Antenna Array Performance in Microwave Imaging Technique for Brain Tumor Detection

Abstract

Recent advancements in microwave tomography (MT) imaging studies have stimulated interest in antenna array development for medical imaging. An antenna and a model of the human head are required for the medical MT system, particularly in detecting brain tumors. Previous studies have shown that antenna arrays are more reliable as compared to a single element of patch antenna in detecting brain tumors. In this study, a single patch antenna is first designed to work at 3.2GHz using CST Studio software. To evaluate the effectiveness of antenna arrays in microwave imaging systems, the patch antenna is then improved into a 2x1 and 4x1 array. The gain, directivity, return loss (S11), Voltage Standing Wave Ratio (VSWR), and bandwidth are compared between single and arrays of antenna models. It has been proved that 2x1 and 4x1 antenna arrays resulted in higher performance. With a maximum gain of 7.11 dB, the 4x1 rectangle patch antenna has 11.3 dBi directivity, -13.88 dB return loss, and 91.1 MHz bandwidth, meanwhile single patch antenna has a gain of 3.34 dB, 5.68 dBi directivity, - 17.33 dB return loss, and 132 MHz bandwidth. Overall, a 4x1 patch antenna is made reliable and sensitive to be used in detecting brain tumors as higher gain and directivity may be useful to penetrate multilayer human head.