Radio Frequency And Microwave Effects On Biological Tissues

Focussing on engineering aspects of RF/Microwave interaction with biological tissues This book discusses the advancement in bio-electromagnetics pertaining to this important issue of electromagentic field-bio interaction vis-a-vis the emission of electromagnetic radiations from mobile phones and their biological fallout. Divided into six chapters, it discusses basic issues in Electromagnetic Field-Biointeraction, dosimetery, instrumentation, and methods of measurement of specific absorption rate, criteria and magnitude of safe exposure and measurements of field in an open (unobstructed) environment.

From engineering fundamentals to cutting-edge clinical applications This book examines the biological effects of RF/microwaves and their medical applications. Readers will discover new developments in therapeutic applications in such areas as cardiology, urology, surgery, ophthalmology, and oncology. The authors also present developing applications in such areas as cancer detection and organ imaging. Focusing on frequency ranges from 100 kHz to 10 GHz, RF/Microwave Interaction with Biological Tissues is divided into six chapters: * Fundamentals in Electromagnetics--examines penetration of RF/microwaves into biological tissues; skin effect; relaxation effects in materials and the Cole-Cole model (display); the near field of an antenna; blackbody radiation and the various associated laws; and microwave measurements. * RF/Microwave Interaction Mechanisms in Biological Materials--includes a section devoted to the fundamentals of thermodynamics and a discussion on energy and entropy. * Biological Effects--investigates the effects of radio frequency fields on the nervous system, the brain and spinal cord, the blood-brain barrier, and cells and membranes. * Thermal Therapy--includes a description of applicators and an extensive discussion on the foundation of dielectric heating and inductive heating. * EM-Wave Absorbers Protecting the Biological and Medical Environment--investigates materials for EM-wave absorbers from both a theoretical and applications perspective. Special attention is given to ferrite absorbers. * RF/Microwave Delivery Systems for Therapeutic Applications--begins with the fundamental features of major components used in RF/microwave delivery systems for therapeutic applications. New research towards the development of future measurement techniques is also presented. The book features problem sets at the end of each chapter, making it an excellent introduction for bioengineering and engineering students. Researchers, physicians, and technicians in the field will also find this an excellent reference that offers all the fundamentals, the most cutting-edge applications, and insight into future developments. An Instructor's Manual presenting detailed solutions to all the problems in the book is available from the Wiley editorial department.

From engineering fundamentals to cutting-edge clinical applications This book examines the biological effects of RF/microwaves and their medical applications. Readers will discover new developments in therapeutic applications in such areas as cardiology, urology, surgery, ophthalmology, and oncology. The authors also present developing applications in such areas as cancer detection and organ imaging. Focusing on frequency ranges from 100 kHz to 10 GHz, RF/Microwave Interaction with Biological Tissues is divided into six chapters: * Fundamentals in Electromagnetics--examines penetration of RF/microwaves into biological tissues; skin effect; relaxation effects in materials and the Cole-Cole model (display); the near field of an antenna; blackbody radiation and the various associated laws; and microwave measurements. * RF/Microwave Interaction Mechanisms in Biological Materials--includes a section devoted to the fundamentals of thermodynamics and a discussion on energy and entropy. * Biological Effects--investigates the effects of radio frequency fields on the nervous system, the brain and spinal cord, the blood-brain barrier, and cells and membranes. * Thermal Therapy--includes a description of applicators and an extensive discussion on the foundation of dielectric heating and inductive heating. * EM-Wave Absorbers Protecting the Biological and Medical Environment--investigates materials for EM-wave absorbers from both a theoretical and applications perspective. Special attention is given to ferrite absorbers. * RF/Microwave Delivery Systems for Therapeutic Applications--begins with the fundamental features of major components used in RF/microwave delivery systems for therapeutic applications. New research towards the development of future measurement techniques is also presented. The book features problem sets at the end of each chapter, making it an excellent introduction for bioengineering and engineering students. Researchers, physicians, and technicians in the field will also find this an excellent reference that offers all the fundamentals, the most cutting-edge applications, and insight into future developments. An Instructor's Manual presenting detailed solutions to all the problems in the book is available from the Wiley editorial department.

The study of electromagnetic bioeffects is multidisciplinary; it draws heavily from the disciplines of physics, engineering, mathematics, biol ogy, chemistry, medicine, and environmental health. This book is about these disciplines and how they mutually integrate in the study of electromagnetic pathophysiology. Over aperiod of years, the authors have become increasingly aware of the difficulty in locating information concerning interaction of electro magnetic energy and biological tissues. There are numerous reports and publications, but no single comprehensive source in the American literature where such information is readily accessible. Regrettably, much of the importantinformation is contained in government documents and reports, some of which are inaccessible, or spread through many diverse journals, making retrieval and analysis of the material difficult. Although this book is primarily clinically oriented, it also focuses on those biophysical, biochemical, and fundamental molecular studies and findings that provide the basis for understanding the presence or absence of pathophysiological manifestations of exposure to radiofrequency, including microwave, energies. Detailed discussion and analysis of the relevant comprehensive physics, engineering, and biophysics are con tained in Chapters 2-5. Because the treatment is multidisciplinary, wherever possible analy sis is begun with basic background information that may appear elementary to some readers but is essential to understanding for those from a different discipline. Most confusion and controversies that exist in the field today arise from individuals of one discipline not appreciating basic facts or theories from another.

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has sponsored research supporting development of personnel safety standards for exposure to Radio Frequency Radiation (RFR) for over a quarter century. NATO previously recognized that one of the most important tools used in the RFR effects research laboratory is accurate dosimetry when it supported a NATO Advanced Studies Institute (ASI) on Advances in Biological Effects and Dosimetry of Low Energy Electromagnetic Fields held in 1981, in Erice, Sicily. That meeting resulted in a NATO ASI publication; Biological Effects and Dosimetry of l Non-ionizing Radiation: Radiofrequency and Microwave Energies . The most recent NATO sponsored program on RFR was an Advanced Research Workshop (ARW) on "Developing a New Standardization Agreement (STANAG) for Radio frequency Radiation" held May 1993, at the Pratica di Mare Italian Air Force Base, Pomezia (Rome) Italy. That ARW produced an ASI proceedings, published in 1995: Radio frequency Radiation Standards, Biological Effects, Dosimetry, Epidemiology, and Public Health Policy2. The Rome ARW and the Proceedings served as a springboard to the much needed revision of the NATO Standardization Agreement (STANAG) 2345 MED "Evaluation and Control of Personnel Exposure to Radio Frequency Fields - 3 kHz to 300 GHz,,3, which was subsequently promulgated in October 1998. One of the published recommendations developed by the Rome ARW was to hold this second ARW focusing on dosimetry and measurements.

During the last 35 years, there has been considerable develop ment and increase in the number of devices that emit nonionizing radiant energies. These energies such as radiofrequency including microwaves are used in all sectors of our society for military, industrial. telecommunications, medical, and consumer applications. This increase in sources of nonionizing radiant energies has resulted in growing interest on the part of government regulatory agencies, industrial and military physicians, research workers, clinicians, and environmentalists. Although there is information on biologic effects and potential hazards to man from exposure to microwave/radiofrequency energies, considerable confusion and misinformation has permeated not only the public press but also some scientific and technical publications. Because of the complexity of the interactions of nonionizing radiation in biological systems, an inter-disciplinary approach is necessary to assess and elucidate the problems that evolve as this field advances and as the use of these energies expands. It is important to maintain a proper perspective and assess realistically the biomedical effects of these radiant energies so that the worker or general public will not be unduly exposed nor will research, development and beneficial utilization of these energies be hampered or restricted by an undue concern for effects which may be nonexis tent or minimal in comparison to other environmental hazards.