Radar-based microwave breast cancer detection system with a high-performance ultrawide band antipodal Vivaldi antenna

Abstract

In this study, a novel ultra-wide band (UWB) antipodal Vivaldi antenna with three pairs of slots designed to be used as a sensor in microwave imaging (MWI) system for breast cancer detection. The proposed antenna operates in UWB frequency range of 3.05-12.2 GHz. FR4 was used as a dielectric material and as a substrate for forming the antenna that has a compact size of 36 mm x 36 mm x 1.6 mm. Frequency and time domain performance of the proposed antenna have been investigated and results show that it meets the requirements for UWB radar applications with linear phase response, nearly constant group delay, ultra-wide bandwidth and directional properties at most of the operating frequency. Then, the capacity of the proposed antenna as a sensor was tested in a monostatic microwave breast imaging system that was developed in the CST Microwave Studio (CST MWS) simulation software. In the simulation application, 50 mm radius hemi-sphreical breast models with different densities were formed and 2 mm diameter spherical tumor was placed inside them. Antennas were positioned cylindrically around the breast to send Gaussian pulse and collect backscattered signals. After signal processing steps, tumors was screened at correct positions with high resolution. Finally, a monostatic radar based breast phantom measurement system developed to automatically scan the breast phantom in the prone position. To perform experimental measurements, an electrically and anatomically realistic homogeneous breast phantom with tumor inside was fabricated. Screening of the tumor at correct location indicates that the proposed antenna and the microwave imaging system developed using this antenna are suitable for the detection of breast cancer at the early stage.

Design of Antipodal Vivaldi Antenna for Medical Imaging Application

“…Additionally, this antenna's negative return loss value of -26.73 dB is considerably lower than the -18 dB value reported in the Özmen & Kurt experiment [13]. This result indicates a better impedance match for this antenna, resulting in less power being reflected to the source.…”

“…They provided a configuration of the AVA design for anomaly detection (based on 8 antennas) within the frequency range of 2.06-2.61 GHz, resulting in a gain of 2.48 dBi, a bandwidth of 23.5%, and imaging images. A similar study was also carried out by Özmen and Kurt [13], who provided a configuration for the AVA design (based on one antenna). They incorporated a Koch fractal to detect anomalies (2 mm in size) in the form of 3D breast cancer at a distance of 50 mm, within a frequency range of 3.05-12.2 GHz.…”

Design of a New Balanced Side Slotted Vivaldi Antenna with Director using Genetic Algorithm

“…Comparison of performance between the proposed SSVAD and other antennas listed in [4,11,13,15,17,22,23] is presented in Table 4. Through comparison, it can be seen that the design of artificial intelligence assisted Vivaldi antennas is still limited.…”

“…Miniaturization and high gain are its main design difficulties [1]. To solve these issues, a method of side slotting has been introduced into conventional Vivaldi antenna (CVA) designs [2][3][4][5]. For example, in 2017, sparse irregular slots were etched on the radiators of a CVA, achieving a compact design with bandwidth of 3.9-9.15 GHz [2]; in the same year, dense comb-shaped slits with identical spacing and length were applied to a conventional antipodal antenna (CAVA) design, expanding its bandwidth from 1.8-4 GHz to 1.65-18 GHz and improving low-frequency gain as well [3]; in 2021, a new balanced side-slotted Vivaldi antenna (SSVA) with three pairs of triangular shaped slots was proposed, realizing a bandwidth of 3.05-12.2 GHz and a peak gain of 8.2 dBi [4].…”

Microwave Imaging Approach for Breast Cancer Detection Using a Tapered Slot Antenna Loaded with Parasitic Components

“…In recent years, a number of UWB antennae for microwave imaging systems (MIS), in which good qualities of both wave penetration into tissue and spatial resolution can be achieved, have been developed: in [ 12 ] slotted antennae [ 11 ], coplanar waveguide (CPW) antennae [ 13 ], Vivaldi antennae [ 14 , 15 ], metal-backed artificial magnetic conductors (AMC) [ 16 ], textile-based antennae [ 17 ], metamaterial (MTM) antennae [ 18 ] and resistively loaded bowtie antennae.…”