Human skin temperature response to absorbed thermal power

Jim Griffith; Ardella Hamilton; George Long; Amir Mujezinovic; DeWayne Warren; Kamal Vij

doi:10.1117/12.271321

10 April 1997 Human skin temperature response to absorbed thermal power

Jim Griffith, Ardella Hamilton, George Long, Amir Mujezinovic, DeWayne Warren, Kamal Vij

Proceedings Volume 3037, Medical Imaging 1997: Ultrasonic Transducer Engineering; (1997) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.271321
Event: Medical Imaging 1997, 1997, Newport Beach, CA, United States

Abstract

Devices including ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging probes can 'overheat' and burn human skin unless they are carefully designed and tested. An empirical study was performed to determine how much thermal power the skin can absorb without raising skin temperature to the damage point. Steady-state power and temperature measurements were recorded from seven healthy adults. Small skin areas, 1.8 to 25 cm², were heated. The data indicates a 'safe' absorption level of approximately 40 mW/cm². Near the overheating point, skin temperature increases approximately 0.8 degrees Celsius for each additional 10 mW/cm² of absorbed power.

Citation Download Citation

Jim Griffith, Ardella Hamilton, George Long, Amir Mujezinovic, DeWayne Warren, and Kamal Vij "Human skin temperature response to absorbed thermal power", Proc. SPIE 3037, Medical Imaging 1997: Ultrasonic Transducer Engineering, (10 April 1997); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.271321

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