Open AccessInvestigation of noise effect on image quality in microwave head imaging systems
Author(s) -
Mohammed Beadaa Jasem,
Bialkowski Konstanty,
Mustafa Samah,
Abbosh Amin
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
iet microwaves, antennas and propagation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.555
H-Index - 69
eISSN - 1751-8733
pISSN - 1751-8725
DOI - 10.1049/iet-map.2014.0109
Subject(s) - microwave imaging , microwave , head (geology) , image quality , noise (video) , computer science , biomedical engineering , electronic engineering , acoustics , optics , computer vision , physics , image (mathematics) , engineering , telecommunications , geology , geomorphology
The effect of noise on the ability to detect strokes in the human head using microwave‐based systems is investigated using both simulations and measurements. The simulations, which are implemented using the full‐wave electromagnetic solver (CST), utilise a realistic numerical head model generated from magnetic resonance imaging slices. On the other hand, the experiments are performed using a wideband microwave system with a frequency range of 1–4 GHz. The experiments use a head phantom consisting of materials that accurately emulate (within 3% of reported properties of human brain tissues) the main tissues found in the human brain. It is shown, in both of the simulations and measurements, that a minimum signal‐to‐noise ratio of around 10 dB is required to accurately detect the presence of a stroke. Below this level, the microwave‐based system either does not detect or falsely indicates the location of the stroke. Based on the presented results, the required microwave power to achieve acceptable detection is well within the recommended safe levels.