Course

Syllabus

Foundations of Bioelectromagnetics, Maxwell’s equations and wave equations, Electromagnetic spectrum relevant to biology, Boundary conditions and wave reflection/refraction in tissues, Energy absorption, Electromagnetic behavior as a function of size and wavelength.

Electromagnetic Behaviour, Low-frequency approximations, Electrical and Magnetic Fields induced in objects, E Field patterns for electrode configurations, Measurement of low-frequency electric and magnetic fields

Plane wave propagation in biological media, Waves in lossless media, Wave reflection and refraction, Waves in lossy media, Transmission lines and waveguides, Resonant systems, Antennas,?

Ray propagation effects, Total internal reflection and fiber optic waveguides, Propagation of laser beams, Scattering from particles, Photon interactions with tissues, Measurement of high-frequency electric and magnetic fields (light)

Bioelectromagnetic dosimetry, Polarization, Electrical properties of the human body, Thermal and non-thermal effects, Human models, Energy absorption (SAR), Numerical methods for bioelectromagnetic simulation

Electromagnetic guidelines and Regulations: Exposure and Safety Standards, Specific Absorption Rate (SAR), EMF exposure guidelines (IEEE, ICNIRP, WHO)

Electromagnetics in medicine, Hyperthermia for cancer therapy, Wireless body area networks (WBANs), Nanotechnology.

Learning Objectives 

LO1: Understand the fundamental physics of electromagnetic fields and wave propagation.

LO2: Analyze how EM fields interact with biological tissues at cellular and tissue levels.

LO3: Examine diagnostic and therapeutic medical technologies that utilize electromagnetic fields.

LO4: Evaluate safety guidelines and simulate biological responses to EM exposure.

Course Outcomes 

CO1: Apply Maxwell’s equations to biological scenarios and human tissue models.

CO2: Assess the dielectric behavior of biological tissues across frequency bands.

CO3: Analyze biomedical devices based on electromagnetic interactions

CO4: Understating of bioelectromagnetic fields and sources

CO5: Understanding the electromagnetic exposure and safety standards

1. Plonsey & Malmivuo, Bioelectromagnetism, Oxford University Press, 1995.
2. C. Furse, D.A Christensen, C.H. Durney, and J. Nagel, “Basic Introduction to Bioelectromagnetics,” CRC Press 3rd Ed, 2018.