Experimental investigations into detection of breast tumour using microwave system with planar array

A microwave imaging system for the potential detection of tumours in breast tissues using a planar array that employs 6 x 2 compact tapered slot antenna elements is reported. In this system, the breast is placed on a plastic sheet and slightly compressed to take a semi-rectangular shape; this allows for accurate image reconstruction using a planar array. Both the array and the phantom are immersed in a coupling medium to increase the signal penetration, and thus, the dynamic range of the system. In order to quantity the effect of changing the number of elements and their positions in the array, image reconstruction is undertaken with three different configurations. That is with 6- and 12-array elements and an additional 908 rotation of the phantom. To test the designed system a suitable combination of materials are used to fabricate a low-density, heterogeneous breast phantom. Two- and three-dimensional versions of a confocal imaging algorithm are used to construct the images and metrics are proposed to evaluate the quality of the image. Single and multiple embedded targets are shown to be resolved using the proposed array and imaging algorithm in either two or three dimensions.