Thermal response of biological tissues

A model of the thermal response of various biological tissues is required to predict how these tissues will respond to localized heating, cooling, and radiation deposition. For accurate modelling of the heat transfer processes of the tissues, two properties, thermal conductivity and heat capacity, are required. These properties and their variations with temperature have been determined for human erythrocytes, normal lung cells, lung squamous cells, normal and transformed mammary epithelial cells. Similarly, properties have been obtained for normal WAG/R/sub ij/ rat and rat Rhabdomyosarcoma cells. The heat capacity is obtained by placing the sample in a small, thin-walled sphere and subjecting it to a heated, constant temperature, constant velocity flow field. The time rate change of tissue temperature is analyzed to determine the heat capacity. Thermal conductivity measurements are made with a heat flux gage which establishes a steady heat flux through a standard and the tissue sample. The heat flux is determined by means of a differential temperature measurement across the standard. The specimen thermal conductivity is found by measuring the temperature differential across the sample. Detailed thermal conductivity and heat capacity data are presented over the temperature range of approximately 30-450C. Normal versus abnormal cells are compared and results related to modelling considerations