Millimeter-Wave Heating in In Vitro Studies: Effect of Convection in Continuous and Pulse-Modulated Regimes

Abstract

Overview

The research explores the impact of millimeter waves (MMW) on temperature dynamics in in vitro experiments, focusing on SAR gradients and their effect on convective currents in liquids.

Findings

• Exposure to MMW, both in continuous-wave (CW) and pulse-modulated (PW) regimes, influences temperature distributions due to SAR-induced convective currents.
• A key observation is the shift in temperature peak occurrence, moving to shorter times with increased SAR, marking the onset of convection processes.
• Study findings also noted that liquid volume significantly affects convection dynamics, with larger volumes promoting earlier convection and more effective cooling post-exposure.
• In PW regimes specifically, the duration of the pulses crucially affects the convection patterns, altering heat pulse amplitude and subsequent cooling rates.

Conclusion

Convection due to MMW exposure is a critical factor in designing in vitro studies, as it can indirectly impact cellular responses by altering local concentrations of essential factors like oxygen and nutrients. Further studies are suggested to deeply analyze convection mechanisms with a multi-physics approach for a comprehensive understanding of the effects.