A Prototype Microwave System for 3D Brain Stroke Imaging

Abstract

This work focuses on brain stroke imaging via microwave technology. In particular, the open issue of monitoring patients after stroke onset is addressed here in order to provide clinicians with a tool to control the effectiveness of administered therapies during the follow-up period. In this paper, a novel prototype is presented and characterized. The device is based on a low-complexity architecture which makes use of a minimum number of properly positioned and designed antennas placed on a helmet. It exploits a differential imaging approach and provides 3D images of the stroke. Preliminary experiments involving a 3D phantom filled with brain tissue-mimicking liquid confirm the potential of the technology in imaging a spherical target mimicking a stroke of a radius equal to 1.25 cm.

A Simulation-Based Methodology of Developing 3D Printed Anthropomorphic Phantoms for Microwave Imaging Systems

“…The phantom is designed in a way that at least two pieces engage and fit firmly, yet be easily disassembled, like a Lego piece, to prevent leakage. The designed phantom is upside down to be adapted to the microwave imaging system designed in POLITO [ 5 ]. To reach the space between the outer shell and the brain cavity one needs to remove the plate and this space can be filled easily with a mixture with the dielectric properties of the CSF.…”

“…Several studies have shown that, in the microwave frequency range, a significant difference in dielectric properties exists between normal and pathological tissues [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]. Consequently, several research teams are working on this topic around the world and some imaging systems dedicated to these applications are emerging [ 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ]. The development of such imaging devices should help to improve prehospital diagnostic accuracy which is essential to decrease treatment time, thereby increasing survival and mitigation of injury [ 10 ].…”

“…The head phantom described in Section 3.1 is built up from the STL format file [ 22 ] obtained by Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software. Its initial version has already been described in [ 19 ] and its upside-down homogeneous version is used in the experimental set-up presented in [ 5 ]; now it has two options of the brain (simple or complex brain shape) and additional cavities. Section 3.2 gives the composition of the liquid mixtures used to fill up the cavities.…”

“…This phantom is surrounded by a conformal helmet including 24 monopole antennas. Thus, the effect of the coupling medium, the ABS phantom structure, and the design are discussed in the frame of the device developed in [ 5 ].…”

Microwave Detection of Brain Injuries by Means of a Hybrid Imaging Method

“…Besides classification-based methods [11], [12], the scientific research about microwave imaging for brain injuries detection and monitoring usually follows two distinct paths. One of these is represented by qualitative approaches, whose scope is to produce an image that spots the stroke location, without information about its dielectric characteristics [13]- [16]. Benefits of these strategies include speed, reduced computational burden, and robustness versus noise.…”