Open AccessPleural effusion detection system using wideband slot‐loaded loop antenna
Author(s) -
Ahdi Rezaeieh S.,
Abbosh A.M.,
Zamani A.,
Bialkowski K.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
electronics letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.375
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1350-911X
pISSN - 0013-5194
DOI - 10.1049/el.2015.1652
Subject(s) - torso , wideband , microwave imaging , imaging phantom , loop antenna , acoustics , microwave , antenna (radio) , signal (programming language) , computer science , radiation pattern , physics , optics , telecommunications , antenna factor , medicine , anatomy , programming language
Pleural effusion (PE) is the accumulation of fluids around the lungs due to various diseases, such as cancer, liver and heart failure. Given the fact that fluid provides a high contrast in terms of dielectric constant at microwave frequencies, a radar‐based microwave imaging system is proposed to utilise that change in properties for the early detection of PE. The system uses a wideband slot‐loaded loop antenna to scan the torso, a portable vector network analyser for signal generation and recording, and a laptop for signal processing and image formation using a frequency‐based imaging algorithm. The utilised antenna is designed to have a compact size (in wavelengths) of 0.23 × 0.23 that is one‐third the size of recent designs. By using proper slots in a conventional slot‐loaded loop and adding a staircase‐shaped patch to the loop's perimeter, the antenna achieves a fractional bandwidth of 50% (0.72–1.19 GHz), and a peak gain of 4.9 dBi. The practicality of the proposed system is successfully tested by detecting a small amount of fluid (3 mL) around the lungs of a realistic life‐size torso phantom.