Millimeter Wave Therapy Research Articles

Design and performance analysis of a low-pull-in-voltage RF MEMS shunt switch for millimeter-wave therapy, IoT, and 5G applications

Recent advancements in wireless communication systems utilize miniaturized devices based on microelectromechanical system technology for present and future 5G wireless applications. Nowadays, RF devices are utilizing frequencies up to 30 GHz with substantial signal propagation that leads to a slow data rate. On the other hand, there is a huge spectrum available in the millimeter-wave frequency range of 30–300 GHz. The millimeter-wave spectrum is attractive for the development of smart systems based on 5G technology. In this paper, a low-pull-in-voltage capacitive type RF MEMS switch is proposed to operate at frequencies above 30 GHz. The switch is proposed with a new iterative meandering technique where the span length of each section in the meanders differs relative to the first section. A low pull-in voltage of 1.8 V is achieved with a large capacitance ratio of 63. The switch exhibits low insertion loss of −0.24 dB at 41 GHz and possesses high isolation of −46.7 dB at 38 GHz. The design is validated by comparing the theoretical and simulated results, and the switch can be efficiently utilized for millimeter-wave applications.

Morphological Changes in H1299 Human Lung Cancer Cells Following W-Band Millimeter-Wave Irradiation

Efficiently targeted cancer therapy without causing detrimental side effects is necessary for alleviating patient care and improving survival rates. This paper presents observations of morphological changes in H1299 human lung cancer cells following W-band millimeter wave (MMW) irradiation (75–105 GHz) at a non-thermal power density of 0.2 mW/cm2, investigated over 14 days of subsequent physiological incubation following exposure. Microscopic analyses of the physical parameters measured indicate MMW irradiation induces significant morphological changes characteristic of apoptosis and senescence. The immediate short-term responses translate into long-term effects, retained over the duration of the experiment(s), reminiscent of the phenomenon of accelerated cellular senescence (ACS), and achieving terminal tumorigenic cell growth. Further, results were observed to be treatment specific in an energy (dose)-dependent manner and were achieved without the use of chemotherapeutic agents, ionizing radiation, or thermal ablation employed in conventional methods, thereby overcoming the associated side effects. Adaptation of the experimental parameters of this study for clinical oncology concomitant with current developmental trends of non-invasive medical endoscopy alleviates MMW therapy as an effective treatment procedure for human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

A 60 GHz Low Power Self-mixing Receiver in 65-nm CMOS for a Radio-Triggered Battery-Less Monolithic Wireless Sensor

With the growing attention at 60 GHz ISM band on millimeter-wave therapy for diseases treatment of sedative, anti-inflammatory actions or immune system stimulation, growing demand for new biomedical monitoring and treating systems with more bandwidth, high data rates and low power creates new challenges for 60 GHz body area network. Most smart wireless sensors wireless sensing operates on battery, which limits their life-time. To overcome this limitation, a system of radio-triggered batteryless monolithic wireless sensor based on mm-wave wireless power transfer technique is introduced in this work. From the system power budget analysis, it could support 10 bits communication within 10 cm, which would be sufficient for mm-wave wireless sensing application. Furthermore, it is identified that the receiver is power limited. Based on the system evaluation, an injection locked oscillator based self-mixing receiver is presented. In this architecture, the IJLO based LO scheme is used to save receiver power consumption. The sensitivity of the receiver is improved by applying the IJLO into the self-mixing architecture. This single chip receiver is implemented in a 65 nm CMOS technology. The DC power consumption of this receiver is only 16.4 mA from 1 V power supply. This power consumption is lower than other mm-wave receivers, which is an important step towards fully integrated monolithic sensor nodes.

Millimeter Wave and Drug Induced Modulation of the Immune System -Application in Cancer Immunotherapy

In recent years several approaches have been used for the treatment of cancer. These include surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy. Immunotherapy includes systemic administration of cytokines, adaptive transfer of activated T cells, NK cells, dendritic cells and macrophages. Immunotherapy is used to stimulate and train the patient’s immune system to fight against cancer. However, this approach alone is not sufficient. Therefore, a combination of immunotherapy with conventional chemo- and radiation therapy is commonly used for the treatment of cancer. But systemic administration of cytokines, such as interferons and interleukins, commonly used for immunotherapy, have their own toxic side effects that can be life threatening to many patients. In this article, we have reviewed the current knowledge of the effects of millimeter wave therapy (MMWT) on the immune system. MMWT, an alternative and complementary modality of treatment, is widely used for the treatment of cancer and many other diseases in Russia and several East European countries. However, it is virtually unknown to Western physicians. Our experimental studies have shown that MMWT when used in combination with chemotherapy protects the immune system from the toxicity of chemotherapy without introducing any additional toxicity of its own. Furthermore, our studies have shown that the combined millimeter wave- and chemotherapy can reduce the tumor metastasis, and tumor resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs. Thus combined therapy using MMWT provides a promising new strategy for the treatment of cancer.

Numerical and Experimental Millimeter-Wave Dosimetry for In Vitro Experiments

This paper provides extensive dosimetry data for <i xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">in</i> <i xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">vitro</i> experiments regarding the biological effects of millimeter waves. Two particular frequency ranges have been considered, which are: (1) the 57-64-GHz frequency range dedicated to near-future applications in high-speed wireless communication systems and (2) the discrete frequencies used in millimeter-wave therapy, namely, 42.25, 53.57, and 61.22 GHz. The dielectric properties of keratinocyte cells and culture media were determined using permittivity data of free water and Maxwell's mixture equation. The local specific absorption rate (SAR) distribution within the cell monolayer located in a standard tissue culture plate was computed using the finite-element method and the finite-integration technique. The averaged near-surface SAR for the cell monolayer was determined using both numerical electric-field-based and experimental temperature-based approaches. The SAR was computed taking into account physiological variations of the water content in the keratinocyte cells, as well as variations in the cell monolayer thickness. Experimental and computational results are shown to be in very good agreement.

Low‐Intensity Electromagnetic Millimeter Waves for Pain Therapy

Millimeter wave therapy (MWT), a non-invasive complementary therapeutic technique is claimed to possess analgesic properties. We reviewed the clinical studies describing the pain-relief effect of MWT. Medline-based search according to review criteria and evaluation of methodological quality of the retrieved studies was performed. Of 13 studies, 9 of them were randomized controlled trials (RCTs), only three studies yielded more than 3 points on the Oxford scale of methodological quality of RCTs. MWT was reported to be effective in the treatment of headache, arthritic, neuropathic and acute postoperative pain. The rapid onset of pain relief during MWT lasting hours to days after, remote to the site of exposure (acupuncture points), was the most characteristic feature in MWT application for pain relief. The most commonly used parameters of MWT were the MW frequencies between 30 and 70 GHz and power density up to 10 mW cm−2. The promising results from pilot case series studies and small-size RCTs for analgesic/hypoalgesic effects of MWT should be verified in large-scale RCTs on the effectiveness of this treatment method.

Effect of millimeter waves on natural killer cell activation

Millimeter wave therapy (MMWT) is being widely used for the treatment of many diseases in Russia and other East European countries. MMWT has been reported to reduce the toxic effects of chemotherapy on the immune system. The present study was undertaken to investigate whether millimeter waves (MMWs) can modulate the effect of cyclophosphamide (CPA), an anticancer drug, on natural killer (NK) cell activity. NK cells play an important role in the antitumor response. MMWs were produced with a Russian-made YAV-1 generator. The device produced modulated 42.2 +/- 0.2 GHz radiation through a 10 x 20 mm rectangular output horn. Mice, restrained in plastic tubes, were irradiated on the nasal area. Peak SAR at the skin surface and peak incident power density were measured as 622 +/- 100 W/kg and 31 +/- 5 mW/cm2, respectively. The maximum temperature elevation, measured at the end of 30 min, was 1 degrees C. The animals, restrained in plastic tubes, were irradiated on the nasal area. CPA injection (100 mg/kg) was given intraperitoneally on the second day of 3-days exposure to MMWs. All the irradiation procedures were performed in a blinded manner. NK cell activation and cytotoxicity were measured after 2, 5, and 7 days following CPA injection. Flow cytometry of NK cells showed that CPA treatment caused a marked enhancement in NK cell activation. The level of CD69 expression, which represents a functional triggering molecule on activated NK cells, was increased in the CPA group at all the time points tested as compared to untreated mice. However, the most enhancement in CD69 expression was observed on day 7. A significant increase in TNF-alpha level was also observed on day 7 following CPA administration. On the other hand, CPA caused a suppression of the cytolytic activity of NK cells. MMW irradiation of the CPA treated groups resulted in further enhancement of CD69 expression on NK cells, as well as in production of TNF-alpha. Furthermore, MMW irradiation restored CPA induced suppression of the cytolytic activity of NK cells. Our results show that MMW irradiation at 42.2 GHz can up-regulate NK cell functions.

Millimeter-Wave-Induced Hypoalgesia in Mice: Dependence on Type of Experimental Pain

Millimeter-wave therapy (MWT) is based on the systemic biological effects resulting from local exposure of skin to low-power electromagnetic waves of millimeter wavelength. The aims of the present study are to quantitatively evaluate hypoalgesic effects of MWT in murine experimental models of acute and chronic neuropathic pain, and to compare them with the previously determined MWT-induced hypoalgesia in an experimental model of chronic nonneuropathic pain, and also to assess the ability of local heating with a Holmium YAG laser to produce hypoalgesia in mice. The cold and hot water tail-flick tests and the unilateral chronic constriction injury (CCI) to the sciatic nerve were used as pain models. The MWT characteristics were: frequency =61.22 GHz; average power density =13.3 mW/cm/sup 2/; duration of exposure =15 min; and area of exposure-nose. This study demonstrated that a single MWT most effectively suppressed chronic nonneuropathic pain. Less effectively, a single MWT reduced pain sensitivity in the murine model of acute pain, and was ineffective in the model of chronic neuropathic pain. However, multiple MWT reduced the symptoms that developed following CCI. The local heating of the exposed area did not produce hypoalgesia. The findings support the use of MWT in chronic pain states.