8,700 Studies Reviewed. 87.0% Found Biological Effects. The Evidence is Clear.
Shield Your Body
Whole Body / General

RATIOING FLUOROPTIC TEMPERATURE SENSOR FOR INDUCED HYPERTHERMIA

Bioeffects Seen

Kenneth A. Wickersheim, Ronald V. Alves · 1980

Share:

Medical researchers needed EMF-immune sensors because electromagnetic fields interfere so severely with electronic temperature measurement equipment.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

This 1980 technical study developed fiber optic temperature sensors that work during RF and microwave medical treatments. Traditional electrical thermometers fail because metal wires interfere with electromagnetic heating patterns and create measurement errors. The new optical sensors using rare earth phosphors provide accurate temperature monitoring without electromagnetic interference.

Why This Matters

This study reveals a fundamental problem that medical researchers recognized over 40 years ago: electromagnetic fields interfere with electronic devices in predictable and measurable ways. When doctors needed precise temperature control during RF cancer treatments, they discovered that metal wires and electrical sensors couldn't function properly in electromagnetic environments. The interference was so significant that it distorted heating patterns and created spurious readings. What this means for you is that if medical-grade electronic equipment requires special shielding and fiber optic alternatives to work around EMF, the electronic devices you use daily are certainly being affected by the electromagnetic fields in your environment. The reality is that EMF interference isn't theoretical - it's a documented engineering challenge that required innovative solutions in medical settings decades ago.

Exposure Information

Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study.

Cite This Study
Kenneth A. Wickersheim, Ronald V. Alves (1980). RATIOING FLUOROPTIC TEMPERATURE SENSOR FOR INDUCED HYPERTHERMIA.
Show BibTeX
@article{ratioing_fluoroptic_temperature_sensor_for_induced_hyperthermia_g7129,
  author = {Kenneth A. Wickersheim and Ronald V. Alves},
  title = {RATIOING FLUOROPTIC TEMPERATURE SENSOR FOR INDUCED HYPERTHERMIA},
  year = {1980},
  
  
}

Quick Questions About This Study

Metal wires reflect microwave and RF radiation, distorting the intended heating patterns. The electromagnetic energy also induces spurious heating and electrical noise directly in the wires and sensors, making accurate temperature measurement impossible.
Fiber optic sensors use light instead of electrical signals, providing complete electrical isolation. The rare earth phosphor technology described eliminates all metallic components that could interact with electromagnetic fields during medical treatments.
High impedance thermistors with plastic leads helped reduce some electromagnetic interference problems, but they remained relatively large, expensive, and still susceptible to EMF effects compared to the optical sensing solution.
Rare earth phosphor sensors provide excellent measurement range and sensitivity with permanent calibration. They offer potential for extremely small probe sizes, low-cost manufacturing, and easy interchangeability of precise, possibly disposable probes.
Electromagnetic heating for cancer therapy requires precise temperature control, but the same fields that provide therapeutic heating interfere with traditional electrical thermometry, creating a measurement paradox that required innovative optical solutions.