Non-Invasive Microwave-Based Imaging System for Early Detection of Breast Tumours

This work introduces a microwave-based system able to detect tumours in breast phantoms in a non-invasive way. The data acquisition system is composed of a hardware system which involves high-frequency components (antennas, switches and cables), a microcontroller, a vector network analyser used as m...

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Main Authors: Carolina Blanco-Angulo, Andrea Martínez-Lozano, Roberto Gutiérrez-Mazón, Carlos G. Juan, Héctor García-Martínez, Julia Arias-Rodríguez, José M. Sabater-Navarro, Ernesto Ávila-Navarro
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-09-01
Series:Biosensors
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6374/12/9/752
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author Carolina Blanco-Angulo
Andrea Martínez-Lozano
Roberto Gutiérrez-Mazón
Carlos G. Juan
Héctor García-Martínez
Julia Arias-Rodríguez
José M. Sabater-Navarro
Ernesto Ávila-Navarro
author_facet Carolina Blanco-Angulo
Andrea Martínez-Lozano
Roberto Gutiérrez-Mazón
Carlos G. Juan
Héctor García-Martínez
Julia Arias-Rodríguez
José M. Sabater-Navarro
Ernesto Ávila-Navarro
author_sort Carolina Blanco-Angulo
collection DOAJ
description This work introduces a microwave-based system able to detect tumours in breast phantoms in a non-invasive way. The data acquisition system is composed of a hardware system which involves high-frequency components (antennas, switches and cables), a microcontroller, a vector network analyser used as measurement instrument and a computer devoted to the control and automation of the operation of the system. Concerning the software system, the computer runs a Python script which is in charge of mastering and automatising all the required stages for the data acquisition, from initialisation of the hardware system to performing and saving the measurements. We also report on the design of the high-performance broadband antenna used to carry out the measurements, as well as on the algorithm employed to build the final medical images, based on an adapted version of the so-called Improved Delay-and-Sum (IDAS) algorithm improved by a Hamming window filter and averaging preprocessing. The calibration and start-up of the system are also described. The experimental validation includes the use of different tumour models with different dielectric properties inside the breast phantom. The results show promising tumour detection capabilities, even when there is low dielectric contrast between the tumoural and healthy tissues, as is the usual case for dense breasts in young women.
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spelling doaj.art-db69bebcf4a149b3a4e8730f63ced7bf2023-11-23T15:18:34ZengMDPI AGBiosensors2079-63742022-09-0112975210.3390/bios12090752Non-Invasive Microwave-Based Imaging System for Early Detection of Breast TumoursCarolina Blanco-Angulo0Andrea Martínez-Lozano1Roberto Gutiérrez-Mazón2Carlos G. Juan3Héctor García-Martínez4Julia Arias-Rodríguez5José M. Sabater-Navarro6Ernesto Ávila-Navarro7Department of Materials Science, Optics and Electronic Technology, Miguel Hernández University of Elche, 03202 Elche, SpainDepartment of Materials Science, Optics and Electronic Technology, Miguel Hernández University of Elche, 03202 Elche, SpainDepartment of Communications Engineering, Miguel Hernández University of Elche, 03202 Elche, SpainNeuroengineering Biomedical Research Group, Institute of Bioengineering, Miguel Hernández University of Elche, 03202 Elche, SpainDepartment of Materials Science, Optics and Electronic Technology, Miguel Hernández University of Elche, 03202 Elche, SpainDepartment of Materials Science, Optics and Electronic Technology, Miguel Hernández University of Elche, 03202 Elche, SpainNeuroengineering Biomedical Research Group, Institute of Bioengineering, Miguel Hernández University of Elche, 03202 Elche, SpainDepartment of Materials Science, Optics and Electronic Technology, Miguel Hernández University of Elche, 03202 Elche, SpainThis work introduces a microwave-based system able to detect tumours in breast phantoms in a non-invasive way. The data acquisition system is composed of a hardware system which involves high-frequency components (antennas, switches and cables), a microcontroller, a vector network analyser used as measurement instrument and a computer devoted to the control and automation of the operation of the system. Concerning the software system, the computer runs a Python script which is in charge of mastering and automatising all the required stages for the data acquisition, from initialisation of the hardware system to performing and saving the measurements. We also report on the design of the high-performance broadband antenna used to carry out the measurements, as well as on the algorithm employed to build the final medical images, based on an adapted version of the so-called Improved Delay-and-Sum (IDAS) algorithm improved by a Hamming window filter and averaging preprocessing. The calibration and start-up of the system are also described. The experimental validation includes the use of different tumour models with different dielectric properties inside the breast phantom. The results show promising tumour detection capabilities, even when there is low dielectric contrast between the tumoural and healthy tissues, as is the usual case for dense breasts in young women.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6374/12/9/752breast phantommedical imagingmicrowave-based measurementnon-invasive measurementRadio-Frequency antenna systemTRITON X-100
spellingShingle Carolina Blanco-Angulo
Andrea Martínez-Lozano
Roberto Gutiérrez-Mazón
Carlos G. Juan
Héctor García-Martínez
Julia Arias-Rodríguez
José M. Sabater-Navarro
Ernesto Ávila-Navarro
Non-Invasive Microwave-Based Imaging System for Early Detection of Breast Tumours
Biosensors
breast phantom
medical imaging
microwave-based measurement
non-invasive measurement
Radio-Frequency antenna system
TRITON X-100
title Non-Invasive Microwave-Based Imaging System for Early Detection of Breast Tumours
title_full Non-Invasive Microwave-Based Imaging System for Early Detection of Breast Tumours
title_fullStr Non-Invasive Microwave-Based Imaging System for Early Detection of Breast Tumours
title_full_unstemmed Non-Invasive Microwave-Based Imaging System for Early Detection of Breast Tumours
title_short Non-Invasive Microwave-Based Imaging System for Early Detection of Breast Tumours
title_sort non invasive microwave based imaging system for early detection of breast tumours
topic breast phantom
medical imaging
microwave-based measurement
non-invasive measurement
Radio-Frequency antenna system
TRITON X-100
url https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6374/12/9/752
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