A microwave heating system for improving temperature uniformity in heated tissue.

A microwave heating system, designed to improve temperature uniformity in heated tissue, is described. The system employs parallel-opposed waveguide applicators, operating in the TE10 mode at 2450 MHz with the tissue to be heated (i.e. mouse intestine) immersed in a liquid which is both biologically compatible with and dielectrically similar to the tissue. The liquid improves the microwave coupling and avoids shape and size dependent absorption characteristics of the irregularly shaped tissue. Also, by maintaining this liquid at a suitable temperature with respect to that required in the tissue, the thermal losses and hence temperature gradients in the tissue are reduced compared with heating in hot liquid alone.