Systems and methods for 3-D data acquisition for microwave imaging
First Claim
1. A low-contrast liquid coupling medium for microwave imaging of a sample, comprising:
- a mixture of water and a polyol having three or more hydroxyl groups and 3 to 12 carbon atoms.
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Abstract
Tomographic imaging of biological tissue is achieved through a microwave imaging system and associated methods. An array of antennas are positioned in an illumination tank to surround biological tissue to be imaged. A liquid coupling medium is placed in the illumination tank, and the biological tissue is immersed in the medium. The array of antennas transmit and receive microwave-frequency RF signals that are propagated through the biological tissue. A signal processor is coupled to the antennas to process a demodulated signal representative of the microwave-frequency RF signal received by one or more of the antennas to produce scattered field magnitude and phase signal projections of the biological tissue. These projections may be used to reconstruct a conductivity and permittivity image across an imaged section of the biological tissue to identify the locations of different tissue types (e.g., normal versus malignant or cancerous) within the biological tissue. The liquid coupling medium may include glycerol in a solution with water or saline, or in an emulsion with water, and oil and an emulsifier. The liquid coupling medium containing glycerol provides a low-contrast medium that is beneficial when imaging low-permittivity objects, such as human breast tissue.
156 Citations
77 Claims
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1. A low-contrast liquid coupling medium for microwave imaging of a sample, comprising:
a mixture of water and a polyol having three or more hydroxyl groups and 3 to 12 carbon atoms. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. In a microwave imaging apparatus having an illumination tank and an array of antennas, an improvement comprising:
seals integral with a base of the illumination tank through which the antennas slide into the illumination tank. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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9. A system for imaging biological tissue with a microwave-frequency RF signal, comprising:
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an illumination tank configured for accommodating the biological tissue, a plurality of bores formed into the tank, each bore having one or more seals formed therein;
a plurality of antennas extending through the bores and associated seals into the illumination tank, one or more of the plurality of antennas configured for receiving the microwave-frequency RF signal; and
a signal processor coupled to the receiving antennas and configured for processing a demodulated signal representative of the microwave-frequency RF signal received by the one or more of the plurality of antennas. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A system for imaging biological tissue with a microwave-frequency RF signal, comprising:
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an illumination tank configured for accommodating the biological tissue, one or more bores formed into the tank and having one or more seals formed therein;
one or more drive shafts each extending through one bore and associated seals into the illumination tank;
one or more mounting platforms each mounted with the one or more drive shafts and disposed within the illumination tank;
a plurality of antennas mounted onto the one or more mounting platforms, one or more of the plurality of antennas configured for receiving the microwave-frequency RF signal; and
a signal processor coupled to the receiving antennas and configured for processing a demodulated signal representative of the microwave-frequency RF signal received by the one or more of the plurality of antennas. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57)
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58. A system for imaging biological tissue with a microwave-frequency RF signal, comprising:
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an illumination tank configured for accommodating the biological tissue, one or more bores formed into the tank, each bore having one or more seals formed therein;
a support rod extending through each bore and associated seals into the illumination tank;
one or more antennas mounted with each support rod and disposed within the illumination tank; and
a signal processor coupled to the receiving antennas and configured for processing a demodulated signal representative of the microwave-frequency RF signal received by the one or more of the plurality of antennas. - View Dependent Claims (59, 60, 61, 63, 64, 65)
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66. A method of imaging biological tissue with a microwave-frequency RF signal, comprising the steps of:
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positioning biological tissue within an illumination tank having a volume of a liquid coupling medium therein and having a plurality of antennas within the tank to surround the biological tissue;
generating a microwave-frequency RF signal;
transmitting the microwave-frequency RF signal through one or more of the plurality of antennas to propagate the signal through the biological tissue;
receiving the microwave-frequency RF signal propagated through the biological tissue; and
processing the received microwave-frequency RF signals to determine characteristics of the imaged biological tissue. - View Dependent Claims (67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77)
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Specification