Development of a single mode electromagnetic resonant cavity for rewarming of cryopreserved biomaterials.

An electromagnetic (EM) heating system is developed to achieve the rapid and uniform warming of cryopreserved biomaterials. Using the heating system, a rectangular resonant cavity is excited in TE101 mode at frequencies near 434 MHz. In experiments, a spherical phantom of biomaterial with a diameter of 36 mm is placed at the center of the cavity. The phantom is first cooled down to about -80 degrees C within the cavity and then thawed by EM absorption. Results show that EM warming can produce much higher warming rate than conventional water-bath warming method. The spatial temperature distribution in the phantom during EM warming is also more uniform than that during the water-bath warming.