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International Journal of Science and Advanced Technology (ISSN 2221-8386)

http://www.ijsat.com

Volume 1 No 5 July 2011

The Dielectric Properties of Human Body


Tissues at Electromagnetic Wave Frequencies
Burhan Davarcioglu
Department of Physics, Faculty of Science and Art
Aksaray University
Aksaray, 68100 Turkey
burdavog@hotmail.com

AbstractThe study of the dielectric properties of human body


tissues belongs to basic as well as applied science. The dielectric
properties of a biological tissue are a measure of the interaction
of electromagnetic radiation with its constituents at the cellular
and molecular level. Electromagnetic wave frequencies are
emitted by many natural and man made sources and is a
fundamental aspect of our lives. Electromagnetic field in
biological tissues depends on the spatial distribution and size of
the dielectric properties of tissues. The conductivity of samples is
smilarly found to increase due to the increased dilution. Three
shield dielectric properties at microwave frequencies of 300, 915,
1300, and 2450 MHz are selected for the shielding investigation.
All measurements were performed with the tissue sample at body
temperature. The optimum parameter of the dielectric shield
greatly depends on the operating frequencies. Measurement of
ion currents in ion concentrations in cells, although still a
problem to date have been developed a method that fully resolves
the problem.
Keywords- Dielectric properties; body tissues; frequency;
waves; permittivity.

I.

INTRODUCTION

The technologies are rapidly developed in the present.


Especially, at the end of the last century, the variation of
electromagnetic fields with number of them was actually
increased. Thus, human are affected more than ever from the
radiowaves. The study of the dielectric properties of human
body tissues belongs to basic as well as applied science. Proper
knowledge of the dielectric properties of biological systems is
essential for either determining safe levels for personal
exposure to electromagnetic radiation or for effectively
employing electromagnetic radiation in beneficial biomedical
applications. Thus, the measurement of the dielectric properties
of biological tissues would play a significant role in any well
founded effort involving body tissues interaction with
electromagnetic energy. It is widely recognized that
radiofrequency and microwave energy can be effectively used
in the treatment of many diseases. Thus, from the knowledge of
dielectric constants, tissue properties can be characterized in
the microwave frequency range [1-4].

The theoretical aspects and the main findings in this subject


have been widely reviewed [5-9]. They reflect on the historical
perspective provided by over 100 years of interest in the
electrical properties of tissues, and review the basic concepts of
dielectric phenomena in biological materials and their
interpretation in terms of interactions at the cellular level. Also
they cover similar ground and provide an overview of theories
formulated to explain the dielectric properties in terms of the
underlying molecular processes. Common to all papers is a
more or less extensive tabulation of dielectric properties of
tissues selected to illustrate the theoretical deliberations
provided by the authors. Dielectric property information is also
essential to the determination of electromagnetic radiation
hazards with respect to personnel. The level of electromagnetic
energy which is considered to be below the level which
constitutes a potential hazard to personnel working in that
environment is dependent upon many factors. One of these
factors is the interaction of the incident electromagnetic field
with various tissues and organ systems, which is in turn
dependent upon the local geometry and the dielectric properties
of those systems. Therefore, an accurate knowledge of the in
vivo dielectric properties of the principal tissues and organs in
the body is crucial to the accurate determination of absorbed
power and its spatial distribution. Without accurate knowledge
of the dielectric properties, any computation of power
absorption from known or measured fields is at best an
estimate [10, 11]. A variety of conventional measurement
techniques can be utilized to measure the dielectric properties
of biological tissues [12]. With the increasing use of mw and
mmw radiation in communications and radar, it is necessary to
know dielectric properties of various human tissues for
evaluation of potential hazards to humans. At mw and mmw
frequencies ranges, the absorption of electromagnetic radiation
is mostly restricted to the skin because of submillimeter depths
of penetration [13]. Therefore, the knowledge of dielectric
properties of human skin in vivo is of prime importance for
quantifying hazardous effects of microwaves radiation.
However, the majority of these techniques have several
limitations. The effects of barrier layers with a generalized
dielectric response on the measurement of the dielectric
properties of materials are investigated, using the cluster model
of relaxation to represent both the bulk and barrier properties. It

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International Journal of Science and Advanced Technology (ISSN 2221-8386)


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is shown that the Maxwell-Wagner response is a limiting case
and only applicable when the series elements are perfect, non
dispersive capacitors and resistors [14].
It is well known that the bulk electrical properties of
skeletal muscle are highly anisotropic. Previous studies, some
going back to the 20th century show that at audio frequencies a
seven to ten fold variation in the resistivity of skeletal muscle
fibres in the incident electric field. The corresponding
anisotropy in the permittivity of the tissue has apparently never
been directly measured, although it was indirectly estimated by
Sabegno in 1930 [15]. Accurate measurements of these
anisotropic properties are interesting in view of the long history
of tissue impedance measurements, as well as for practical
applications. Permittivity is an essential variable in any
scattering or absorption derivation using Maxwells equations.
Therefore, the patterns of absorbed radiofrequency radiation in
tissues are determined, in part by the electrical properties of the
tissues. The common practice seems to be interpolate tabulated
data for dielectric permittivity and conductivity rather than
consider the inherent dependence of the two terms of the
complex permittivity on each other. A computer program was
developed to fit multiple term Debye term expressions to
published data of permittivity for muscle. The number of terms
in this expression was varied and tested for significance [16].
Furthermore, fundamental analysis of shielding effects of lossy
dielectric materials located in front of a human body have also
been carried out by some researchers. However, the heat
transfer model has not been included in the modeling analysis
[4]. The computation of the temperature increase is one of the
main tasks in the evaluation of the risk related to the exposure
of humans to electromagnetic fields [17]. Nevertheless, most
studies of human protection from electromagnetic field
exposure have not considered the temperature increase within
the domain of the human body especially in the human
organism.
Effects on biological material can be placed in three
categories: (1) thermal, (2) specific thermal, (3) nonthermal.
Volume heating is the general heating which any type of
conductor or semiconductor, such as tissue, may receive under
the influence of electrical currents or waves. Specific thermal
effects as structural heating exist when boundaries between
different types of tissues or particles on a microscopic scale,
such as small cell complexes or even bacteria, etc., can be
selectively heated without substantial heating of the
surrounding material. Those effects, which cannot be explained
on a thermal basis, are classified as nonthermal effects [18]. It
has been shown that specific thermal effects, such as the
selective heating of bacteria, are not possible. The selective
temperature rise which a particle may experience by
developing internal heating due to absorption of electrical
energy is inversely proportional to the square of the particle
size.
The interaction of time varying electric fields with the
human body results in the flow of electric charges (electric
current), the polarization of bound charge (formation of electric
dipoles), and the reorientation of electric dipoles already
present in tissue. The relative magnitudes of these different
effects depend on the electrical properties of the body that is,

Volume 1 No 5 July 2011

electrical conductivity (governing the flow of electric current)


and permittivity (governing the magnitude of polarization
effects). Electrical conductivity and permittivity vary with the
type of body tissue and also depend on the frequency of the
applied field. Electric fields external to the body induce a
surface charge on the body; this results in induced currents in
the body, the distribution of which depends on exposure
conditions, on the size and shape of the body, and on the
bodys position in the field. In the measurement of muscle fiber
conduction velocity, the electrode position is crucial for the
accurate and reliable recording of myoelectric signals. Several
investigators have measured the conduction velocity using
surface electrodes. They determined the electrode position
based on an anatomical knowledge or on the motor point
location found by the electrical stimulation technique [19, 20].
The notable increase in the exposure of people to
electromagnetic fields from wireless telecommunication
devices and infrastructure has sparked large research
programmes into the assessment and quantification of exposure
of people and on the biological effects resulting from the
exposure. Information on the dielectric properties of tissues is
vital to these studies, for the computation of exposure metrics
and the provision of a mechanistic explanation for biological
effects. At the onset of this project, there already was a credible
database of dielectric properties of tissue [21].
In experimental studies, the determination of the
measurement uncertainty is probably just as important as the
measurement itself. Uncertainty originates from the
measurement instrumentation and procedures including
theoretical assumptions and simplifications. It is therefore
helpful to get acquainted with the basic instrumentation and
procedures. The measurement of the dielectric properties of
materials is conceptually straightforward, but there are
numerous techniques and related instrumentation that apply
over specific frequency ranges. This report will deal
specifically with measurement in the microwave region. In
general, the sample is treated as a linear, time invariant and
causal component of a circuit the design of which enables the
dielectric properties to be obtained using electromagnetic
transmission theory. The frequency range influences the
theoretical and experimental implementation of the
measurement including the design and modelling of the sample
and sample holder.
At microwave frequencies, it is usual to incorporate the
sample (and sample holder) in a transmission line assembly
organised to measure one or more of its scattering parameters
which are a function of the dielectric properties. The main
experimental components are: a source to provide an incident
signal, a sample holder to contain or define the sample, a
detection system to measure its response and transmission line
components to guide the electromagnetic signal from one point
to another. In practice a large number of additional components
such as isolators and directional couplers are usually required.
Such techniques lead to the determination of the reflection and
or transmission coefficient of the sample/sample holder. Both
parameters are a function of the dielectric properties of the
sample. The different measurement techniques are usually
distinguished according to the design of the sample holder,

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International Journal of Science and Advanced Technology (ISSN 2221-8386)


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which also determines the size and shape of the sample and the
degree of sample handling required. Very generally, the
techniques can be classified into two groups depending on
whether the sample is inside the transmission line or outside it.
In general, when comparing the results of in vivo
measurement to that of in vitro some differences were observed
for tissues such as spinal cord, skull, long bone and bone
marrow 50%, while others such as grey matter, cornea, tongue,
bone marrow 30%, intervertebral disc and its centre did not
show any differences. Such differences could reflects the
contamination of tissues with blood or other body fluids,
therefore no general conclusion can be made that there is a
systematic difference between in vivo and in vitro dielectric
data at microwave frequencies.
II.

DIELECTRIC PROPERTIES OF TISSUES

The dielectric properties of a biological tissue are a


measure of the interaction of electromagnetic radiation with its
constituents at the cellular and molecular level. The
mechanisms of interaction are well understood, the theory
underpinned by experimental data and forming part of a well
established classical theory of bioelectrical phenomena [5, 7].
The main features of the dielectric spectrum of a biological
tissue are as follows: The dielectric properties of tissues are
highly frequency and temperature dependent. Their dielectric
spectrum consists of three main regions known as , and
dispersions, descriptively referred to as occurring at low,
intermediate and high frequencies in the frequency range from
hertz to gigahertz. The low frequency dispersion in the hertz to
kilohertz range is associated with ionic diffusion processes at
the site of the cellular membrane. The low frequency
dispersion in the hertz to kilohertz range is associated with
ionic diffusion processes at the site of the cellular membrane.
The dispersion, extends over 3-4 frequency decades centred
in the hundreds of kilohertz region, and is due mainly to the
polarisation of cellular membrane and organic macromolecules
[22].
Electromagnetic field in biological tissues depends on the
spatial distribution and size of the dielectric properties of
tissues. Dielectric properties of tissues, such as dielectric
constant and conductivity as the water content are determined
by the dominant. Eye with high water content tissues, muscle,
skin, liver, kidney, moderate amounts of water that contains the
value of brain, lung, bone marrow and those with low water
content, fat and bone. Dielectric properties of tissues, the
frequency and also varies depending on the temperature. With
increasing frequency, dielectric constant fell conductivity
value rises [23]. When a material is introduced into a resonant
cavity, the cavity field distribution and resonant frequency
change; a change that is dependent upon geometry,
electromagnetic properties and its position in the fields of the
cavity. Dielectric material interacts only with the electric field
in the cavity.
The dielectric properties of materials are obtained from
their measured complex relative permittivity which, being a
relative quantity, has no unit. It is expressed as = ' - j"
where ' is the relative permittivity, measure of the charge

Volume 1 No 5 July 2011

displacement and consequent energy stored in the material, and


" is the out of phase loss factor, a measure of the electrical
energy dissipated. In a perfect dielectric material, losses are
due to displacement currents and the loss factor " can be
expressed in terms of a displacement electrical conductivity d.
dielectrics in an electric field that can move with the free ads
are put into effect when the field is almost negligible loads. So,
a current does not pass through dielectrics. In biological
material, an external field will induce ionic as well as
displacement currents, ionic currents and corresponding losses
are proportionate with the material ionic conductivity i. The
total conductivity of the material is given by = d + i and
is related to the loss factor through the expression " = / 0.
In practice it is only possible to measure the total conductivity
. Where present i, which is frequency independent, can only
be obtain from dielectric spectral analysis. In the loss factor
expression, 0 is the permittivity of free space and the
angular frequency of the field. The SI unit of conductivity is
siemens per metre (S/m) which presumes that, in the above
expression, 0 is expressed in farads per metre (F/m) and in
radians per second. The dielectric properties are determined as
' and " values, or ' and values, as a function of frequency.
In this report, ' will be referred to as permittivity, and as
conductivity expressed in S/m.
Very briefly, the main features of the dielectric spectrum of
a biological tissue are as follows:

The relative permittivity of a tissue may reach values


of up to 106 or 107 at frequencies below 100 Hz.

It decreases at high frequencies in three main steps


known as the , and dispersions. Other dispersions
may also be present.

The dispersion, in the gigahertz region, is due to the


polarization of water molecules.

The dispersion, in the hundreds of kilohertz region, is


due mainly to the polarization of cellular membranes
which act as barriers to the flow of ions between the
intra and extra cellular media. Other contributions to
the dispersion come from the polarization of protein
and other organic macromolecules.

The low frequency dispersion is associated with


ionic diffusion processes at the site of the cellular
membrane.

Tissues have finite ionic conductivities commensurate


with the nature and extent of their ionic content and
ionic mobility [2].

The data reported are those that correspond more closely to


living human tissues. Consequently, human tissue and in vivo
measurements were selected in preference to animal tissue and
in vitro. For in vitro measurements, data obtained at
temperatures closest to that of the body and nearest to the time
after death were used when available. Most of the literature
data were in graphical rather than tabular form, and in a
logarithmic rather than linear format. Such data were retrieved
for each decade. When tables were available, a more extensive
frequency range was often provided. The data were translated

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International Journal of Science and Advanced Technology (ISSN 2221-8386)


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from the various authors preferred set of parameters and units
to relative permittivity and conductivity expressed in S/m. Data
obtained at temperatures as low as 20 C are included in this
survey. It was not considered advisable to translate them to
body temperature. The temperature coefficients, for both
permittivity and conductivity, are tissue type and frequency
dependent. Information on these coefficients is scarce and not
sufficiently robust to warrant generalization and extrapolation.
Moreover, the coefficients are highest (~1-2% C1) at low
frequencies where the uncertainties and the scatter in the data
are also high.
Human Model
As shown in Fig. 1, the incident plane wave with a power
density of 5 mW/cm2 is incident on the shield in front of the
human model.

Volume 1 No 5 July 2011

The thermal properties and dielectric properties of tissues at the


frequencies of 300, 915, 1300, and 2450 MHz are given in
Table I, Table II and Table III., respectively.
As very few studies associated with human tissue properties
have been conducted, some of the tissue properties are not
quantified. It is also difficult to directly measure the tissue
properties of a live human. Therefore, it should be noted that
the properties based on animal experiments are used for most
thermal parameters because no actual data is available for
analyzing the human model. Fig. 2 shows a vertical cross
section through the middle of the human trunk model. To
simplify the problem, electromagnetic wave propagation is
modeled in two dimensions over the y-z plane, in which waves
and object interaction proceed in the open region, and the
computational space in truncated by scattering boundary
condition. The propagation electromagnetic wave is
characterized by transverse electric fields.
TABLE I.

DIELECTRIC PROPERTIES OF TISSUES (915 MHZ)


915 MHz
Tissue

Figure 1. Human model with dielectric shield

From Fig. 2, a human model used in this paper is obtained


by image processing technique from the work Shiba and
Higaki [24].

(kg/m3)

(S/m)

Skin

1125

0.92

44.86

Fat

916

0.09

5.97

Muscle

1047

1.33

50.44

Bone

1038

2.10

44.80

Large intestine

1043

2.04

53.90

Small intestine

1043

3.17

54.40

Bladder

1030

0.69

18.00

Blood

1058

2.54

58.30

Stomach

1050

2.21

62.20

10

Liver

1030

1.69

43.00

TABLE II.

DIELECTRIC PROPERTIES OF TISSUES (2450 MHZ)


2450 MHz
Tissue

Figure 2. Human body in vertical cross section plane [24].

The human model has a dimension of 300 mm in width and


525 mm in height. This human model comprises 10 types of
tissues which are the skin, fat, muscle, bone, large intestine,
small intestine, bladder, blood, stomach, and liver, respectively.
These tissues have different dielectric and thermal properties.

(kg/m3)

(S/m)

Skin

1125

2.16

41.79

Fat

916

0.13

5.51

Muscle

1047

1.60

46.40

Bone

1038

2.10

44.80

Large intestine

1043

2.04

53.90

Small intestine

1043

3.17

54.40

Bladder

1030

0.69

18.00

Blood

1058

2.54

58.30

Stomach

1050

2.21

62.20

10

Liver

1030

1.69

43.00

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International Journal of Science and Advanced Technology (ISSN 2221-8386)


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Suspensions of erythrocytes in physiological saline solution
provide a good model for the properties of tissue in the
radiofrequency range. The characteristic frequency changes
proportionally with the conductance terms. The electrical
properties of fatty tissue have so far not been investigated in
detail. However, the frequency dependence is rather smooth in
comparison with the muscular of a data and not indicative of a
simple circular behavior in the impedance plane.
Smooth muscle contractile elements of striated muscle
contractile an element of the structure resembles structures,
smooth muscle contraction mechanism, and the mechanism
could be similar to the striated muscles was recorded. Heat
development in the body may, be expressed in terms of simple
physical quantities. To do so, one must know the relative
dielectric constant r and specific resistance of the various body
tissues. Although smooth muscle actin and myosin in skeletal
muscle, such as elements show a regular distribution, but the
presence of these two elements have been identified [25].
Measurement of ion currents in ion concentrations in cells,
although a current topic of a measurement method not yet fully
developed. A good method to detect some simple physical
models is needed.
TABLE III.

THERMAL PROPERTIES OF TISSUES

Volume 1 No 5 July 2011

properties of tissues are independent to temperature change for


the specified frequency.
The electromagnetic wave propagation is calculated by
Maxwells equations [26], which mathematically describe the
interdependence of the electromagnetic waves. The general
form of Maxwells equations is simplified to demonstrate the
electromagnetic field of microwave penetrated into human
model as the equation r = n2 where n is refractive index.
Microwave energy is emitted by a microwave high power
device and strikes the dielectric shield in front of the human
model with a particular power density. Therefore, boundary
conditions for electromagnetic wave, as shown in Fig. 3, are
considered as follows.
The measurement programme was structured to provide the
following information:

a database of dielectric properties of tissues obtained in


vivo at microwave frequencies,

a statistical breakdown of measurement uncertainties


and their origin,

a study of changes in the dielectric properties of tissue


as a function of age [27],

a study of the dielectric properties of human skin.

k = thermal conductivity, Cp = specific heat capacity


Tissue

(kg/m3)

k
(W/m.K)

Cp
(J/kg.K)

Skin

1125

0.35

3437

Fat

916

0.22

2300

Muscle

1047

0.6

3500

Bone

1038

0.436

1300

Large intestine

1043

0.6

3500

Small intestine

1043

0.6

3500

Bladder

1030

0.561

3900

Blood

1058

0.45

3960

Stomach

1050

0.527

3500

10

Liver

1030

0.497

3600

III.

FORMULATION OF ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVE


PROPAGATION ANALYSIS

A mathematical model was developed to calculate the


electric field and temperature distribution within the human
model. To simplify the problem, the following assumptions
were made; electromagnetic wave propagation is modeled in
two dimensions over the y-z plane, in which waves and object
interact proceeds in the open region, and the computational
space is truncated by scattering boundary condition. The
propagation of an electromagnetic wave is characterized by
transverse electric fields. The dielectric properties of human
tissues are frequency dependent as shown in Table 1 and Table
2. Since the temperature increase in the human model is
slightly changed, the model assumes that the dielectric

Figure 3. Boundary condition for analysis [4].

The cell membrane, two protein coat and a pair of fat


consists of a layer in between them. The cell membrane is
selectively permeable. From the cells by scanning electron
microscopy, and this range is the range 100-200 A color was
found to be half-filled with a liquid substance. Internal and
external factors that have the effect of cell membrane

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International Journal of Science and Advanced Technology (ISSN 2221-8386)


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permeability. Ions outside the cell, hormones, pH rate and
factors in the cell as an example we can say that in some
conditions. The cell membrane protein composition of the long
and complex molecules that have a structure can be opened and
shrunk because of the flexibility so that a cell can provide. As a
result, gaps between the molecules at the cell membrane
expand and shrinkage occurs, the outside or inside the cell, or
from the inside out, this allows some substances to pass
through. The lipid layer of the cell membrane acts as a
dielectric. Does not allow the passage of the substance.
However, ether-alcohol-chloroform, which dissolves the lipid
layer allows the passage of substances such as organic.
Because of the lipid layer of cell membrane structure resembles
a capacitor. Side two proteins in the cell membrane are
considered as a layer of conductive material. The show features
the dielectric layer of fat between them.
Dielectric spectra of human blood reveal a rich variety of
dynamic processes. Achieving a better characterization and
understanding of these processes not only is of academic
interest but also of high relevance for medical applications as,
e.g., the determination of absorption rates of electromagnetic
radiation by the human body. The dielectric properties of
human blood are studied using broadband dielectric
spectroscopy, systematically investigating the dependence on
temperature and hematocrit value. By covering a frequency
range from 1 Hz to 40 GHz, information on all the typical
dispersion regions of biological matter is obtained. We find no
evidence for a low frequency relaxation ( -relaxation) caused,
e.g., by counter ion diffusion effects as reported for some types
of biological matter. The analysis of a strong Maxwell-Wagner
relaxation arising from the polarization of the cell membranes
in the 1-100 MHz region ( -relaxation) allows for the test of
model predictions and the determination of various intrinsic
cell properties. In the microwave region beyond 1 GHz, the
reorientational motion of water molecules in the blood plasma
leads to another relaxation feature ( -relaxation). Between and -relaxation, significant dispersion is observed, which,
however, can be explained by a superposition of these
relaxation processes and is not due to an additional deltarelaxation often found in biological matter. Our measurements
provide dielectric data on human blood of so far unsurpassed
precision for a broad parameter range. All data are provided in
electronic form to serve as basis for the calculation of the
absorption rate of electromagnetic radiation and other medical
purposes. Moreover, by investigating an exceptionally broad
frequency range, valuable new information on the dynamic
processes in blood is obtained.
The heat transfer analysis is considered only in the human
body domain, which does not include parts of the surrounding
space as well as the dielectric shield. To reduce complexity of
the problem, the following assumptions have been introduced:

There is no phase change and mass transfer in the


human model.

The human tissues are biomaterial with constant


thermal properties.

There is no chemical reaction occurring within the


human model.

Volume 1 No 5 July 2011

The initial temperature through the human model is


uniform.

While in the frequency of 915 MHz, an insignificant


shielding effect of medium lossy dielectric shield is illustrated.
It is found that by using low lossy dielectric shield at the
frequency of 915 MHz, specific absorption rate as well as
temperature increase is higher compared to values of the
unshielded case. This is because the resonance phenomena
between the low lossy dielectric shield and human model is
displayed stronger. The multiple reflections within the gap and
the human model caused the accumulation of microwave
energy in the gap which leads to an increase in the specific
absorption rate and temperature in human organism by which
the reflection rate of microwave strongly depends on the
dielectric properties of the dielectric shield. By using the high
lossy dielectric shield, the shielding effect is significant. This is
because of a large reduction of microwave power density
within the human model due to the weakness of resonance,
corresponding to the lowering penetration depth of microwave.
It is confirmed that the appropriate dielectric properties of the
dielectric shield greatly depend on the operating frequencies
[4].
Dielectric Measurements of Standard Liquids
Dielectric theory, there are two main problems: (1) dipole
moment of an ion or molecule (microscopic quantity) with a
dielectric constant (macroscopic quantity) to find the
relationship between, (2) theoretical calculation of polarization
is to be able to specific atoms.
System that allows ions to pass through the cell membrane
is important. Potassium, sodium and calcium into cells in
which way elements such as the cell membrane, muscle, nerve
and muscle cells, sought answers to questions on what are the
effects of electrical measurements. In general, ions in the
solvent to be present as particles of a hard substance called
electrolyte solutions solutions. Soluble in a liquid layer will not
be solved by any solid particles in solid form, is aware of the
energies with the energies in solution. This energy difference
determines the solvent dielectric constant and dielectric
constant of solvents that are greater than the good solvent
liquids. Ions are affected by solvent molecules and ions
through the ion around the regular structure than a solid turn as
a sheath. With the ion concentration of the solvent dielectric
constant decreases in a linear fashion. Electrostatic interactions
between oppositely charged ions, in mitigating the effects of
ions in a solution direction.
The dielectric measurements on all standard liquids at 20 C
in the frequency range of 50 MHz to 20 GHz were carried out
using coaxial probes of 2.98 mm. After initial calibration of the
network analyser, five measurements were carried out on each
liquid. The calibration was then renewed and another five
measurements for each liquid were carried out. The practice
was repeated for the third time and 15 measurements in total
were obtained for each liquid at 20 C. The reason for changing
calibration between measurements was to allow for the errors
arise from calibrations to be accounted in these measurements.
In a real measurement session for tissues, the calibration is
renewed every 2-3 hours to maintain the performance of

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International Journal of Science and Advanced Technology (ISSN 2221-8386)


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network analyser. The mean for 15 measurements on each
liquid is then calculated.
IV.

DISCUSSION

As the dielectric properties of a dielectric shield vary, the


penetration depth will be changed and the electric field passing
through the dielectric shield is altered. If the penetration depth
is changing, a fraction of the incident energy absorbed is also
changed. The specific absorption rate and temperature
distributions in the human model are governed by the electric
field as well as dielectric properties of tissue.
Contact probes are open ended transmission line sections
terminated by an impedance matched lossless window.
Measurements are made by placing a probe in contact with a
sample and measuring its admittance or reflection coefficient
using a network analyser or equivalent instrumentation. Such
techniques are broadband, fast, non destructive and require
minimal sample handling and are therefore quite suitable for
dielectric measurement. The success of the technique depends
on the theoretical model relating the measured quantity to the
dielectric properties of the sample, the appropriateness of the
dimensions of the probe and on the calibration procedure.
The results show an interaction between physical
parameters: operating frequencies and shield dielectric
properties. For human exposure to microwave energy, the
installed dielectric shield strongly affects the specific
absorption rate and the temperature increase in the human
body. Actually, the microwaves can transmit through the
dielectric shield, and can penetrate into the human model that
contribute to the resonance of standing wave within the gap
and human model. Since the frequency increases, the
penetration depth for microwave gets smaller and resonance
effect becomes weakness. Consequently, the shielding effect is
significant. Therefore, the appropriate dielectric properties,
which can effectively reduce the specific absorption rate and
the temperature increase in human body of the dielectric shield,
are greatly dependent on the operating frequency. Additionally,
this paper presents an interesting viewpoint on the microwave
shielding properties of dielectric shields at various operating
frequencies, while focusing on the human organism.
This is mainly due to the fact that biological tissues are
inhomogeneous by nature and large variations are observed in
the measurements of their dielectric data. These variations are
reduced when large numbers of independent measurements are
carried out; however, they still contribute to the majority of the
total combined uncertainty. In this project, the contribution of
the systematic error to the total combined uncertainty of
measured dielectric data is between 0.2-2% depending on the
frequency. Systematic errors are larger at both ends of the
frequency spectrum due to some reduction in the sensitivity of
the probe.
The specific biological responses to radiofrequency energy
are generally related to the rate of energy absorbed. The rate
and distribution of radiofrequency energy absorption depends
strongly on the frequency, intensity and orientation of the
incident fields as well as the body size and its constitutive
properties (dielectric constant and conductivity). The

Volume 1 No 5 July 2011

characteristic peculiarities of the behavior of biological tissues


in the ultra short wave region lie in the elementary
(microscopic) division of the high frequency energy in the
biological system (cell groups, blood, colloidal suspensions,
etc.). The significance of this microscopic tissue structure is
expressed by the marked wavelength dependence of the high
frequency conductivity and dielectric constant of the tissue,
which always conforms, as experimentally demonstrated with
the individual physical and anatomical characteristics.
It is therefore important not to generalise on the basis of
such limited data that measurement in vitro underestimates the
dielectric properties of living tissues at microwave frequencies.
This may well be the case at lower frequencies, in the range of
the and dispersions in view of the sensitivity of their causal
mechanism on the physiological state of the tissue. Differences
between in vivo and in vitro are much less likely in the
frequency range of the dispersion where water content is the
most important determinant factor.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
I would like to thank Professor Dr. Ibrahim Bilgen
(Department of Physiology, Akdeniz Medical Center, Akdeniz
University, Turkey) is gratefully discussed for the dielectric
properties of human body tissues at electromagnetic wave
frequencies.

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International Journal of Science and Advanced Technology (ISSN 2221-8386)


http://www.ijsat.com
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Volume 1 No 5 July 2011

State Lasers with his Masters thesis, and in 1992, Some Complex
and Clathrates Infra-red Spectroscopy Investigation of the named
PhD thesis completed. Faculty Member appointed as Dr.
Davarcolu, Nigde University in 1994, took active part in the
founding. Faculty of Arts and Sciences Department of Physics and
Institute of Science and Technology the establishment of many
administrative tasks found. Turkish National Committee on Clay
Science is member and New York Academy of Sciences is an active
member. Papers presented at the international level to the majority
and the broadcast Dr. Davarcioglus many references were made to
run. Of interest related to the study of various summer schools
participated. Since the year 2000, industrial raw materials quality and
quantity of clay, by means of the spectroscopic identification of the
work operates. Aksaray University, was appointed in April of 2007 to
the relay.

Dr. Burhan Davarcioglu, Hacettepe University,


Ankara-Turkey, Faculty of Engineering in 1978,
enters as the Engineer graduated from the Physics.
Nuclear Medicine Department in the years 19841985 at Hacettepe University, Radiation Physics
and Radioisotope Laboratories has participated in
the creation work. 1985-1993 Research Fellow in
the years of working as a Gazi University, Institute
of Science and Technology, Department of Physics, in 1987, Solid-

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