A fractal interpretation of the dielectric response of animal tissues

Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd
, , Citation L A Dissado 1990 Phys. Med. Biol. 35 1487 DOI 10.1088/0031-9155/35/11/005

0031-9155/35/11/1487

Abstract

An improvement to Schwan's model (see Adv. Biol. Med. Phys., vol.5, p.147-209, 1957) of the dielectric response of biological tissues is proposed which is based on a fractal interpretation of the power law behaviour often observed. This interpretation allows the response to be more specifically related to the sub-cellular and cellular organization of the tissue through its self-similar hierarchical nature. A number of examples are discussed ranging in tissue type from the mostly cellular liver tissue to nerve tissue (grey matter). Applications of the technique to diseased and damaged tissue are briefly touched upon so as to illustrate its potential for precisely defining their effect upon the cells' electrical behaviour at a specific organizational level.

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10.1088/0031-9155/35/11/005