Diagnostic and therapeutic applications of eletromagnetics (co-organised with ESoA)
Electromagnetic (EM) fields are increasingly used in the clinical practice both in diagnostics and therapeutic applications. Examples include Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) for the diagnosis, and electromagnetic hyperthermia and thermal ablation for therapies. Additionally, new applications are under developments, as e.g., radar-based monitoring of respiratory and cardiac activities. All these applications need a complete knowledge of the dielectric properties of human tissues, both healthy and diseased ones, and of the behaviour of the electromagnetic field in the human body.
Aim of the course was to introduce this interdisciplinary area to the interested audience in the electromagnetic community, providing the ability to understand the issues of medical applications of EM fields. It was primarily conceived for Doctoral students and early-career researchers with an engineering or physics background. Instructors from EM engineering, physics, biology and clinical communities were involved.
Course topics
The course was focused on therapeutic applications of EM fields at microwave frequencies. To lead the students towards such applications, it started with the basics of the interaction between EM fields and bio-systems. Then, a general overview of the effects of EM fields at different frequencies, and underlying mechanisms, was given followed by the presentation of the dielectric properties of tissues. Following, microwave hyperthermia and thermal ablation were discussed, from the engineer, clinical and industrial point of view. In particular the path from the idea to the clinic, with focus on the industrial perspective, as well as regulation framework, was evidenced. The course was complemented with an on-site visit at a clinical hyperthermia facility. An outlook to future medical applications of EM fields completed the course.
Course facts
The different lectures of the course were given from well-known experts in electromagnetic fields, hyperthermia and thermal ablation coming from academia, clinics, and industry.
34 students coming from several countries all over Europe followed the course. We had students from Czech Republic, Cyprus, Finland, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Turkey.
