Open AccessMicrowave bone imaging: a preliminary scanning system for proof‐of‐concept
Author(s) -
Ruvio Giuseppe,
Cuccaro Antonio,
Solimene Raffaele,
Brancaccio Adriana,
Basile Bruno,
Ammann Max J.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
healthcare technology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.45
H-Index - 19
ISSN - 2053-3713
DOI - 10.1049/htl.2016.0003
Subject(s) - microwave imaging , imaging phantom , computer science , scanner , antenna (radio) , microwave , vivaldi antenna , biomedical engineering , proof of concept , materials science , acoustics , optics , artificial intelligence , radiation pattern , physics , engineering , telecommunications , operating system
This Letter introduces a feasibility study of a scanning system for applications in biomedical bone imaging operating in the microwave range 0.5–4 GHz. Mechanical uncertainties and data acquisition time are minimised by using a fully automated scanner that controls two antipodal Vivaldi antennas. Accurate antenna positioning and synchronisation with data acquisition enables a rigorous proof‐of‐concept for the microwave imaging procedure of a multi‐layer phantom including skin, fat, muscle and bone tissues. The presence of a suitable coupling medium enables antenna miniaturisation and mitigates the impedance mismatch between antennas and phantom. The three‐dimensional image of tibia and fibula is successfully reconstructed by scanning the multi‐layer phantom due to the distinctive dielectric contrast between target and surrounding tissues. These results show the viability of a microwave bone imaging technology which is low cost, portable, non‐ionising, and does not require specially trained personnel. In fact, as no a‐priori characterisation of the antenna is required, the image formation procedure is very conveniently simplified.