Textile monopole sensors for breast cancer detection

Abstract

This paper presents two flexible monopole antennas implemented on cotton substrate as sensors designed for radar-based microwave imaging and particularly breast imaging systems. The flexible antennas are basic building block of a radar-based microwave imaging system that could be integrated in clothes. Thus, these low-cost textile sensors could be used by women for self-monitoring and early breast cancer detection at an affordable price. The ultra-wideband fully textile sensors are designed as rectangular and circular monopole antennas. Both sensors have an impedance bandwidth le − 10 dB from 2.2 to 8 GHz with an overall footprint of 50 × 50 mm2. Simulations for antenna in proximity to breast model with and without tumor as well as bending capacity are performed. The simulations are complemented with fabrication of a breast phantom and a tumor sample with parameters that mimic these of the human breast’s healthy and malignant tissue. Measurements are compared to simulation results as well as the performance of antenna before and after subjected to washing. Finally, the specific absorption rate is also calculated and measured to ensure safety for on-body deployment. The proposed work demonstrates the potential to develop wearable microwave imaging system using fully textile antennas.