Simulation of the thermal wave propagation in biological tissues by the dual reciprocity boundary element method

Abstract

The dual reciprocity boundary element method (DRBEM) is extended to simulate the thermal wave propagation in biological tissues. A deep insight into the thermal wave behaviors, like reflection, decay, phase jumping, superposition and resolution etc. in a two-dimensional zone under certain boundary conditions is obtained. Certain conditions for applying the effects of thermal waves to address some complicated biothermal problems as well as to identify the thermal states of living tissues are thus detailed. Due to DRBEM's unique advantages, such as not being confined by the complex shape of biological bodies and thus not needing to discretize the inner domain, can save vast CPU time and easily deal with complex bioheat models. Therefore, DRBEM may possibly become an important method for predicting and controlling the temperature evolution in biological bodies under hyperthermia or hypothermia.