title: Microwave bone imaging: a preliminary scanning system for proof-of-concept.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Antenna and High Frequency Research Centre , Dublin Institute of Technology , Kevin Street , Dublin 8 , Ireland.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ruvio
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Ingegneria Industriale e dell'Informazione , Seconda Università di Napoli , Via Roma 29 , 81031 Aversa (CE) , Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cuccaro
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Ingegneria Industriale e dell'Informazione , Seconda Università di Napoli , Via Roma 29 , 81031 Aversa (CE) , Italy.
authors.forename: Raffaele
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Solimene
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Ingegneria Industriale e dell'Informazione , Seconda Università di Napoli , Via Roma 29 , 81031 Aversa (CE) , Italy.
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brancaccio
authors.affiliation: B&B Sas , Strada Fienile 1, Napoli 80013, Casalnuovo di Napoli (NA) , Italy.
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Basile
authors.affiliation: Antenna and High Frequency Research Centre , Dublin Institute of Technology , Kevin Street , Dublin 8 , Ireland.
authors.forename: Max J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Ammann
keywords: accurate antenna positioning; antenna miniaturisation; antipodal Vivaldi antennas; biomedical bone imaging; bone; bone tissues; data acquisition; data acquisition time; distinctive dielectric contrast; fat; fats; fibula; frequency 0.5 GHz to 4 GHz; fully automated scanner; image formation procedure; image reconstruction; impedance mismatch; mechanical uncertainties; medical image processing; microwave antennas; microwave bone imaging technology; microwave imaging; multilayer phantom; muscle; phantoms; portable nonionising imaging; preliminary scanning system; proof-of-concept; skin; synchronisation; three-dimensional image; tibia