Y. Okano et al., A brain-equivalent solid phantom and its application to SAR estimation by the thermographic method, ELEC C JP 2, 83(12), 2000, pp. 24-34
Citations number
18
Categorie Soggetti
Eletrical & Eletronics Engineeing
Journal title
ELECTRONICS AND COMMUNICATIONS IN JAPAN PART II-ELECTRONICS
Recently, with the rapid proliferation of mobile communication devices, the
effects of electromagnetic waves on the human body have drawn attention. A
lthough these effects depend significantly on frequency, the thermal effect
s due to absorption of the electromagnetic energy are considered predominan
t at microwave frequencies. In general, as the guideline for the thermal ef
fects, the power per unit mass absorbed in the biological body, namely, the
specific absorption rate (SAR [W/kg]), is used. Cellular phones are employ
ed in close proximity to the head where vital functions of the body are con
centrated. Even if the output is weak, there is the possibility that the po
wer absorption may become locally excessive. Therefore, it is extremely imp
ortant from a safety point of view to establish an experimental evaluation
procedure regarding the SAR for the human head. In this paper, the characte
ristics of thermography are recognized by means of which the surface SAR ca
n be measured, and thus the SAR distribution in an arbitrarily shaped mediu
m. Using the biologically equivalent phantom developed in the authors' labo
ratory for improving the conventional phantom used for the same purpose, a
fundamental investigation is carried out as to how accurately the SAR distr
ibution can be measured. (C) 2000 Scripta Technica.