Abstract
Medical imaging currently relies on several techniques, including X-rays, magnetic resonance, and echography. However, these techniques exhibit drawbacks, and alternative approaches are required. Microwave imaging has been proposed as a possible solution, especially for breast cancer imaging. However, most of these systems work with a central frequency of a few gigahertz, and this leads to a suboptimum resolution, which can jeopardize the image quality. Millimeter waves can provide superior resolutions, at the cost of a lower penetration depth within the breast tissue. In addition, a significant fraction of the power generated by a mm-wave imaging system would be reflected back from the skin. For these reasons, and also considering that mm-wave transmitters and receivers have been historically outperformed by microwave counterparts in terms of available power and sensitivity, mm-wave imaging has not been considered a possible solution. This paper contributes to demonstrate a paradigm shift toward the possible use of mm-waves for breast cancer imaging of targets a few centimeter below the skin, a useful penetration depth for several cases. All key points are addressed using analytical, full-wave, and multiphysics simulations, including the system architecture (linear and conformal), the safety aspects (power density, specific absorption rate, and temperature increase), and the use of realistic breast models derived from ex vivo measurements.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 7879871 |
| Pages (from-to) | 1795-1806 |
| Number of pages | 12 |
| Journal | IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques |
| Volume | 65 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - May 1 2017 |
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Keywords
- Antenna array
- breast cancer
- conformal array
- dielectric characterization
- dielectric properties
- ex vivo tissues
- microwave imaging
- mm-wave imaging
- multiphysics
- power density
- specific absorption rate (SAR)
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Radiation
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Cite this
On the Feasibility of Breast Cancer Imaging Systems at Millimeter-Waves Frequencies. / Di Meo, Simona; Espín-López, Pedro Fidel; Martellosio, Andrea; Pasian, Marco; Matrone, Giulia; Bozzi, Maurizio; Magenes, Giovanni; Mazzanti, Andrea; Perregrini, Luca; Svelto, Francesco; Summers, Paul Eugene; Renne, Giuseppe; Preda, Lorenzo; Bellomi, Massimo.
In: IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques, Vol. 65, No. 5, 7879871, 01.05.2017, p. 1795-1806.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - On the Feasibility of Breast Cancer Imaging Systems at Millimeter-Waves Frequencies
AU - Di Meo, Simona
AU - Espín-López, Pedro Fidel
AU - Martellosio, Andrea
AU - Pasian, Marco
AU - Matrone, Giulia
AU - Bozzi, Maurizio
AU - Magenes, Giovanni
AU - Mazzanti, Andrea
AU - Perregrini, Luca
AU - Svelto, Francesco
AU - Summers, Paul Eugene
AU - Renne, Giuseppe
AU - Preda, Lorenzo
AU - Bellomi, Massimo
PY - 2017/5/1
Y1 - 2017/5/1
N2 - Medical imaging currently relies on several techniques, including X-rays, magnetic resonance, and echography. However, these techniques exhibit drawbacks, and alternative approaches are required. Microwave imaging has been proposed as a possible solution, especially for breast cancer imaging. However, most of these systems work with a central frequency of a few gigahertz, and this leads to a suboptimum resolution, which can jeopardize the image quality. Millimeter waves can provide superior resolutions, at the cost of a lower penetration depth within the breast tissue. In addition, a significant fraction of the power generated by a mm-wave imaging system would be reflected back from the skin. For these reasons, and also considering that mm-wave transmitters and receivers have been historically outperformed by microwave counterparts in terms of available power and sensitivity, mm-wave imaging has not been considered a possible solution. This paper contributes to demonstrate a paradigm shift toward the possible use of mm-waves for breast cancer imaging of targets a few centimeter below the skin, a useful penetration depth for several cases. All key points are addressed using analytical, full-wave, and multiphysics simulations, including the system architecture (linear and conformal), the safety aspects (power density, specific absorption rate, and temperature increase), and the use of realistic breast models derived from ex vivo measurements.
AB - Medical imaging currently relies on several techniques, including X-rays, magnetic resonance, and echography. However, these techniques exhibit drawbacks, and alternative approaches are required. Microwave imaging has been proposed as a possible solution, especially for breast cancer imaging. However, most of these systems work with a central frequency of a few gigahertz, and this leads to a suboptimum resolution, which can jeopardize the image quality. Millimeter waves can provide superior resolutions, at the cost of a lower penetration depth within the breast tissue. In addition, a significant fraction of the power generated by a mm-wave imaging system would be reflected back from the skin. For these reasons, and also considering that mm-wave transmitters and receivers have been historically outperformed by microwave counterparts in terms of available power and sensitivity, mm-wave imaging has not been considered a possible solution. This paper contributes to demonstrate a paradigm shift toward the possible use of mm-waves for breast cancer imaging of targets a few centimeter below the skin, a useful penetration depth for several cases. All key points are addressed using analytical, full-wave, and multiphysics simulations, including the system architecture (linear and conformal), the safety aspects (power density, specific absorption rate, and temperature increase), and the use of realistic breast models derived from ex vivo measurements.
KW - Antenna array
KW - breast cancer
KW - conformal array
KW - dielectric characterization
KW - dielectric properties
KW - ex vivo tissues
KW - microwave imaging
KW - mm-wave imaging
KW - multiphysics
KW - power density
KW - specific absorption rate (SAR)
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85015859392&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85015859392&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1109/TMTT.2017.2672938
DO - 10.1109/TMTT.2017.2672938
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85015859392
VL - 65
SP - 1795
EP - 1806
JO - IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques
JF - IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques
SN - 0018-9480
IS - 5
M1 - 7879871
ER -