Extracting Dielectric Properties for MRI-based Phantoms for Axillary Microwave Imaging Device

As new algorithms for microwave imaging emerge, it is important to have standard accurate benchmarking tests. Currently, most researchers use homogeneous phantoms for testing new algorithms. These simple structures lack the heterogeneity of the dielectric properties of human tissue and are inadequate for testing these algorithms for medical imaging. To adequately test breast microwave imaging algorithms, the phantom has to resemble different breast tissues physically and in terms of dielectric properties. We propose a systematic approach in designing phantoms that not only have dielectric properties close to breast tissues but also can be easily shaped to realistic physical models. The approach is based on regression model to match phantom's dielectric properties with the breast tissue dielectric properties found in Lazebnik et al. (2007). However, the methodology proposed here can be used to create phantoms for any tissue type as long asex vivo,in vitro, orin vivotissue dielectric properties are measured and available. Therefore, using this method, accurate benchmarking phantoms for testing emerging microwave imaging algorithms can be developed.

Download Full-text

Empirical Assessment of Breast Lesion Detection Capability Through an Innovative Microwave Imaging Device

2021 15th European Conference on Antennas and Propagation (EuCAP) ◽

10.23919/eucap51087.2021.9411432 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Lorenzo Sani ◽

Alessandro Vispa ◽

Navid Ghavami ◽

Riccardo Loretoni ◽

Michele Duranti ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Breast Lesion ◽

Microwave Imaging ◽

Lesion Detection ◽

Detection Capability ◽

Imaging Device ◽

Empirical Assessment

Download Full-text

A Low Cost and Portable Microwave Imaging System for Breast Tumor Detection Using UWB Directional Antenna array

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-019-51620-z ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

M. T. Islam ◽

M. Z. Mahmud ◽

M. Tarikul Islam ◽

S. Kibria ◽

M. Samsuzzaman

Keyword(s):

Dielectric Properties ◽

Breast Tumor ◽

Breast Imaging ◽

Imaging System ◽

Low Cost ◽

Microwave Imaging ◽

Dielectric Constants ◽

Ultra Wideband ◽

Slot Antenna ◽

Breast Phantom

Abstract Globally, breast cancer is a major reason for female mortality. Due to the limitations of current clinical imaging, the researchers are encouraged to explore alternative and complementary tools to available techniques to detect the breast tumor in an earlier stage. This article outlines a new, portable, and low-cost microwave imaging (MWI) system using an iterative enhancing technique for breast imaging. A compact side slotted tapered slot antenna is designed for microwave imaging. The radiating fins of tapered slot antenna are modified by etching nine rectangular side slots. The irregular slots on the radiating fins enhance the electrical length as well as produce strong directive radiation due to the suppression of induced surface currents that radiate vertically at the outer edges of the radiating arms with end-fire direction. It has remarkable effects on efficiency and gain. With the addition of slots, the side-lobe levels are reduced, the gain of the main-lobe is increased and corrects the squint effects simultaneously, thus improving the characteristics of the radiation. For experimental validation, a heterogeneous breast phantom was developed that contains dielectric properties identical to real breast tissues with the inclusion of tumors. An alternative PC controlled and microcontroller-based mechanical MWI system is designed and developed to collect the antenna scattering signal. The radiated backscattered signals from the targeted area of the human body are analyzed to reveal the changes in dielectric properties in tissues. The dielectric constants of tumorous cells are higher than that of normal tissues due to their higher water content. The remarkable deviation of the scattered field is processed by using newly proposed Iteratively Corrected Delay and Sum (IC-DAS) algorithm and the reconstruction of the image of the phantom interior is done. The developed UWB (Ultra-Wideband) antenna based MWI has been able to perform the detection of tumorous cells in breast phantom that can pave the way to saving lives.

Download Full-text

Developing Artefact Removal Algorithms to Process Data from a Microwave Imaging Device for Haemorrhagic Stroke Detection

Sensors ◽

10.3390/s20195545 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 20 (19) ◽

pp. 5545

Author(s):

Behnaz Sohani ◽

James Puttock ◽

Banafsheh Khalesi ◽

Navid Ghavami ◽

Mohammad Ghavami ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Human Head ◽

Haemorrhagic Stroke ◽

Microwave Imaging ◽

Ultra Wideband ◽

Reference Image ◽

Process Data ◽

Imaging Device ◽

Valid Comparison ◽

Artefact Removal ◽

Shaped Inclusion

In this paper, we present an investigation of different artefact removal methods for ultra-wideband Microwave Imaging (MWI) to evaluate and quantify current methods in a real environment through measurements using an MWI device. The MWI device measures the scattered signals in a multi-bistatic fashion and employs an imaging procedure based on Huygens principle. A simple two-layered phantom mimicking human head tissue is realised, applying a cylindrically shaped inclusion to emulate brain haemorrhage. Detection has been successfully achieved using the superimposition of five transmitter triplet positions, after applying different artefact removal methods, with the inclusion positioned at 0°, 90°, 180°, and 270°. The different artifact removal methods have been proposed for comparison to improve the stroke detection process. To provide a valid comparison between these methods, image quantification metrics are presented. An “ideal/reference” image is used to compare the artefact removal methods. Moreover, the quantification of artefact removal procedures through measurements using MWI device is performed.

Download Full-text

Free-Space Operating Microwave Imaging Device for Bone Lesion Detection: A Phantom Investigation

IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters ◽

10.1109/lawp.2020.3034039 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 19 (12) ◽

pp. 2393-2397

Author(s):

Banafsheh Khalesi ◽

Behnaz Sohani ◽

Navid Ghavami ◽

Mohammad Ghavami ◽

Sandra Dudley ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Free Space ◽

Bone Lesion ◽

Microwave Imaging ◽

Lesion Detection ◽

Imaging Device

Download Full-text

Feasibility of Portable Microwave Imaging Device for Breast Cancer Detection

Diagnostics ◽

10.3390/diagnostics12010027 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

pp. 27

Author(s):

Mio Adachi ◽

Tsuyoshi Nakagawa ◽

Tomoyuki Fujioka ◽

Mio Mori ◽

Kazunori Kubota ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Breast Imaging ◽

Ductal Carcinoma ◽

Microwave Imaging ◽

Breast Cancers ◽

Radio Waves ◽

Imaging Data ◽

Imaging Device ◽

Dense Breast Tissue ◽

Microwave Radar

Purpose: Microwave radar-based breast imaging technology utilizes the principle of radar, in which radio waves reflect at the interface between target and normal tissues, which have different permittivities. This study aims to investigate the feasibility and safety of a portable microwave breast imaging device in clinical practice. Materials and methods: We retrospectively collected the imaging data of ten breast cancers in nine women (median age: 66.0 years; range: 37–78 years) who had undergone microwave imaging examination before surgery. All were Japanese and the tumor sizes were from 4 to 10 cm. Using a five-point scale (1 = very poor; 2 = poor; 3 = fair; 4 = good; and 5 = excellent), a radiologist specialized in breast imaging evaluated the ability of microwave imaging to detect breast cancer and delineate its location and size in comparison with conventional mammography and the pathological findings. Results: Microwave imaging detected 10/10 pathologically proven breast cancers, including non-invasive ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and micro-invasive carcinoma, whereas mammography failed to detect 2/10 breast cancers due to dense breast tissue. In the five-point evaluation, median score of location and size were 4.5 and 4.0, respectively. Conclusion: The results of the evaluation suggest that the microwave imaging device is a safe examination that can be used repeatedly and has the potential to be useful in detecting breast cancer.

Download Full-text