director: the effective treatment area is 500mm by
100mm. the heating pattern tends to be more concentrated in the
center of this area. The power output is up to 250 watts

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Physiological effects of microwave in tissues

Radiation absorbed in tissues 

Provokes :
- Ionic movements
- Rotation of dipoles
- Electron orbit distortion 
Heating, amounts ~ absorbed radiation
Strongly absobed by water  greater heating at surfaces
& diminish exponentially with depth

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Microwave interaction in the tissue
Approximate half value depth of penetration is 3 cm (penetration
depth is 4.3 cm)
Much radiation is reflected from the skin
Absorbtion pattern indicates absorbtion in the skin, fat, muscle
(especially in interfaces) and little in bone
Refraction in the tissues could influence degree and depth of
absorbtion

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Widely used 2450MHz has a less satisfactory absorbtion
pattern for therapeutic function
The shape and size of emitter influences energy
distribution onto the tissue
Good transmission to the skin can be achieve with
contact emitter.

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 Therapeutic uses

• Effect = heating ~ pulsed shortwaves

• Uses :
– Superficial tissue heating (muscle & articular surfaces
close to the surface), not affect deeply placed
structures covered with muscle  increase
intramuscular blood flow.
• Heating pattern : irregular, vary depends on
patient condition.
• Heating limited to the surface, deeper heating
needs cooler surface (passing cool air over skin
surface  increase risk of burn.
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 Principle of application
1. Preparation of the patient
– Describe to patient  only small temperature will rise
– Check thermal sensitivity of the skin
– Microwaves googles
2. Preparation of the apparatus
– Choosing emitters ~ area
– Switch power on & given time to warm up
3. Preparation part to be treated
– Comfortable
– Exposed, should not applied through clothing, metal.

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4. Setting up
– Emitters positioned to right angels and distance.
– Distance of the beam ~ area treated
• Small area  emitter placed close to the skin (2 – 5 cm),
appropriate heating regulated
• Larger area  spacing increased to 10 – 15 cm & intensity
control advanced
5. Instruction and warning
– Warned if heating becomes uncomfortable
6. Application
– Switched on for predermined time
7. Terminations
– Switching off and remove the apparatus, examine
skin surface

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 Dosage
• Given 20 minutes  optimum time to
vascular adjustment to becomes steady
• Deeper tissue heating  need more time
to vascular adjustment  applied for 30
min
• Absorbed dose : 200 mW/cm²  spesific
absorbtion rate : 50 – 170 mW/cm²

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 Potential dangers
1. Effects of metal
– Act as shied preventing radiation
– Distort & concentrate radiation  local overheating
2. Effects of surface moisture
– Absorbs radiation  treatment stopped, moisture removed
3. Cardiac pacemaker
– Affected if directly applied to the region, small risk from
scattered radiation
4. Eyes
– Eyes absorbs microwaves  overheated
– Protect the eyes with goggles (metal mesh / thin layer of metal)
– Closing the eyes not prevent transmission of microwave

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5. The testes
– Small temperature rises  interfere spermatogenesis, direct
irradiation should be avoided
– Ovaries unlikely to be heated
6. Pregnancy
– Should not be given to pregnant uterus or patient attempting
pregnency
7. General safety with microwaves
– Save level of radiation is not exceed >1m in front / side of the emitter
& 25 cm behind emitter

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 Contraindication
• Diminish thermal sensation
• Defective arterial circulation
• Acute inflammation
• Recent haemorrhage
• Metal in the area under treatment
• Malignancy
• Implanted cardiac pacemaker
• Intrauterine devices when using a vaginal electrode
• Eyes and testes
• Pregnant uterus

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