Specific absorption rate measuring system, and a method thereof

Abstract

A specific absorption rate measuring system, a method thereof, and a biological tissue equivalent phantom unit are disclosed. The biological tissue equivalent phantom unit to be used by the specific absorption rate measuring system for evaluating absorption of electromagnetic wave energy includes a biological tissue equivalent phantom for absorbing an electromagnetic wave; two or more electro-optical crystals that are arranged at two or more measurement points in the biological tissue equivalent phantom, the electro-optical crystals having a dielectric constant that is approximately equal to that of the biological tissue equivalent phantom; and two or more optical fibers laid in the biological tissue equivalent phantom for optically connecting each of the electro-optical crystals to an external destination. The specific absorption rate measuring system for evaluating absorption of the electromagnetic wave energy using the biological tissue equivalent phantom unit includes a luminous source for irradiating a light; a polarization regulator for adjusting a polarization state of the light that is output by the luminous source; an optical-path switcher for providing the polarization-adjusted light to each of the electro-optical crystals one by one; and a specific absorption rate measuring unit for detecting the light reflected from the electro-optical crystal, and for measuring an absorption rate.

1 . A biological tissue equivalent phantom unit to be used by a specific absorption rate measuring system for evaluating absorption of electromagnetic wave energy, comprising: 
 a biological tissue equivalent phantom for absorbing the electromagnetic wave;    two or more electro-optical crystals that are arranged at two or more measurement points in the biological tissue equivalent phantom, the electro-optical crystals having a dielectric constant approximately equal to the dielectric constant of the biological tissue equivalent phantom; and    two or more optical fibers laid in the live body equivalent phantom for coupling each of the electro-optical crystals to an external destination.    
   
   
       2 . The biological tissue equivalent phantom unit as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein 
 a high dielectric constant material is applied to a surface of the optical fibers.    
   
   
       3 . The specific absorption rate measuring system for evaluating absorption of electromagnetic wave energy using the biological tissue equivalent phantom unit as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising: 
 a luminous source for irradiating a light;    a polarization regulator for adjusting a polarization state of the light;    an optical-path switcher for providing the light output from the polarization regulator to each of the electro-optical crystals of the biological tissue equivalent phantom unit one by one; and    a specific absorption rate measuring unit for detecting the light reflected by the electro-optical crystal, and measuring a specific absorption rate.    
   
   
       4 . A specific absorption rate measuring method of evaluating absorption of electromagnetic wave energy using a biological tissue equivalent phantom that receives irradiation of the electromagnetic wave, comprising: 
 a step of arranging two or more electro-optical crystals having a dielectric constant that is approximately equal to the dielectric constant of the biological tissue equivalent phantom to two or more measuring points in the biological tissue equivalent phantom;    a step of sequentially providing a light to each of the electro-optical crystals through an optical-path switcher, the light being irradiated by a luminous source, and a polarization state of the light being adjusted;    a step of reflecting the light that is provided to the electro-optical crystals;    a step of leading the light reflected from the electro-optical crystals to an analyzer; and    a step of converting the light that passes into the analyzer into an electrical signal by a photodetector, and obtaining a specific absorption rate.    
   
   
       5 . The specific absorption rate measuring method as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein 
 the step of reflecting the light that is provided to the electro-optical crystals is    a step of reflecting the light that is provided to the electro-optical crystals by a dielectric reflective film prepared on a surface of the electro-optical crystals, the surface countering a surface through which the light is provided to the electro-optical crystals.    
   
   
       6 . The specific absorption rate measuring method as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein 
 the light is sequentially provided to each of the electro-optical crystals by selecting one of a plurality of optical fibers by the optical-path switcher, wherein the optical-path switcher is connected to each of the electro-optical crystals by a corresponding one of the optical fibers.    
   
   
       7 . The specific absorption rate measuring method as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein 
 a high dielectric constant material is applied to a surface of the optical fibers.