Microwave imaging of breast using combination of biomechanical and electrical properties

Abstract

A theoretical model for the variations in the biomechanical properties of breast tissues under the influence of external pressure is derived. The derived model is employed in a microwave imaging method that aims to extract the three-dimensional biomechanical properties of breast. The presented imaging method is based on the high contrast in the biomechanical properties between healthy and malignant tissues. In the proposed method, the breast is inserted in an enclosure that has an array of ultra-wideband antennas embedded in the upper movable plate of the enclosure. Each of those antennas transmits an ultra-wideband pulse towards the breast and measure the backscattered pulse before and after compressing the breast by a controlled force applied at the top movable plate. To get a clear three-dimensional image for the strain distribution in breast tissues, a sliding-window cross-correlation is utilized. Since lesion tissue is much stiffer than healthy breast tissues then regions of zero strain indicate areas of suspected tumor.