How hot can you get? Determining the envelope of electromagnetic exposure using anatomical phantoms

ABSTRACT

We are constantly exposed to electromagnetic waves of a broad spectrum, ranging from light to communication frequencies to wireless charging. These electromagnetic waves interact with human tissue and can stimulate nerves or deposit power, resulting in tissue heating. Therefore, new technologies in the communications and medical sector require safety assessment to comply with standards and operate within safe limits. Computational modeling and simulations, referred to as in silico technologies, can be used to perform complex analyses to address these bioelectromagnetic problems, e.g., to predict the power deposition in the human brain during mobile phone use or heating of medical implants by electromagnetic fields during magnetic resonance examinations. To determine the potential envelope of induced fields for any given exposure scenario, human anatomical models in various postures are needed to cover the exposed population, since field coupling strongly depends on anatomy and posture. Due to these strong dependences, computational electromagnetics was the first in sillico clinical trial application accepted by regulators. This lecture will discuss the fundamentals of computational modeling, describe how anatomical models can be generated, and introduce the Sim4Life simulation platform (ZMT Zurich Med Tech AG, Switzerland) that combines multi-physics solvers to predict the interactions of biological tissues with electromagnetic exposures. Finally, some practical experience will be gained by conducting a small simulation study to assess the safety of patients with implants undergoing magnetic resonance examination.

BIO

Dr. Lena Kranold was born in Germany. She received the B.Eng. degree in Technology Management and Marketing from the University of Applied Sciences Kiel, Germany, in 2013 and the M.Sc. degree in Electrical and Information Engineering from the ChristianAlbrechts-University of Kiel, Germany, in 2015. She earned the PhD degree in Electrical Engineering from McGill University, Canada, in 2020. Lena’s PhD research was about the design of a wearable system for breast health monitoring, including RF radar, antenna and antenna array design, developing a prototype system for breast screening, and conducting clinical trials. Her research interests are in the fields of applied and computational electromagnetics, currently focusing on MR implant safety and compatibility. In 2021, Lena joined the IT’IS Foundation and ETH Zurich as postdoctoral researcher in applied medical EM research. Her current role includes customized research in MR implant safety and compatibility. Lena served on the Board of Directors of IEEE Montreal Section for five years, as treasurer of the Women in Engineering Affinity Group (2017-2018) and as Vice-Chair of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, Montreal Chapter (2019-2022).