Specific Absorption Rate In Head Research Articles

4G based SAR analysis for anatomically based human head model using mobile phone antenna

Mobile phone handsets utilized by individuals of all ages been heavily grows popular as a wireless communication device. Every mobile phone produces electromagnetic radiation at radio frequencies (RF). The specific absorption rate is used to calculate how much of this energy is absorbed by the human skull. Standard guidelines state that sold phones must fall below a specified SAR. This paper aims to evaluate the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) and E-field strength for mobile phone radiation exposure on a head model who is 40 years old and a 5-year-old child. The human skull is represented in this model as a six-layered sphere made up of the brain, CSF, dura, bone, fat, and skin. Various layers of the head's SAR distribution have been measured as an impact of radiation from mobile phones exposure using the 1800 MHz frequency. Earlier research were used to consider the dielectric properties of tissue layers. The human head and mobile phone antenna is modelled in this research using ANSYS HFSS. A hand-held mobile phone's dipole antenna type is considered for RF exposure. It is seen how EM absorption in various tissue layers for both adults as well as child head. SAR comparisons between the adult and child head reveal that the child head absorbs greater power due to the distinctive layerwise head shape, conductivity, permittivity, and permeability of the two head models. Excess EM absorption may have negative physiologic implications for human health specifically impact on child physical and mental health.

Effect of field strength on RF power deposition near conductive leads: A simulation study of SAR in DBS lead models during MRI at 1.5 T-10.5 T.

Since the advent of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) nearly four decades ago, there has been a quest for ever-higher magnetic field strengths. Strong incentives exist to do so, as increasing the magnetic field strength increases the signal-to-noise ratio of images. However, ensuring patient safety becomes more challenging at high and ultrahigh field MRI (i.e., ≥3 T) compared to lower fields. The problem is exacerbated for patients with conductive implants, such as those with deep brain stimulation (DBS) devices, as excessive local heating can occur around implanted lead tips. Despite extensive effort to assess radio frequency (RF) heating of implants during MRI at 1.5 T, a comparative study that systematically examines the effects of field strength and various exposure limits on RF heating is missing. This study aims to perform numerical simulations that systematically compare RF power deposition near DBS lead models during MRI at common clinical and ultra-high field strengths, namely 1.5, 3, 7, and 10.5 T. Furthermore, we assess the effects of different exposure constraints on RF power deposition by imposing limits on either the B1+ or global head specific absorption rate (SAR) as these two exposure limits commonly appear in MRI guidelines. We created 33 unique DBS lead models based on postoperative computed tomography (CT) images of patients with implanted DBS devices and performed electromagnetic simulations to evaluate the SAR of RF energy in the tissue surrounding lead tips during RF exposure at frequencies ranging from 64 MHz (1.5 T) to 447 MHz (10.5 T). The RF exposure was implemented via realistic MRI RF coil models created based on physical prototypes built in our institutions. We systematically examined the distribution of local SAR at different frequencies with the input coil power adjusted to either limit the B1+ or the global head SAR. The MRI RF coils at higher resonant frequencies generated lower SARs around the lead tips when the global head SAR was constrained. The trend was reversed when the constraint was imposed on B1+. At higher static fields, MRI is not necessarily more dangerous than at lower fields for patients with conductive leads. Specifically, when a conservative safety criterion, such as constraints on the global SAR, is imposed, coils at a higher resonant frequency tend to generate a lower local SAR around implanted leads due to the decreased B1+ and, by proxy, E field levels.

Low-SAR MIMO Antenna Array Design Using Characteristic Modes for 5G Mobile Phones

A low specific absorption rate (SAR) multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO) antenna array is designed for 5G mobile phones based on the theory of characteristic modes (TCMs). First, a geometrically symmetric dipole antenna is analyzed using TCM. The modal currents with symmetrical and reverse distributions are selected and excited to obtain the low-SAR antenna element. Then the antenna element is further optimized, and eight antenna elements constitute an MIMO array. The −6 dB impedance bandwidth of the proposed MIMO array is from 3.4 to 3.6 GHz. The isolations between different antenna elements are higher than 16 dB. Their total efficiencies range from 48% to 67%. Its envelope correlation coefficient (ECC) is lower than 0.08. The 1 g spatial-average head SAR and 10 g spatial-average body SAR of the proposed antenna are simulated and measured.

Safety evaluation of a new setup for transcranial electric stimulation during magnetic resonance imaging

BackgroundTranscranial electric stimulation during MR imaging can introduce safety issues due to coupling of the RF field with the stimulation electrodes and leads. ObjectiveTo optimize the stimulation setup for MR current density imaging (MRCDI) and increase maximum stimulation current, a new low-conductivity (σ = 29.4 S/m) lead wire is designed and tested. MethodThe antenna effect was simulated to investigate the effect of lead conductivity. Subsequently, specific absorption rate (SAR) simulations for realistic lead configurations with low-conductivity leads and two electrode types were performed at 128 MHz and 298 MHz being the Larmor frequencies of protons at 3T and 7T. Temperature measurements were performed during MRI using high power deposition sequences to ensure that the electrodes comply with MRI temperature regulations. ResultsThe antenna effect was found for copper leads at ¼ RF wavelength and could be reliably eliminated using low-conductivity leads. Realistic lead configurations increased the head SAR and the local head SAR at the electrodes only minimally. The highest temperatures were measured on the rings of center-surround electrodes, while circular electrodes showed little heating. No temperature increase above the safety limit of 39 °C was observed. ConclusionCoupling to the RF field can be reliably prevented by low-conductivity leads, enabling cable paths optimal for MRCDI. Compared to commercial copper leads with safety resistors, the low-conductivity leads had lower total impedance, enabling the application of higher currents without changing stimulator design. Attention must be paid to electrode pads.

Design of Low-SAR Mobile Phone Antenna: Theory and Applications

This article focuses on the design of a low specific absorption rate (SAR) mobile phone antennas. First, the interaction mechanism of the radiation fields of mobile phone antennas with nearby human tissues is analyzed by using boundary conditions of electromagnetics. The relations between SAR and the electric field are constructed. Then, a concept of reverse current is proposed to decrease the electric field radiated by the antenna at the air-tissue interface and, consequently, reduce the SAR of human tissues. Finally, a metal-rimmed mobile phone antenna is designed according to the proposed theory. The ground clearance of the designed antenna is 2 mm. Their measured normalized peak head and body SAR values are lower than 1.0 W/kg, much less than the SAR safety limit of 1.6 W/kg according to the guidelines of IEEE and FCC or 2.0 W/kg according to the guidelines of the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP). The measured -6 dB impedance bandwidths are 830-1040 and 1670-2730 MHz, respectively. The measured efficiencies are higher than -5 dB at the lower band and -4 dB at the higher band. The measured results prove that the proposed theory can provide guidance for the design of low-SAR mobile phone antennas.

Global head SAR assessment of MRI-induced temperature change

Purpose: Underestimation of SAR (Specific Absorption Rate) in MRI poses potential risks to patients and in particular individuals with compromised thermoregulation. EU standards imposes a head SAR limit of 3.2 W/kg as SAR effects are negligible at up to 3 W/kg. We developed a phantom and protocol where heating due the RF pulse is measured and verified against scanner displayed SAR.

SAR prediction in adults and children by combining measured B1+ maps and simulations at 7.0 Tesla.

To predict local and global specific absorption rate (SAR) in individual subjects. SAR was simulated for a head volume coil for two imaging sequences: axial T1-weighted "zero" time-of-echo (ZTE) sequence, sagittal T2-weighted fluid attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR). Two head models (one adult, one child) were simulated inside the coil. For 19 adults and 27 children, measured B1 (+) maps were acquired, and global (head) SAR estimated by the system was recorded. We performed t-test between the B1 (+) in models and human subjects. The B1 (+) maps of individual subjects were used to scale the SAR simulated on the models, to predict local and global (head) SAR. A phantom experiment was performed to validate SAR prediction, using a fiberoptic temperature probe to measure the temperature rise due to ZTE scanning. The normalized B1 (+) standard deviation in subjects was not significantly different from that of the models (P > 0.68 and P > 0.54). The rise in temperature generated in the phantom by ZTE was 0.3°C; from the heat equation it followed that the temperature-based measured SAR was 2.74 W/kg, while the predicted value was 3.1 W/kg. For ZTE and FLAIR, limits on maximum local and global SAR were met in all subjects, both adults and children. To enhance safety in adults and children with 7.0 Tesla MR systems, we suggest the possibility of using SAR prediction. J. MAGN. RESON. IMAGING 2016;44:1048-1055.

MR fingerprinting using the quick echo splitting NMR imaging technique.

The purpose of the study is to develop a quantitative method for the relaxation properties with a reduced radio frequency (RF) power deposition by combining magnetic resonance fingerprinting (MRF) technique with quick echo splitting NMR imaging technique (QUEST). A QUEST-based MRF sequence was implemented to acquire high-order echoes by increasing the gaps between RF pulses. Bloch simulations were used to calculate a dictionary containing the range of physically plausible signal evolutions using a range of T1 and T2 values based on the pulse sequence. MRF-QUEST was evaluated by comparing to the results of spin-echo methods. The specific absorption rate (SAR) of MRF-QUEST was compared with the clinically available methods. MRF-QUEST quantifies the relaxation properties with good accuracy at the estimated head SAR of 0.03 W/kg. T1 and T2 values estimated by MRF-QUEST are in good agreement with the traditional methods. The combination of the MRF and the QUEST provides an accurate quantification of T1 and T2 simultaneously with reduced RF power deposition. The resulting lower SAR may provide a new acquisition strategy for MRF when RF energy deposition is problematic. Magn Reson Med 77:979-988, 2017. © 2016 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.

Investigation of hand impact on PIFA performances and SAR in human head

The aim of this investigation is to analyze the effects of hand on planar inverted-F antenna (PIFA) electromagnetic (EM) absorption and performances. The EM absorption is evaluated by using two parameters: the specific absorption rate (SAR) in the human head and total absorbed power by the user. The antenna performance parameters comprising return loss, radiation efficiency, and gain are considered in this investigation. The analysis was performed using mobile phone with a human head and hand model in both cheek and tilt positions of talk mode. The results show that the inclusion of hand model leads to decrease the SAR and increase the total absorbed power by user remarkably. The hand phantom leads maximum 27.2% SAR reduction in both cheek and tilt positions of talk mode. Moreover, the hand phantom contributed to increase the total power absorption more than two times in both cheek and tilt positions. The user’s hand also leads to degrade antenna performances considerably. Moreover, the presented analysis provides some useful indication to design handset antenna considering hand effects. All Rights Reserved © 2015 Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Centro de Ciencias Aplicadas y Desarrollo Tecnologico. This is an open access item distributed under the Creative Commons CC License BY-NC-ND 4.0.

On the behaviour of a compact antenna system with non-resonant elements in the presence of the human head

A novel handset antenna technique to solve the increasing demand of mobile bands, the loading effects (mismatching and efficiency losses) and the power absorption introduced by the head is analysed in terms of bandwidth, efficiency and SAR (specific absorption rate). The technique proposed integrates non-resonant elements and its results are compared with those obtained by a planar inverted-F antenna. The main antenna parameters (bandwidth, efficiency in free-space, efficiency regarding the human head presence and SAR) are compared in terms of electromagnetic simulation and measurements. The study concludes that the novel antenna architecture achieves multiband operation from 824–960 MHz and 1710–2170 MHz and become robust to human loading while occupying a reduced volume of just 250 mm3 in a typical handset phone.

Low SAR reconfigurable multiband planar inverted-F antenna for wireless communication applications

A low specific absorption rate (SAR) reconfigurable multiband coplanar waveguide fed planar inverted-F antenna (PIFA) is presented in this paper. Different numbers of meander-turn-shaped slots are etched on the PIFA radiating plate to excite new resonant frequencies. Extra resonant frequencies are created by increasing the number of meander-turn-shaped slots for different wireless communication applications. A new independent resonant frequency is created by etching a coupled slot within the ground plane for the upper WLAN. A PIN diode switch is used to reconfigure the fundamental resonant frequency from the LTE band 11 to band 8 with a total of 63% size reduction compared with the original PIFA size. Furthermore, the SAR in the human head is investigated using the Hugo voxel model in CST Microwave Studio. The volume of the antenna is 22 × 30 mm2over a 35 × 50 mm2ground plane, which is suitable for handheld devices.

Hand effect on head specific absorption rate (SAR) exposed by two realistic phone models

There have been some reports about possible effect of the hand presence on the head SAR if hand phantom is included in the measurements of the head SAR compliance assessment procedure. The objective of this computational study was to examine the reported effect by using realistic head models and realistic CAD based phone models. A commercially available FDTD based EM solver was used to carry out the computational work. Based on the results of this study considering the SAR values without hand phantom as reference, following conclusions can be made: 1. In general presence of the hand lead to significantly less conservative SAR values in the head for large majority of cases 2. For lower band GSM frequencies the presence of the hand decreases the head SAR up to ~70%. 3. For the upper band GSM frequencies the presence of the hand decreases the head SAR up to ~55%. Based on the results of this study the present SAR compliance protocol where hand phantom is not included leads to more conservative head SAR results compared to the cases where hand is included.

Study of the influence of the laterality of mobile phone use on the SAR induced in two head models

Abstract The objective of this paper is to investigate and to analyse the influence of the laterality of mobile phone use on the exposure of the brain to radio-frequencies (RF) and electromagnetic fields (EMF) from different mobile phone models using the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method. The study focuses on the comparison of the specific absorption rate (SAR) induced on the right and left sides of two numerical adult and child head models. The heads are exposed by both phone models operating in GSM frequency bands for both ipsilateral and contralateral configurations. A slight SAR difference between the two sides of the heads is noted. The results show that the variation between the left and the right sides is more important at 1800 MHz for an ipsilateral use. Indeed, at this frequency, the variation can even reach 20% for the SAR10g and the SAR1g induced in the head and in the brain, respectively. Moreover, the average SAR induced by the mobile phone in the half hemisphere of the brain in ipsilateral exposure is higher than in contralateral exposure. Owing to the superficial character of energy deposition at 1800 MHz, this difference in the SAR induced for the ipsilateral and contralateral usages is more significant at 1800 MHz than at 900 MHz. The results have shown that depending on the phantom head models, the SAR distribution in the brain can vary because of differences in anatomical proportions and in the geometry of the head models. The induced SAR in child head and in sub-regions of the brain is significantly higher (up to 30%) compared to the adult head. This paper confirms also that the shape/design of the mobile and the location of the antenna can have a large influence at high frequency on the exposure of the brain, particularly on the SAR distribution and on the distinguished brain regions.

Effects of electromagnetic absorption toward a human head due to variation of its dielectric properties at 900 and 1900 MHz with different antenna substrates

AbstractThe aim of this paper is to analyze the effects of electromagnetic (EM) energy absorption at 900 and 1900 MHz when the human head’s dielectric properties are varied. This radiation is measured in terms of specific absorption rate (SAR). The characteristics of the helical antenna and its substrates with variation of the human head dielectric properties were simulated via the finite-difference time domain (FDTD) method using the CST Microwave studio. The human head dielectric properties are manipulated by increasing and decreasing 10% and 20% of each dielectric property. In this study, SAR values increase with increase of the human head’s conductivity, while increase of permittivity and densities decreases it. A helical antenna with a substrate of FR4 resulted in higher SAR values in all frequencies. The head SAR values are higher in the upper frequency exposures. The helical antenna with a substrate of Rogers RO3006 (loss free) was found to be the best-tested substrate, which contributed toward much lower SAR values in all GSM frequency bands.

Metallic electrodes and leads in simultaneous EEG-MRI: specific absorption rate (SAR) simulation studies.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes in specific absorption rate (SAR) in human-head tissues while using nonmagnetic metallic electroencephalography (EEG) electrodes and leads during magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). A realistic, high resolution (1 mm(3)) head model from individual MRI data was adopted to describe accurately thin tissues, such as bone marrow and skin. The RF power dissipated in the human head was evaluated using the FDTD algorithm. Both surface and bird cage coils were used. The following numbers of EEG electrodes/leads were considered: 16, 31, 62, and 124. Simulations were performed at 128 and 300 MHz. The difference in SAR between the electrodes/leads and no-electrodes conditions was greater with the bird cage coil than with the surface coil. The peak 1 g averaged SAR values were highest at 124 electrodes, increasing to as much as two orders of magnitude (x172.3) at 300 MHz compared to the original value. At 300 MHz, there was a fourfold (x3.6) increase of SAR averaged over the bone marrow, and a sevenfold (x7.4) increase in the skin. At 128 MHz, there was a fivefold (x5.6) increase of whole head SAR. Head models were obtained from two different subjects, with an inter-subject whole head SAR variability of 3%. .

Size of head phantoms for standard measurements of SAR due to wireless communication devices

AbstractIn recent years, a project on the standardization of measurement methods for the head specific absorption rate (SAR) while using cellular phones has been in progress in Japan, Europe, and the United States. In order to achieve international coordination, it is desirable that head phantoms of the same shape be used in all countries; these are based on statistical data on European and American human sizes. However, the validity of application to the Japanese standard head phantoms which are generally of a larger size than the Japanese human size has not been established. Consequently, SAR measurements are made in this study with head phantoms based on the 90th‐percentile values of the head shape statistics of Europeans and Americans (E/A) and head phantoms based on the average Japanese adult male head shape (JP) in order to investigate the dependence of the head SAR on the phantom size. A numerical simulation is also performed, and the effect of the head phantom size on the current distribution on a cellular phone is also investigated. Based on these studies, it is found that the effect of the head phantom characteristics on the head SAR is small compared to the effect of the position of the cellular phone in the measurements, and that the effect on the current distribution on the cellular phone is also small. It is shown that for all three types of cellular phone models, that is, thick, thin, and folding types, that the E/A phantoms have roughly the same or larger maximum local SAR values than the JP phantoms. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electron Comm Jpn Pt 1, 87(4): 82–91, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/ecja.10083