Numerical modeling of continuous hybrid heating of cryo-preserved tissue

This study developed a numerical simulation of a hybrid microwave heating p rocess that may be used to produce high heating rates for warming cryo-pres erved biological tissue. A finite difference time domain (FDTD) technique w as used to model the electric field distribution within a single-mode micro wave cavity. Field strength data allowed power deposition to be computed an d the control volume method was used to solve the energy equation. Temperat ure dependence of dielectric properties was simulated through an iterative process. As an illustrative example of the numerical model, a hybrid heatin g process was simulated. This simulation illustrated that hybrid heating sc hemes can be used to produce high rates of heating with increased uniformit y of the temperature distribution and reduced incidences of local hot spots . (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.