A Cell-Culture Exposure System for Millimetric Wavelength Radiation

We describe the design and construction of waveguide cavity cell-culture exposure system that allows the study of potential biological effects arising from an interaction with low-intensity millimetre wave radiation. Previous reports of millimetre wave induced biological effects have seldom been independently replicated due to confounding experimental factors that have led to uncertainty and controversy with regard to the existence of related phenomena. In order to reduce experimental inaccuracies we have paid particular attention to the design, set-up and calibration of our cell and, in addition, the environment in which it is placed. Furthermore, we have made use of high-accuracy microwave/millimetre test equipment and advanced electromagnetic simulation software to fully characterise the millimetre wave propagation characteristics of the cell over its operational frequency range of 27.5-35GHz. Experimental results and theoretical simulations of the cell millimetre wave characteristics show good agreement and give confidence that our technique can be applied to the entire millimetre wave spectral region.