Development and characteristics of a biological tissue-equivalent phantom for microwaves

• Published in: Electronics & communications in Japan. Part 1, Communications Vol. 84; no. 4; pp. 67 - 77
• Main Authors: Ito, Koichi, Furuya, Katsumi, Okano, Yoshinobu, Hamada, Lira
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.04.2001
• Subjects: coaxial-slot antenna; COST 244; human model; hyperthermia; phantom; SAR
• ISSN: 8756-6621; 1520-6424
• DOI: 10.1002/1520-6424(200104)84:4<67::AID-ECJA8>3.0.CO;2-D

Various phantoms (simulated biological bodies) have been proposed as a biological model for studies of electromagnetic effects on the human body. This paper reports the characteristics of the phantom developed by the authors that realized electrical characteristics equivalent to the biological body. Examples of its communication and clinical applications are presented. The present phantom is made of agar, polyethylene powder, sodium chloride, TX‐151, preservative, and deionized water and simulates the relative permittivity and conductivity of a high‐water‐content tissue. In the present phantom, electrical characteristics almost equal to those in the biological tissue are realized with a single composition ratio over the frequency range of 300 MHz to 2.5 GHz. It is also possible to simulate the electrical characteristics of an arbitrary high‐water‐content tissue by adjustment of the composition. No special equipment is needed for fabrication and the preservation is easy. Further, as examples of applications of this phantom to the human body, the SAR measurement examples are presented in the COST 244 human head model and coaxial‐slot antenna for hyperthermia. The present phantom is useful as a human model to study the mutual effects of the human body and electromagnetic waves. © 2000 Scripta Technica, Electron Comm Jpn Pt 1, 84(4): 67–77, 2001