Simulation Study of a Miniaturized UWB Antenna loaded with FSS Reflector for Breast Tumor Detection

Abstract

This research paper investigates into a concept design for a low-cost, innovative, and effective UWB biosensor system that uses monostatic radar-based microwave imaging (RBMI) to find undesirable cancer cells in female breast tissue. The proposed system approach integrates two different designs, which includes a UWB antenna working as a transceiver, and a frequency selective surface (FSS) acting as a reflector. The top view of the proposed ultra-wideband antenna includes a tapered feedline structure, and a key slot-shaped radiating patch, whereas a bottom view of the UWB antenna includes slotted squares defective ground structure that increases its operational bandwidth. Additionally, a Frequency selective surface (FSS) which is placed at the backside of antenna consists of concentric squares and circular ring-like structures. The proposed FSS reflector has total volumetric dimensions of 23×26×1.6 mm <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">3</sup> whereas the UWB antenna has a total size of 16×12×1.6 mm <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">3</sup> . The proposed UWB antenna has an operating bandwidth of 4.6 GHz to 8.8 GHz, but when this proposed antenna radiates in conjunction with an FSS reflector surface which is placed 10–15 mm away on the antenna's back side, then it is observed that due to the reduction in the UWB antenna's back lobe radiations, the operating frequency range of the same antenna is improved to 4.4 GHz- 10GHz. The proposed FSS structure and UWB antenna both are designed and analyzed on Computer Simulation Technology software (CST 2021). Furthermore, to create a breast tumor imaging setup in the CST environment, an assembly of UWB radiator with FSS reflector is placed at a distance of 15–20 mm from the desired target breast phantom. Moreover, by applying signal processing steps on the received S11 response, malignancy in the tissue can be detected with proper localization of tumor cell. As a result, the proposed biosensor assembly setup of UWB antenna along with FSS reflector is suitable for monostatic radar based microwave imaging.