Patch Antenna for Microwave Ablation: Numerical Design and Ex Vivo Experimental Validation

Current microwave ablation applicators rely on invasive needlelike antennas, which must be inserted into tissue to deliver effective heating. This study presents a compact, non-invasive patch antenna for microwave ablation at 2.45 GHz, designed for surface placement on biological tissue. Through an iterative design process, the antenna parameters were refined using numerical simulations that incorporate temperature-dependent dielectric and thermal properties to achieve ablation depths greater than 10 mm. Temperature increases during ablation were validated experimentally for power levels of 20 W and 40 W over 300 s. The results demonstrate the feasibility of a non-invasive alternative for microwave ablation, with potential implications for clinical applications where surface ablation is needed. Simulations accurately predict temperature changes during experimental ablations with a maximum percent error of 3 % and confirm that ablation depths exceeding 10 mm are achieved.