Abstract
A three-dimensional (3D) electromagnetic torso scanner system is presented. This system aims at providing a complimentary/auxiliary imaging modality to supplement conventional imaging devices, e.g., ultrasound, computerized tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), for pathologies in the chest and upper abdomen such as pulmonary abscess, fatty liver disease and renal cancer. The system is comprised of an array of 14 resonance-based reflector (RBR) antennas that operate from 0.83 to 1.9 GHz and are located on a movable flange. The system is able to scan different regions of the chest and upper abdomen by mechanically moving the antenna array to different positions along the long axis of the thorax with an accuracy of about 1 mm at each step. To verify the capability of the system, a three-dimensional imaging algorithm is proposed. This algorithm utilizes a fast frequency-based microwave imaging method in conjunction with a slice interpolation technique to generate three-dimensional images. To validate the system, pulmonary abscess was simulated within an artificial torso phantom. This was achieved by injecting an arbitrary amount of fluid (e.g., 30 mL of water), into the lungs regions of the torso phantom. The system could reliably and reproducibly determine the location and volume of the embedded target.
Highlights
Clinical imaging systems, ultrasound (US), computerized tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are essential for contemporary medical practice
This shielding limits the portability of these devices and they are generally only found in fixed settings. It adds to the cost of installing the equipment. Safety can be another issue: CT is one of the most widely used diagnostic tools and yet patients are exposed to ionizing radiation, albeit with the potential benefit of accurate diagnosis
Where two arrays of similar antennas are placed around both breasts. This system is based on the fact that the scattering profile of left- and right-side breasts are roughly similar to each other and the premise that the probability of synchronic malignancies in both breasts is less than 10%
Summary
Ultrasound (US), computerized tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are essential for contemporary medical practice. This is because these systems mainly operate at lower microwave frequencies of about 1 GHz, resulting in long wavelengths that are proportional to the large and bulky size of the expected antenna designs This issue has been tackled using different methods, such as folding the antennas structure to form a three dimensional shape [7], use of fractal structures to increase the electrical length of the antenna [24], employing phased array structures [25], utilizing dielectric resonator antenna configurations with high permittivity materials [26], and combining loop and dipole structures to achieve a wide operating bandwidth and a unidirectional radiation [27]. Spatial location identifying the shape and spatial location of a disease process, something not possible using existing
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